“The Gift that Keeps on Giving”
Isaiah 9:6-7
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. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Introduction: How many of you have heard the phrase that I have selected for the title of this message before? You should have because it has been around for a long time and it has been used by many companies as a marketing tool. It originated in 1925 - The trademark was given for “talking machines and parts thereof." (the phonograph) The registration on this trademark was received in 1927, and there was a renewal in 1967. The trademark for this owner has since expired. Wikipedia I’d like to point out one obvious problem with this phrase; all of the products that this phrase is associated with “don’t keep on giving” for they all will end up in a landfill somewhere! I want to submit to you that Jesus and Jesus only is the gift that keeps on giving and in our text this morning we have the announcement or herald of His introduction into this world. One of the best ways to introduce the book of Isaiah is to use the first verse. In that first sentence some of the basic matters about the book are given. "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
The word "vision" here - as used in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament - is equal to DIVINE REVELATION; so this book called Isaiah contains that which the Lord revealed to this prophet, who was the son of Amoz.
These things concerned "JUDAH AND JERUSALEM." At this time, there was the northern kingdom, called Israel. And some of the things that pertain to the northern kingdom do come up in the prophecies of Isaiah. However, Isaiah's message was directed primarily to God's people in Judah and Jerusalem.
As to the time when Isaiah lived and prophesied, this verse says, "in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah." The basic facts about this O.T. book are given right here in the first verse.
Another verse we can use to introduce this book is Isaiah 6:8, where the call of Isaiah is reported. It says there, that Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?" Then this man, Isaiah, replied: "HERE AM I! SEND ME." This indicates two things: One, that this man was called of God to prophesy these things. Two, that he was ready and willing to serve in this capacity. You might be interested to know - the book of Isaiah is quoted 83 times in the N.T., 12 of those quotations in the book of Matthew. With these things in mind we turn our attention to chapter nine.
THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In Isaiah, chapters seven through twelve - the prophet is dealing with what could be called THE ASSYRIAN CRISIS.
You remember - from verse 1 - that one of the kings in Isaiah's time was Ahaz. Well, in the days of Ahaz, the king and his people were "worried to death" because, just north of their border, the Northern kingdom and Syria were joining forces and it seemed like they were planning to conquer Judah.
Now God - through Isaiah - had something to say about all this. God sent word to king Ahaz, telling him NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS NORTHERN CONFEDERATION. The exact words are (7:4): "Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted..." God said, about this confederation or plan, "IT SHALL NOT STAND!" (Isa. 7:7). So what Ahaz should have done WAS TO BELIEVE GOD. But, he didn't pay much attention to God. KING AHAZ WENT ON TO FORMULATE AND EXECUTE HIS OWN PLAN OF DEFENSE; a plan that eventually backfired. King Ahaz hired the nation of ASSYRIA, to come over and crush this northern confederation. He even agreed to pay them for their help; he paid them well - in silver and gold from the house of the Lord.
When Ahaz didn't pay attention to God, and when he devised his own plan, he was guilty of unbelief; and for that unbelief he was to be punished. What happened was, after the Assyrians had crushed the northern confederation (as Ahaz had paid them to do) ... THEY JUST KEPT COMING SOUTH, RIGHT INTO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, where Ahaz was. So, because of his unbelief, the king got more than he bargained for.
Isaiah chapters seven and eight tell us about these things: THE ASSYRIAN CRISIS. Chapter eight tells how God used Assyria to punish both kingdoms, Israel and Judah. At the end of chapter eight, there is a picture of the gloom and darkness there would be, as the Assyrians came through with their devastating military force. The last verse of chapter eight shows the people looking around - and seeing trouble, darkness, and the gloom of anguish.
As chapter nine opens, the prophet is saying: THIS GLOOM WILL NOT LAST FOREVER! THE PICTURE OF TOTAL GLOOM WHICH CLOSED THE PRECEDING CHAPTER GIVES WAY TO A PICTURE OF BRILLIANT LIGHT. Things would be bad, in the aftermath of this Assyrian crisis -- BUT, THEY WOULDN'T BE BAD FOREVER!!
There was still reason for hope, as to the future. God's plan would be carried out! A time would come, Isaiah says, WHEN DARKNESS WOULD BE DISPELLED BY LIGHT; GLOOM WOULD BE REPLACED BY DARKNESS, AND GOD WOULD HAVE A NATION OF PEOPLE, RULED BY A PERFECT KING.
