TEXT - ISAIAH 9:6
Two women stopped in front of another store window at Christmastime. In the midst of all the merchandise was a small little Nativity scene. And one woman remarked to the other:
"What do you know about that! Even the church is trying to horn in on Christmastime."
That comment is similar to another woman’s attitude. "Most of the Christmas songs," she complained, "are too distressingly theological!"
Well, after all, Christmas was a rather theological affair, wasn’t it?
Would that the world could see how "theological" it really is. Isn’t it really something when a baby born in a stable in a place called Bethlehem, thousands of miles from the United States, causes traffic jams in countless cities, twenty centuries later? Adapted from Donald L. Deffner, Seasonal Illustrations, Resource, 1992, p. 14
OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT:
The child shall be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR (last week we looked at this phrase from the view of psychology (counselor), government (advisor) and legal (attorney). Today we want to look at the next four words, and forgive me for changing the order of the words slightly.
GOD – DIVINITY
MIGHTY (power) Shaddai – Lord of Host, Lord God almighty,
EVERLASTING (permanency)
FATHER (paternity)
MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER ISAIAH 9:6
I. GOD – In English don’t have the flavor that the Hebrew language has in speaking about God. In Hebrew there a number of words used in speaking about God that in English are just translated God. Quickly let me just cover a few in order to lay some groundwork for what I want you to understand about our passage today.
1. Jehovah – when Moses ask whom shall he say sent him to the Egyptians. God says say that “I AM” sent you. Without getting into the technicalities of the Hebrew what God said was tell them that JEHOVAH sent you. The one who exists and continues to exist. This phrase explains the consternation caused by Jesus when he said that before Abraham existed, I AM!
2. A more common word is the word EL (singular) meaning power. It is used most frequently in combination with other words that describe some character or attribute. ELOHIM (plural) meaning the one whom creates. “Genesis 1 in the beginning God (ELOHIM) created.” “And God (ELOHIM) said, let us make man in our image (singular). ELSHADDI – meaning God almighty. ELYONA – meaning the one who is above all things working in secret. Now notice a couple of things:
a. EL – means power, or potency, the first cause by all things has come to be and by which they continue to be. That sustaining power, upholding power.
b. SHADDI – means power also but seems to reflect that power that breaks through, overcomes, victorious, to burst forth, etc.
In our passage these are the two words used. A child shall be born and he shall be called EL = GOD. The first cause of all things, the sustainer and up holder of all things. And he shall be called SHADDI = MIGHTY. The power that breaks forth breaks through and causes victories. The over comer of all things.
Now I want you to see this clearly because I want you to unequivocally understand. When Isaiah prophesied here about this child that would come he said something’s that are very distinct. This child would be called GOD. Not just some synonym of god but he would be called GOD. In addition he would be called mighty the one who causes things to change. The one who was to be the over comer and victorious one in this world. When you and I face impossible situations we need to recognize that we have laid claim to a savior who is both the creator of all things but also one who is the provider of overcoming power.
ILLUSTRATION ABOUT GOD’S NAME - Jehovah was spoken only once a year when the High Priest went into the holy of holies to offer sacrifice for the sins of all the people. Legend tells us that Jehovah was so holy that as scribes were recording the words of scripture when they came to the word Jehovah they laid down their pen and went and found a brand new pen that have never been written with and used it to record the Holy Name.
The child character – EL and his capacity = SHADDI.
CONCLUSION: When this child who Isaiah is prophesying about comes there were FOUR things about him that Israel (and the entire world) would know.
First and fore most He would be known and called DIVINE!
Is it any wonder that when Jesus confronted the demons throughout his ministry that they above all others knew and acknowledged Jesus’ divinity by referring to him as the Son of God? The spiritual world obviously would know who this child was and what was His true identity.
