Introduction
I don’t expect any of you to remember, but I promised at this time last year to preach tonight’s sermon at some time. My pre-Christmas message in 2001 was on the subject of “God’s Unique Sign” and in it I briefly discussed the verse in Isaiah 9:6 where the promised son is to be called “wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace”. I have long wanted to preach on just this verse and tonight’s the night!
It is, I think, one of the best known verses in the Bible, because it is read as part of carols by candlelight events and other Christmas celebrations around the world every year. It is certainly one of the highlights of every performance of Handel’s “Messiah”, of which there are many at this time of year.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given ... and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
These words were written by the prophet Isaiah more than 700 years before the birth of Jesus. As far as I’m concerned, that simple fact is sufficient proof that the Bible is God’s word. Some people try to claim that the Old Testament prophecies are actually just stories, written after the events to make it seem like God had revealed it beforehand. While I totally reject that idea, it simply doesn’t arise in relation to this verse. Seven hundred years! This is no fabrication, this is the revealed word of God spoken through Isaiah.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given ... and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Some people try to claim that these words merely predicted the birth of another one of Israel’s kings, a good king to replace the evil Ahaz who reigned at the time. But as I will argue in a moment, this is absolute nonsense.
It is right that these words are read at Christmas because they were clearly fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son. No one in the history of the world comes even close to being worthy of the name given in this verse. This is no beat up, this is the revealed word of God spoken through Isaiah.
The Name in detail
In Hebrew there are 8 words in this Name, arranged in pairs. In each pair there is one word that speaks of something metaphysical, something divine, something “out there” about the character of this Son who was to be given; and the other word is more functional, speaking of what this person would do, what his role would be.
(The former are shown in BOLD in the following table, the latter are shown in lower case)
WONDERFUL Counsellor
GOD Mighty/Hero
Father EVERLASTING
Prince PEACE
Let’s work through these words one by one to uncover what they really mean.
· Wonderful
What do you think of when you read this word “wonderful”?
For all you soccer fans, the root word in Hebrew is pele. Now, I don’t know if the great Brazilian’s name comes from that same root, but when you think of the deeds of Pele on the soccer field and how wonderful they were compared to all the other players, you have a glimpse of what this word might mean in Isaiah’s prophecy.
“Pele” is used in Ps 78:12 which says that “God did wonders in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt”. It means there that God is a doer of miracles, of marvellous, wonderful things that are almost beyond understanding and are certainly beyond mere human ability.
It is also used in Judges 13:18 where it does mean “incomprehensible” or “beyond understanding”. In that verse it is talking about God.
Because other parts of the Bible say that God is pele, is wonderful, there is no doubt that when Isaiah calls this promised Child pele he means to say that he was divine, that this would be God Himself coming in the form of a child. In fact, the coming of the child would be the greatest wonder of them all, God’s greatest act of salvation.
· Counsellor
What do you think of with the word “counsellor”?
Isaiah 11:2 - speaking of the new king that would arise from “the stump of Jesse” (King David’s father), says that the spirit of the Lord will rest upon him, “the Spirit of counsel and of power”.
Micah 4:9 - another verse that links the word “counsellor” with the king.
Counsel = that perfect wisdom that enables the king to make right decisions in leading the people. It refers to perfect understanding of the will of God, knowing exactly what is right and what God’s purposes are.
Kings have around them a team of counsellors, advising them about the different aspects of their kingdom. But, the Wonderful Counsellor of Isaiah’s prophecy has no need of a team of advisers. He is able in Himself to know what is right and to make right decisions without resort to a second opinion. Later on in his book, Isaiah explicitly says that these are characteristics of God Himself:
Isa 28:29 - “All this comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.”
So, to call the promised child “wonderful counsellor” is a clear statement of deity, that this child is God. He is the perfect king for His people because He is not merely another human king, but a wonder of a king, perfect in wisdom and knowledge, able to lead and guide his people with perfect justice and truth.
· Mighty
What comes to mind when you hear someone described as “mighty”?
Literally, the root word used here is “gibbor”, which means “hero”, a doer of great things, of mighty acts done for someone else that they couldn’t do for themselves.
