Sunday, December 10, 2006
“Unto us a Son is Given”
Text: Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah continues with his prophesy Unto us a Child is born and goes a step deeper by saying unto us a son is given. It is interesting to note that not only was Isaiah a man with a burning desire to follow God, but he was also a man of learning who had studied the ways of God.
Isaiah studied at the feet of Azariah. He was joined in his studies by Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. Also on the scene as his contemporaries during that day were Hosea, Joel, and Amos. While Isaiah is thought of as a major prophet, it is clear that the entire group of prophets had a vital word from the Lord.
It’s good to know that the people of God have a burning for God’s word; but it is better to know that the people of God have learned God’s word.
Proverbs says it this way: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.”
2nd Timothy picks this same idea up by saying, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
It’s good to know that the people of God have a burning for God’s word; but it is better to know that the people of God have learned God’s word.
The people knew that not only had Isaiah experienced the touch of the Lord, but he also had been trained in the ways of the Lord.
Isaiah’s boldness was such that he spoke truth to power. He told the rulers of Sodom:
“Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
Those are bold words to tell of the rulers of that day.
One can only wonder today, where have all the prophets have gone!
We need an Isaiah today, who would, says to the rulers of this world, of this country, of this state, and city: We need to walk in the path of the Lord. The Lord shall judge many nations. The Lord will rebuke many people; if you don’t beat your swords into plowshares, and your spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall you learn war any more.
If our modern day prophets would speak like this 8th century prophet:
violence would be an anathema.
Our prophets no longer stand on the world stage with the credibility to speak truth to the power of our days; therefore the voice of him crying in the wilderness is not heard.
Isaiah to insure that his voice was heard, not only spoke but he also wrote.
All of Chapter 8 is due to the Lord telling him to write on a great roll.
The Black Church must once again rediscover its literary roots. I purchased a copy of Dr. Harvey Johnson’s 1903 book, “The Nations: From a New Point of View.” The person who offered the book for sale was in Australia. It’s an original copy. Dr. Johnson wrote that book over 103 years ago. Never in his foggiest imagination would he have thought that a person on another continent would own and read his book. It’s one of my most prized possessions.
We need prophets from the Black Church who can stand on the world stage with the credibility to speak truth to power, but also with the ability to write with profundity.
Now we come to our text, Isaiah brings hope into the midst of darkness. He shines light and brings the joy of the Lord to people.
He boldly proclaims: For unto us a child is born.
Last week we learned that this word heighten into the spirits of the people a sense of expectancy; this word ushered into the minds of the people God’s potentiality; and it placed in their hearts the reality of God’s responsibility.
We also learned last week that unto us was a unifying word. Its intent was to break through the confusion of separate camps, to reunite the northern and southern kingdoms, to bring the people together into one mind, one spirit, and one faith.
This week he goes a step further and says: unto us a son is given.
The idea of a son in the mind of the ancients had a significant meaning and relevance. A son communicates not only a line of decency, but also a relationship of congruency. A teacher could say of an exceptional student – that’s my son. A church could say of a youth that grew up within their fellowship – that’s a son of the church. The idea of son was connected to membership in a group, as well as family.
Central in the mind of the ancient was that a son was a gift from God.
Three things we learn from this text: unto us a son is given.
1. Priority – the son had priority in the family relationship. Particularly if the son was the first born. That was the issue with the prodigal son and the elder son. He wondered why his father would skip over the priority position he had to favor the younger son’s request. Priority was a position well established in the mind of the ancient and they understood what Isaiah meant when he stated, “Unto a son is given”.
2. Authority – was a significant element. Because the power, rank, and position of the father was inherent in the son. A son had the authority to wear his father’s ring and insignia. His word had the power to bind contracts and agreements, just like his father. A son played an important role in developing ally relationships by marrying the daughters of heads of key foreign kingdoms. They used marriage as a tool to bring people into their kingdom and under their command.
3. Liberty – the most important element when the ancients heard that a son would be given was their experience with sons growing up to become deliverers and unifiers. They knew about Moses. As a child found in the river by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in Pharaoh’s house. He became the deliver after meeting the Lord on the back side of the mountain. They knew that God had raised Moses from a child and a son to be the great deliverer. They knew about David. As the youngest son of Jesse he was a Shepard boy. But God raised him up to be the King of Israel. His power to unify the people was such that Jerusalem became know as the City of David. They knew about David as a unifier.
They were in anticipation of a Messiah.
But what they didn’t know was what John would disclose.” For God so loved that world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I’m so glad God gave his son. His son lives in line with His father’s will. His father would later say; this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. That’s priority.
At the resurrection, his son would say; all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. That’s the authority.
Finally he says; ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. That’s liberty.
Unto us a son is given. He is the priority from God, with the authority of God, and who gives us the liberty that is only found in God.