When this child which, Isaiah is prophesying about comes He would come with POWER. Not just the sustaining power but with that power which is described in the scriptures as overcoming power, breaking through power, victorious power. Is it any wonder that Jesus came with the power that was able to overcome the effects of natural law, with the power that was able to break through the barriers of disease and infirmity? That when He spoke all the rules that govern the affairs of men were suddenly pushed aside and His will prevailed. When he came, the last stronghold of the evil one – DEATH – was made to flee and you and I have the victory. Do you understand why Paul can bellow from the pages of 1 Corinthians 15: 55-57, “Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
When this child who Isaiah is prophesying about comes He would come with PERMANENCY. Everlasting –
I want to put the next two phrases together and talk about them almost as if they are one. The child would bring a new dynamic of relationship into this world and this relationship would be an eternal / everlasting relationship. Over the years you and both have experienced relationships with people. As you mature you notice that relationships move and change with winds of time. When I first moved to Oregon I knew almost no one but I was excited because there were a couple of friends that I had from college who lived here in the Portland area. I was so excited when I got settled in and went to find them. One was a fellow named Harry, who some of you know. When Harry and I got together it was as if we had stopped talking yesterday and pickup the conversation the next day even thought several years had go elapsed since we had seen each other. The other fellow’s name was Dave. When I called him it was if I was talking to a stranger. He wasn’t impolite but when I suggested we get together he asked me to call his secretary and make an appointment. It took me almost a month of calling before we could find a time to have lunch. I have met with him only 2 times since 1978. Once for lunch and another time when he dropped of his daughter for a youth event at which I was speaking yet at one time we were the best of friends. What happened? I am not sure I can tell you but one thing I can assure you is that when Jesus comes into your life and becomes your friend you have a friend who is a friend forever. He doesn’t change! He doesn’t grow stale in his relationship with you. Time doesn’t effect how close He is to you. He doesn’t become uninterested in you and what is happening in your life! He is the same, yesterday, today and forever! There is wonderful permanency in our relationship with Jesus. This child who was to come would change forever the conditions and dynamic of relations.
The Bible has a wonderful phrase “from everlasting to everlasting.” For just a moment think about that phrase. That which this child brings will be from everlasting on this hand to everlasting on the other hand. It stretches the mind beyond where we can in any way comfortably go.
Then let me speak about the kind of relationship, which He brings. It is PATERNAL relationship. A father relationship.
My wife and I have been for several weeks considering a decision we are making concerning our living arrangements. Several time during these weeks I have thought, “I wish my dad was alive so I could call him and ask him what he thinks.” It isn’t that I can’t make a decision without him but he was one man who I could ask a question and I know that what ever answer I got it would be well thought out and focused on my best interest. I regularly asked him questions even before he became a Christian. I even went so far as to ask him once if I should apply for a ministry position in a certain town. My decision was very effected by his response. He said, he didn’t think I should go to this town and then went on to explain why.
You see we all want to have those kinds of relationships with people where there is that paternal interest. We inherently believe that parents are always on our side, looking out for our best interest. That is why situations of abuse are so troublesome.
When this child who Isaiah is prophesying about comes He would come as PATERNITY. Jesus said, “If you have seen me you have seen the FATHER.” John 14 is rife with illusions of Jesus’ demonstration of explanations of the FATHER.
CONCLUSION: Story Robert Fulghum in It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It, tells a story involving his daughter, Molly. One day, as Fulghum was ready to leave for work, Molly handed him two brown paper sacks. In one was his lunch. What was in the other was a mystery. When Fulghum asked Molly what was in the mystery bag, she said, "Just some stuff—take it with you." At lunchtime, Fulghum tore open the mystery bag, dumping the contents onto his desk. The contents consisted of: two hair ribbons, three small stones, a plastic dinosaur, a pencil stub, a tiny seashell, two animal crackers, a marble, a used lipstick, a small doll, two chocolate kisses, and thirteen pennies.
Later in the day, when Fulghum was cleaning off his desk before going home, he wiped the contents of Molly’s bag into the wastebasket. As he said, "There wasn’t anything in there I needed." That evening Molly asked where her bag was. He told her he had left it at his office, and asked, "why?" Molly said, "Those are my things in the sack, Daddy, the ones I really like—I thought you might like to play with them, but now I want them back.
You didn’t lose the bag did you, Daddy?"
"Those are my things in the sack, Daddy, the ones I really like." To Fulghum the hair ribbons, small stones, pencil stub, a used lipstick and all the rest did not seem like much. To Molly, they were her most priceless treasures. The things she loved the most. But Fulghum did not have the sight to see their true value.
Christmas time will be quickly upon us. Don’t loose the Child (God’s most precious treasure) during the hussel and bussel of this time.
