King 2 Series

The King of Eternity

Series: Who is this King?

Brad Bailey – Dec. 11, 2022

Intro

Many maybe familiar with these words written down by the prophet Isaiah…for which at least the central portion is declared around the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Context – the people had called for a king

Isaiah 9:1-7

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:1-7

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

It begins “nevertheless”… because the prophetic words had just be describing the darkness among those living in this land. tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were two of the twelve sons of Jacob… that became two of the twelve tribes of Israel… who were conquered and oppressed. And Isaiah calls it “a place of darkness” because by Isaiah’s time it was populated primarily by pagans, and the few Jews remaining had difficulty holding onto their ancestral faith and tradition.

What was the land of these people…from which a light would dawn? It was the areas of Israel way up north in the province called Galilee by the great Sea of Galilee.

The had been humbled… turned from God and were conquered…and their land was a pathway for many foreign soldiers to pass… and add insult to injury.

In a sense… they could represent all of us well. All know forms of darkness…of gloom and distress.

A light has dawned… a light has come.

It is like the light at the end of a dark tunnel…in sheer darkness on may be alive…but yet cut off from real life.

That is the nature of people in the midst of their suffering… to which the sight of light appears… the light of dawn.

When the light at the end of the tunnel is seen… everything changes… you are now defined by what is ahead.

When the first light of dawn appears… you can now wait…not in the despair of darkness but in the anticipation of light.

That is the nature of what is called ADVENT.

The word “advent” is derived from the Latin adventus…which means the “coming”). It is a time prior to the Christmas holiday… of focusing on the nature of hope that was to come in the birth of Christ.

Clear this is speaking of this child as more than any mere human figure,

Isaiah 9:1-7

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

He will be known to be of God in nature… and most notably for our focus…

“the government will be on his shoulders.”

He is the ultimate governance… everything will rest upon him.

This is why he is referred to as…the king of kings.

Series… Who is this King?...in which we are unpacking the nature of how this child…is not merely a king… but a king unlike any earthly king. [1]

In speaking of Christ as king… our imagination can serve well when we understand that it points beyond the earthly correlations.

Every way in which God communicates his nature with human correlations are given with both comparison as well as contrast.

When the Bible speaks of God as Father… at once it speaks of forming us in His nature… of extending His home to us… of His provision for us…but it also is clear that these are only lesser reflections of the more perfect nature of God. God can rightfully be called our Father… the very one who endows us… and in whom a bond never meant to be broken lies. But God transcends the failures inherent to every human father.