I. The Nativity that is Heralded
a. The context of the herald
The Southern Kingdom, Judah and the capital city of Jerusalem were in a state of degradation, disobedience and danger. Judgment was coming in the form of Nebecanezzer
b. The chronology of the herald
There was approximately 730 years in between the time of Isaiah and the birth of Jesus Christ.
c. The content of the herald
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
II. The Names that Describe Him
a. The variety of His names
Have you ever heard someone say, “What’s in a name?” Now if you are talking about Steve Trail, not much, I told someone the other day if you mention my name you had better get ready to duck or pucker, but when you talk about the name of this “…child…” you’ve said a mouthful. He is introduced to us in chapter 7: Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Dr. S. M. Lockridge found His name in every book of the Bible!
b. The virtue in His names
His essential characteristics - The government shall be upon his shoulder - That is, the ensign of government; the scepter, the sword, the key, or the like, which was borne upon or hung from the shoulder. See note on 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.
And his name shall be called – wonderful àì âáåø El gibbor, the prevailing or conquering God.
The everlasting Father “The Father of the everlasting age” - Or àáé òã Abi ad, the Father of eternity.
Prince of Peace - ùø ùìåí sar shalom, the Prince of prosperity, the Giver of all blessings.
Warren E. Berkley writes first, "His name will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR." A counselor is a person to whom you can go, for comfort and strength; for help and guidance. In the word "counselor" there is the suggestion of wisdom and knowledge. So, Isaiah is saying: THE MESSIAH WOULD BE A WONDERFUL COUNSELOR.
MIGHTY GOD would be His name. I believe we need to see, in this expression, "a genuine attribution to deity," (Young). Bro. Hailey, in his commentary: "The name MIGHTY GOD identifies the Child with the Godhead, both in deity and in power," (p.#103). In another prophetic passage, Jeremiah says: "He shall be called: JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS," (Jer. 23:6).
EVERLASTING FATHER. You may read this as "one who is eternally a Father." Or, you may read this as "the father of eternity," in the sense of - GIVING ETERNAL LIFE. In either case, Jesus is exalted far above the kings and rulers of men (and we have further evidence THIS COULDN'T REFER TO HEZEKIAH).
FINALLY, prince of peace. A RULER, WITH PEACE AS HIS MEANS OF GOVERNING. All through Isaiah, and in the New Testament fulfillment, Jesus is pictured as the great peace-maker; by Him, peace is made between men and God. When a sinner comes to Christ He comes to the single One who can impart real peace; true peace with God.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 3.9; September 1996
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
III. The Nature of His Kingdom
a. The duration of His kingdom – Since the Messiah’s kingdom is without “…end…” it cannot be speaking of Hezekiah or any other earthly king. Jesus said that “…his kingdom was not of this world…” The Hallelujah Chorus declares that
“The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
|: King of kings, and Lord of lords, :|
And Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
|: King of kings! and Lord of lords! :|
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
b. The direction of His Kingdom
He shall order it, establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever…
c. The description of His Kingdom
It will preeminently a kingdom of peace. For the first time since the first family was torn by sin peace will reign supreme for the “prince of peace” will be on His throne and the universe will no longer be chaos but cosmos!
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Conclusion: PEACE CHILD
In 1962, the Sawi people of New Guinea still lived in relative isolation. They were head-hunting cannibals. Their culture could not be more different from that of Don and Carol Richardson, and yet this missionary couple attempted to share Christ with them. In fact, two rival Sawi tribes, fascinated by the Richardsons, moved their villages right around the missionaries’ jungle home.
But Don became frustrated by his inability to find a point of contact. He was also discouraged by the 14 civil wars he had already counted right outside his front door now that the two tribes lived side by side. Eventually, the Richardsons decided to leave. However, the Sawi response surprised them: "If you’ll stay, we promise we’ll make peace in the morning."
The next morning the Richardsons awoke to see the most amazing ritual they had ever witnessed. The two tribes were lined up outside their houses, on either side of the clearing. Finally, one man dashed into his hut, grabbed his newborn son, and began to run across the meadow towards the other tribe. His expression betrayed absolute agony. His wife ran after him, screaming and begging him to give the baby back to her.
But her husband wouldn’t stop. He ran over to the other tribe and presented the boy to them. "Plead the peace child for me. I give you my son, and I give you my name," he said. Moments later, someone from that tribe performed the same agonizing sacrifice with the same intensity and passion. Richardson found out later that as long as those two children remained alive, the tribes were bound to peace. If they died, then literally all hell would break loose--cannibalism, murder, civil war. While this amazing scene unfolded before him, Don suddenly realized that this was the analogy he needed to communicate Christ. The next time he spoke to the Sawi elders he told them of the perfect Peace Child, Jesus. Eventually, droves of Sawi became followers of Christ.
Several years later, on Christmas day, hundreds of Sawi from every tribe - tribes that had warred and cannibalized each other for many years - gathered together for a feast for the first time. A Sawi preacher stood up and read in his own language a scripture that few people in the history of the world have ever understood so clearly: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Later, the Richardsons would write that it was the best Christmas they had ever experienced. It was the best day the Sawi had ever known.
SOURCE: Adapted by James McCullen from "Peace Child" by Don Richardson (Regal, 1976) in Mars Hill Review, Fall 1994. Pages 62-63.
