Isaiah 9

CHAPTER 9THEME: Prophecy of the Child coming to David’s throne and the dark days attending His first coming and preceding His second comingThis chapter is one with which Christians are generally familiar because of the prophecy concerning the coming Child, who is Christ. Handel’s use of this chapter in The Messiah has added to the familiarity of the church with this particular passage. I am always thrilled when I listen to a presentation of Handel’s work, especially when they sing, “And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The material presented in Isaiah 7-12 contains prophecies that Isaiah made during the reign of Ahaz. Ahaz was the one bad king that reigned during the period in which Isaiah prophesied. Isaiah began to prophesy at the death of Uzziah, who reigned for fifty-two years and was a good king. The next king was Jotham, Uzziah’s son, who was also a good king. The next king was Ahaz, the grandson of Uzziah and the son of Jotham, who was a bad king and a phony besides. It was during the reign of Ahaz that Isaiah made these prophecies concerning the Messiah. It was a dark period in the history of the nation.

Isaiah 9:1

THE HOPE OF ISRAELIn verses Isa_9:1-7 we find that the hope of Israel is in the Divine Child in both His first and second comings. The translation of this verse is not established. Actually, contrary meanings are suggested. This poses no problem to the reverent mind but reveals a divine purpose in permitting both to be possible. “And afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.” Others have translated it: “But in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” It is difficult to see how both translations, “more grievously afflict” and “made it glorious,” can be sustained, but I believe it is enigmatic for a reason. The first translation would refer to the near fulfillment when God did afflict the northeastern portion of the land comparatively lightly in the invasions of the Syrians and later brought heavier suffering upon them in the carrying away of the people into captivity by the Assyrians (see 2Ki_15:29). But the other translation, “hath he made it glorious,” refers to the far fulfillment in the first coming of Christ. He did “make glorious” that area. Galilee was the despised area because it was a place where Gentiles had congregated. The Lord Jesus passed by Jerusalem, the snobbish religious center of the day. Jesus was neither born nor reared in Jerusalem. Nazareth was His hometown; and, when Nazareth rejected Him, He went down to Capernaum, which is on the Sea of Galilee in the despised periphery of the kingdom.

Zebulun and Naphtali were located in the north, with Naphtali along the west bank of the Sea of Galilee and Zebulun adjoining Naphtali on the west. Nazareth was in Zebulun, and Capernaum (Jesus’ headquarters) was in Naphtali. As far as I can tell, the Lord Jesus never changed His headquarters from Capernaum. In fact, that explains why He pronounced such a severe judgment upon Capernaumit had access to light as no other place had. Mat_4:12-16 tells us, “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” You will note that Matthew omitted the questionable clause. Otherwise, we would have the Holy Spirit’s own interpretation of the passage. I believe that the double meaning is intended by the Holy Spirit. Both are surely true.

Isaiah 9:2

Regardless of the way verse Isa_9:1 is translated or interpreted, it is obvious that the people in despised Galilee were in the darkness of paganism and religious tradition. That is one place where the Old Testament and paganism from the outside mingled and mixed. When the Lord Jesus began His ministry in that area, the people did see a great light. They saw the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Joh_8:12). This was fulfilled at the first coming of Christ. I think it is safe to say that the first two verses refer to our Lord’s first coming. But to what period do the following verses refer? It is the belief of certain outstanding Bible expositors, among whom are Dr. F. C. Jennings and Dr. H. A. Ironside, that there is a hiatus, an interval, between verses Isa_9:2 and Isa_9:3, so that while the first two verses refer to Christ’s first coming, verse Isa_9:3 refers to His second coming, as we shall see.

Isaiah 9:3

The nation had been greatly multiplied and the people were more religious, but the joy was gone. They had a lot of religion, but they never had Christ. It was a period of great manifestation but no real joy. The hiatus between verses Isa_9:2 and Isa_9:3 has already been two thousand years long. Why didn’t Isaiah give any prophecy about this period? Because during this interval God is calling out the church which was unknown to Isaiah. In Rom_16:25-26 Paul says, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Paul makes it very clear that the prophets passed over that which they did not see, as Isaiah does in the chapter before us. In Isaiah 63 we will come to a place where, with just a comma, Isaiah passes over a period of time that is already two thousand years long. The people in Isaiah’s day had no revelation concerning the church, but today the church has been revealed and the interval is filled in.

This makes it clear that the rest of this chapter refers to the nation Israel, and the nation that was “multiplied” was the nation over which Ahaz was king. Notice that Paul says it was “made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.” So, you see, the revelation of the church was for a different congregation. Isaiah was speaking only to one nation, his own nation of Israel.

Isaiah 9:4

When will the burden be broken? It will be broken when Christ comes again. Why is it that Israel today cannot enjoy peace? Why are they plagued along every border? They are having all this trouble because they rejected the only One who can bring peace, their own Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. The power of the oppressor will not be broken until the Lord comes the second time.