Has anyone driven down to Canberra lately? What do you see all along the Hume and Federal Highways all the way between Sydney and Canberra? The rest places are all in memory of winners of the Victoria Cross – men who in war have done heroic deeds that put their own safety at grave risk in order to help their comrades. Deeds worthy of commemoration and worthy of being honoured as special.
In the Bible, think of Moses leading the people out of Egypt; or Joshua leading them against Jericho into the promised land,; or young David, when he took on Goliath who had dominated over the armies of King Saul for so long. Slaying that giant was a mighty act, a heroic act of salvation for the people at that time.
The promised child, says Isaiah, will be mighty.
· God
The simplest Hebrew word for God is “El”. It is the word that is used to refer to the one true God, the creator, the supreme being. It is used in conjunction with other words to give God a variety of more specific names such as “El Shaddei” or “God Almighty”. It is never used of a man – in fact it is often used as the opposite to the word “man”, eg “God is not a man”.
Here, it is combined with the word “gibbor”, hero. In giving the child this name, Isaiah is describing him as a hero who is far more than Moses or Joshua or David; he is calling him a divine hero, a God who does heroic acts. This is the God of salvation. Isaiah says in 10:21, just a chapter and a half later, when talking about Israel returning from captivity in Babylon:
“A remnant will return, will return to the Mighty God.”
Think of Christ, healing the blind, the lame, the sick; think of Christ calling Lazarus from the tomb; think of Christ, rising triumphantly from the grave, victorious over sin and death! Is there a greater hero than the Lord Jesus Christ? He is El Gibbor, the Mighty God.
· Everlasting
This word speaks about forever. It means in perpetuity, with no ending, but also no beginning.
It is said of God that He “lives forever” – Isaiah 57:15. Literally it means that He lives in the forever, He “inhabits eternity”. He is not caught up in or restricted by time as we are. Therefore, He does not change; He does not get older or slower or frail; nor does He need to mature, or grow or learn. He is the way He is, forever.
Isaiah says that the promised child is everlasting. Think about how astounding that statement really is. A child, born into the world, is yet called “everlasting”. This child will not come into existence when he is born, for he is everlasting -no ending, no beginning. Could Isaiah say any more plainly that this child is God incarnate, God become a child?
· Father
The best things about a good father include: compassion, loving care, protection, guidance, support, encouragement. Throughout the Bible God is called “Father”.
Ps 103:13 – as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has
compassion on those who fear Him.
Isa 63:16 - you O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your
name.
Isaiah’s prophecy boldly links these two names in relation to the promised child, saying that he is forever a father like that to his people. He is the Everlasting Father.
· Prince of Peace
What a magnificent and emphatic exclamation mark this name is in Isaiah’s prophecy! Remember that it was spoken to a people who were at war and whose king did was not handling the situation well. The people of God were under threat, both from enemy nations and also from the ungodliness of their own leader, Ahaz.
That is why, at the end of Isaiah 8, God’s people at the time are said to “see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom.” To them is the promise that they will see a great light, that their warfare will end because “unto us a child is born” and his name will be PRINCE of PEACE!
He is Prince of peace – because his kingdom will be one of peace. It won’t be established by fighting a war, but by bringing peace; it won’t be maintained by keeping an army to prevent enemies attacking, but will be a kingdom that He upholds in peace.
What did Jesus say to Pilate?
Jn 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight to prevent my arrest …. {but} my kingdom is from another place.”
He is Prince of peace – because the cause of war, human sinfulness and rebellion against God, will be dealt with. Later in Isaiah we read about one who will suffer for the sins of God’s people, who will be crushed because our wrong doing is laid upon him, who will be punished in our place. The end result of all this – we will have peace. When we are made right with God through putting our faith in Jesus, we have peace – a peace that passes all understanding.
Conclusion
My friends, the people who originally heard this message were encouraged to rejoice before God like people about to reap a great harvest. The announcement, 2700 odd years ago, that Christmas would one day arrive was a great cause for celebration.
We, too, can celebrate with them. We too can say that “unto US a child is born, unto US a Son is given ..” and we too can know him by the fourfold Name:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
Be in no doubt this Christmas, that the child we remember is nothing less than God Himself, come to earth as human baby, in order to fulfil these and other great promises.
{I am now going to play the music that Handel wrote for this verse. As we listen, please reflect upon the words, upon the name given to Christ in them, and seek God’s Spirit to apply them afresh to your hearts tonight.}
