The Key Of David
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Government.
• Government is one of those things in life that we have a love/hate relationship with.
o In times like these, with the country facing the worst recession since WWII many are quick to point their fingers at our government and place the blame there for all that ails us.
o However, in the recent elections, many of those same accusers were heralding government, or at the least a change in government, as the answer to all that ails us.
o Our contradictory attitudes about government are revealing.
o We recognize the failure of human solutions, but at the same time we
know something must be done to fix what’s broken in the world.
• Isaiah wrote our text at least a hundred years before Israel was taken into
Babylonian captivity—nearly 600 years before the birth of Jesus.
o Looking at a litany of failed kingdoms, and sitting in the rubble of Israel’s crumbling monarchy, Isaiah ministered in a world where
government failed.
o However, as the spirit of God moved him and inspired him he looked
across the centuries to a time when God would establish his rule and
authority.
o He spoke of a child that was born to a virgin, wrapped in swaddling
clothes and laid in a manger.
• And in stark contrast to that humble condition of a newborn baby, he
announced that the Government would be upon his shoulders.
o That baby was King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the first thing that
Isaiah did was to affirm His lordship.
o That child would be vested with authority over all the kingdoms and
governments of the world.
Jesus had the government upon his shoulders.
• In the second phrase of Isaiah 9:6 we discover that this promised child that was born unto us is going to have the Government upon his shoulders.
o By government, Isaiah is talking about more than just an administration or a program or plan.
o The original language speaks of authority, of kingship, it implies power and ability.
o It is a bold, unmitigated, statement that Jesus holds absolute authority over everything that is under his dominion.
o He is King of everything.
o He is Lord of all that ever was or ever will be.
o As God manifest in the flesh, Jesus Christ was vested with full and
complete authority to reign supreme over everything.
o He reigns over all the earth.
o Thestarsareheldinspacebyhisauthority.
o The winds and waves respond to his voice.
o The sun rises in the morning and the tides roll in by the power of his
government.
o Hebrews 1:3 tells us that “He upholds the universe by the word of his
power.”
• Back in 1977 the spacecraft, Voyager I & II, were launched by NASA.
o It took 12 years for Voyager II to go by the planet Neptune.
o Voyager I & II have now been traveling for over 11,000 days or 31
years and they are still inside our solar system.
o It will take almost 200 more years before either will pass by the
closest star.
o And 1000 years from now they will pass by the next closest star.
o This vast universe of sun, moon, and stars is so great that no man, no
satellite, no spaceship, can ever travel through it all.
o And yet He upholds it by the word of his power.
o By his word alone he sustains the vastness of the universe.
• Isaiah 40:22 Tells that “It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; (HE) [who] stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
o We can use our biggest telescopes to look at stars that are billions upon trillions of miles away.
o Yet we still can't see to the outermost edge of the universe.
o But Isaiah tells us, in Isaiah 40:26 that he brings out the stars and calls
them all by name.
o And by his great power not one of them is missing from the midnight
sky.
• David said in Psalms 8:6, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works
of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
• Hebrews 2:8 Tells us that everything is in subjection to him, and nothing is
outside his control.
o I’m telling you this morning that the government is upon him. o He governs this world, he has full authority over it.
o Nothing happens in this world that he’s not aware of.
o Political kingdoms are orchestrated by his mighty power.
o Earthly kingdoms rise and fall at his command.
o Economies grow or crumble under is watchful eye.
o I want you to understand this morning that God is aware of your
world and he governs it.
o Nothing happens by chance.
o God is divinely orchestrating the affairs of man to bring all things to
the conclusion of his plan.
o Man is so pompous and proud, he flaunts his independence and snubs
the God who made him,
o yet all along he marches ignorantly right into the plan and purpose of
God.
o Kingdom’s are lining up for the events of the Revelation of Jesus
Christ.
o The worlds governments are rushing headlong into the end time,
bringing to fruition the prophecies of God, even tough many of them
deny that He even exists.
o Why? Because God governs this world.
o They aren’t complicit to his plan but they are governed by his will. o He is the master of all that is.
But Isaiah doesn’t just point out that Jesus has authority or government, but he notes the nature of that government.
The government shall be upon his shoulders.
Once again the implication of the language is that place between the shoulders where one bears his burdens.
In other words, he took upon Himself the burden of government.
As Israel’s kingdom is crumbling and the rod of the oppressor is being brought to bear upon this once proud and defiant nation.
Isaiah paints a picture of contrast to the rod and staff of oppression. He foretells a child that will be born a king that will bear our burdens upon is shoulder.
the power of his government, he bore my burdens to dark Calvary.
He took upon himself the yoke of sin and suffering and then extended to me an invitation...
Jesus said in Matthew 11 “All things have been handed over to me... So come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
He took the heavy yoke of sin upon his shoulders and offered me the easy yoke of his government.
• All of a sudden he becomes more than just the King of the world, all of a sudden he’s more than just master of the universe.
o My friend, when you submit yourself to Him, he takes over the government of your life.
o We can take great comfort this morning in the fact that we are not left to our own devices, or even the devices of our enemy, but we are governed by our God.
o The same God that holds the vastness of the universe in the palm of his hands – he governs my life.
o If he can handle all of that, if he can make sure that every star appears on time, how much more can he handle me and my little life down here?
o While the world is fretting and worrying over bailout plans and economic stimulus packages, those who know God can take comfort in his Government.
o He watches over me. He protects me. He provides for me.