Isaiah 9:5

What a sad thing it was when those fine young Jewish athletes were killed during the Olympic Games in Munich a few years ago. They were murdered by terrorists; and, when their bodies were sent back to Israel, their loved ones and the whole nation mourned. What is in back of all this? Israel has a Messiah whom they have rejected. He is the Prince of Peace, and He is the only One who can bring peace to this troubled and persecuted people. While these verses complete the thought of verse Isa_9:3, they also look beyond the immediate time to the Great Tribulation period which is coming in the future. Now we see the prediction of their Messiah’s coming:

Isaiah 9:6

How will this come about? “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Is this a reference to the first coming of Christ? Most Christians seem to think it is, because they quote it at Christmastime. However, I feel sure that it refers to the second coming of Christ when He will be “born” to the nation of Israel. This is a complete prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ at His second coming, as Isaiah 53 is of His first coming. These verses continue the thought which we picked up in verse Isa_9:3, and they look forward to the second coming of Christ. The question arises of how “a child is born” at His second coming. First of all, let me clearly state that He was not born “unto us,” the nation Israel, at His first coming. They didn’t receive Him. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (Joh_1:11). Although He was born at Bethlehem the first time, He was not received by the nationonly a few shepherds welcomed Him. The wise men who came to worship Him were Gentiles from a foreign land. If you read verse Isa_9:6 carefully, you will see that it was not fulfilled at His first coming, nor were verses Isa_9:3, Isa_9:5, and Isa_9:7. To say that Christ will be born to the nation Israel might be better stated. Actually, Israel will be born as a nation “at once,” which is made perfectly clear in the final chapter of Isaiah: “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed [that is the Great Tribulation], she brought forth her children” (Isa_66:7-8). Israel is to be “delivered of a man child” in the future, not by His birth, but by Israel’s birth. This will be the new birth of the nation Israel when Christ comes again. Israel will be born at the second coming of Christ. I see no objection to calling attention to the fact that the child is bornthat is, His humanity. The son is given, which will be true at His second coming. In other words, it will be the same Jesus who was here nearly two thousand years go. “The government shall be upon his shoulder.” The shoulder speaks of strength. The government of this world will be placed on His strong shoulders at His second coming; it was not at His first coming. Notice the names that are given to our Lord: “Wonderful"this is not an adjective; this is His name. In Jdg_13:18 we see the preincarnate Christ appearing as the Captain of the hosts of the Lord: “And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” “Secret” in this verse is the same word as is translated “Wonderful.” In Mat_11:27 the Lord Jesus said, “…no man knoweth the Son, but the Father….” The people did not know it, but He was Wonderful, and people still don’t know it today. There are Christians who have trusted Him as Savior but really don’t know how wonderful He is. He is going to put down rebellion when He comes to earth the second time, and He is going to reign on earth. His name is “Wonderful!” “Counsellor"He never sought the counsel of man, and He never asked for the advice of man. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Rom_11:34). God has no counsellor. The Lord Jesus Christ never called His disciples together and said, “Now, fellows, what do you think I ought to do?” You don’t read anything like that in Scripture. The Lord called them together and said, “This is what I am going to do, because this is My Father’s will.” And Christ has been made unto us wisdom (see 1Co_1:30). Most of us are not very smart. We must go to Him for help. “The mighty God"The Hebrew word for this name is El Gibbor. He is the One to whom “all power is given.” He is the omnipotent God. That little baby lying helpless on Mary’s bosom held the universe together. He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” He is the Mighty God! “The everlasting Father"Avi-ad, Father of eternity. This simply means that He is the Creator of all things, even time, the ages, and the far-off purpose of all things. As John said, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (Joh_1:3). In Col_1:16 Paul said, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Then in Heb_1:1-2 we read, “God…. hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds [ages].” The translation of the Greek word aioµn should be “ages” instead of “worlds,” and that is the thought in this title of HisFather of eternity. “The Prince of Peace"Sar-Shalohim. There can be no peace on this earth until He is reigning. His government is not static; there is increase and growth. No two days are going to be alike when Jesus is reigning. He is going to occupy the throne of David. This is a literal throne which He will occupy at His second coming. Justice will be dominant in His rule. God’s zeal, not man’s zany plans, will accomplish this. THE HELP OF ISRAELThe remainder of the chapter, verses Isa_9:8-21, covers the local situation in Isaiah’s day and will be partially fulfilled in the immediate future, but it also looks forward to the time of the Great Tribulation for a full and final fulfillment. God will continue to punish this nation and all nations that have turned their backs on Him, until He comes again. Modern men don’t like to hear thisthey would rather listen to something comforting. Check your history books and see what happened to Israel and other nations who left God out. They have had a sad, sordid story, and I am afraid that you and I live in a nation that is getting ripe for judgment. If we escape, we will be the only nation in the history of the world that has escaped.