1 December - The Name Above Every Other Name

1st December 2018
Isaiah 9: 1-7

For to Us a Child Is Born

9  But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2  The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

News of a new baby can be so exciting! At the beginning of December, as we look forward to Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, it is still exciting!

They do not stay babies very long though, and in Isaiah 9: 6 the writer does not linger long with the baby before moving on to the Son and then the Man on whose shoulders the government of all things will rest. 

Isaiah then presents names for this ruler which proclaim how He will rule.

He will be called…

Wonderful Counsellor: A Counsellor in the sense of giving counsel, advice, and guidance. The Messiah is no normal Counsellor though; He is a Wonderful, extraordinary, marvellous, astonishing Counsellor with a wonderful plan which all the world will marvel at. 

Mighty God: He is a powerful warrior who is capable of carrying out his plan.

Everlasting Father: He is an enduring, compassionate, provider who rules with love.

Prince of Peace: His rule will bring wholeness and peace to individuals and society at large.

All of these names of the Child, all these aspects of the Messiah, were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

Whether we want to know the reality of His rule in our life, of course, is entirely up to us.

 

Pete and Sandra C