• David said in Psalms 121, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, but where
does my help come from?
o In trying times, in frustrating circumstances, I need help.
o But I look around at this world and wonder, where is my help gonna
come from?
o Then David answered himself, My help comes from the LORD, the
maker of heaven and earth.
o The one who governs everything that is, he governs my life too.
o I can trust him with my life because, he that watches over me never
sleeps nor slumbers!
o Nothing ever takes him by surprise.
o Sometimes my life takes an unexpected turn and events come upon
me that shock and surprise me.
o But my God, the one who governs my life, is never taken by surprise. o He orchestrates my life.
• The footsteps of a good man, the Psalmist said, are ordered by God.
o God is in control and my life isn’t governed by a series of random
chances.
o When the doctor says cancer. He’s still in control.
o When the baby is sick. He’s in control.
o When there’s no money in the bank. He’s in control.
o When everything breaks down around you. He’s in control. o Godisincontrol.
• The old songwriter said, Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word.
o There’s no comfort like the comfort of knowing, I can trust in Jesus. o I can take him at his word.
o He governs my life.
o I turned it all over to him at a Pentecostal alter and he’s in control of
my life.
o I want to encourage you this morning with this simple phrase that is
tucked away in this great verse of scripture.
o The government is upon his shoulders – you can trust him with your
life.
o You can put your faith in him
o He tat made the sn rise this morning, the one that calls the reain from
his treasury, he’s proven his faithfulness time after time.
o You can trust him this morning with your life.
o No matter what’s going on, no matter what’s happening, I want you to
know this morning that your God is trustworthy.
The Key of David.
• There is one more aspect of this phrase that I want to cover this morning. o The way the verse is worded by Isaiah implies something more than
just what I’ve already covered this morning.
o Thischildwasbornwithauthoritytogovern.
o That authority is upon his shoulders.
o It is notable, this morning, that the symbol of government, in Isaiah’s
time was worn upon the shoulder.
o A scepter, a sword, a key or something of that nature was born upon
or hung from the shoulder.
o Isaiah said in this passage that the government was upon his
shoulders.
o However in a later passage which is used as an allusion to Jesus, Isaiah
said:
o Isa 22:21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with
thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
o Isa 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
o This verse becomes remarkable when John the Revelator, writing under the unction and anointing of God, applies it to Jesus.
o In Rev 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”
• When Isaiah said that the government was upon his shoulder he was speaking of more than just dominion over this physical and spiritual world.
o He was speaking of more than just government over our lives.
o He was saying that, unto this child, was given an authority, symbolized
by the Key of David, to open what no man could shut and to shut what
no man could open.
o Upon his shoulder was the Key of David, and in him the throne of
David would know no end.
o This authority that he was given was the authority to open a door that
no man can shut.
o I want you to know this morning that he was given the authority to
say, in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes
unto the father but by me.”
• That child that was born in Bethlehem, was given the authority to open a
door that no man can close.
o This is why he came.
o He was born to die upon the cross.
o And through his death he brought life and that more abundant. o Jesus Christ, was vested with the authority to open the door of
salvation to every man.
o On an old rugged cross, on a hill called Golgotha, He opened a door
that no man can close.
o And he slammed shut a door of bondage that no man can open.
• At the cross Jesus used the authority of his government to open the door to the mercy of God.
o He made a way for us to come into the holy of holies.
o He opened the way into the presence of God.
o He made it where I, just a common man, could come before the throne
of the King of all Kings.
o He opened an opportunity for me to repent of my sins and be covered
by the blood of heaven’s spotless lamb.
o He opened a door that allows me to make my petition known before
the throne of God.
o He opened a door that grants me access to all that heaven has to offer.
• He’s the only one that could open that door. o Bhudda couldn’t pen that door.
o Mohommad couldn’t open that door. o Hare Krishna couldn’t open that door. o Confucius couldn’t open that door.
o There is only one that was ever given the authority to open that door. o And when that one, that baby that was born at Bethleham that one
that had the government upon his shoulders, went to the old rugged
cross he opened what no one else can ever shut.
o
• He, alone, opened the door and he alone is the way to salvation. The
Pentecostals
This morning, if you want to make heaven your home, there’s no other name that opens heavens door.
You must come through Jesus.
You must be identified with his death, in repentance.
With his burial in baptism.
With his resurrection by the infilling of his spirit. Thereisnootherway,thereisnootherdoor,andthereisnoother that has the authority to open that door.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Thereisnootherway!
Close
the mantle that Isaiah hung upon that little child that was laid in a
• This is manger.
o The government was upon his shoulders.
He governs the world, both physical and spiritual. He is in charge of all that is.
o The poet wrote:
He Maketh No Mistake
My Father's way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I'm glad I know
He maketh no mistake.
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I'll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.
Though night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I'll pin my faith, my all in Him,
He maketh no mistake.
There's so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight's far too dim;
But come what may, I'll surely trust
And leave it all to Him.
For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He'll make;
Through all the way, though dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
(A. M. Overton)
o I want you to know this morning that you can trust God with your life. o He doesn’t make mistakes.
Sometimes we take matters in our own hands We try to work things out on our own.
The problem is that we do make mistakes,
We mess things up.
But he makes no mistakes...
o The government is upon is shoulders and he knows how to govern. o Te universe stands testimony today to the fact that he is well able to
take care of that which is committed to his hand.
o Why don’t you commit your life to his hand again this morning.
o Why don’t you put your trust in him again.
o Why don’t you turn it all over to him again this morning and reaffirm
the fact that he is lord of all in your life.
