“Unto Us”
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 5th March service and hymns are below.
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Our verses are:
Isa 9:1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isa 9:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Isa 9:4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
Isa 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
Isa 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.
Isa 9:7 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 for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
“Unto Us”
The Lord’s message to Isaiah combines prophecies foretelling punishment for the wicked with promises of mercy and comfort for God’s remnant people. Judah’s enemies were tools in God’s hands, enlisted to bring judgment on the nation that forgot the Lord. Yet even as Assyria assembled to do God’s will, a message of hope accompanied God’s warnings. Isaiah spoke of a coming child, the virgin’s child, whose kingdom and power will never end. The Lord was thoughtful to comfort His people despite the trouble and sorrow ahead.
Isaiah’s gospel
Soon Israel would be ravaged, Judah and Jerusalem would follow, but deliverance and salvation is the portion of all to whom the Lord shows grace. The gospel comforts all who rest upon God’s word and Isaiah preached the gospel. Isaiah’s hearers lived in days of great darkness yet into that darkness shined a greater light and this light shined on them. This light is the Wonderful child whose birth is foretold, the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. Many years would pass before the Christ-child actually came, yet present tenses, ‘is born’ and ‘is given’ are used for the future certainty of His arrival.
Particular grace
We should note the precision of Isaiah’s language here in this great Messianic prophecy. This child who will come, the child born and the son given, is given to and for God’s elect. It is specifically and particularly ‘unto us’ the Son is given. Here the remnant people upon whom God’s grace comes with sovereign purpose are identified separately from those upon whom judgment will fall. The prophet distinguishes between those to whom grace is sent, the ‘us’, (v. 6), and those who do not turn to the Lord (v. 13). Judgment does not bring repentance, only effectual grace can soften a sinner’s heart.
Seeing Jesus
Here Isaiah’s sublime descriptions of the Messiah lift the eyes of the downcast that they might glimpse the Lord’s Anointed. Here is solid ground for faith and hope. Here is more evidence of Immanuel, God with us. The child born is also the son given. Both facts blend sweetly together. To be born in flesh Jesus left His Father’s side. To save His people He was freely given.
The Prince of Peace
Now we learn of Christ’s fitness to reign and His strength to shoulder the weight of kingly office and righteous government. We learn of His names and nature: Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. These are potent, glorious names that display to believing minds the true character of the child and the true identity of the Son. We learn Christ’s kingdom shall endure forever and consist in perfect peace.
Faith in Jesus Christ
The revelations of Christ’s coming were sent to the elect remnant to sustain them through centuries of oppression and captivity. They continue to illuminate the church in every dark age. Whatever it is that you who trust in Christ are called to endure in this life you know your help is found in the Lord Himself and not in the strength of men. Long before the Saviour was born of Mary, Christ’s people were already being sustained by faith in His accomplishments.
Holiness and love
But let us note, too, how holiness and love, justice and grace, punishment and mercy co-exist side by side in the Lord’s dealings with fallen men and women. As God’s righteousness is visited upon His enemies in judgment His pity flows to His children in love. The final section of our chapter reminds us that wickedness shall never go unnoticed nor evil unpunished. The hand of God ‘is stretched out still’, displaying His purity and truth.
Reconciled by His death
This message was given to believers long ago from God by Isaiah. Christ’s coming brought hope to the hopeless. It spoke peace to those surrounded by enemies. It gave courage to a people gripped by fear. The elect of God looked to Jesus, the coming Prince of Peace, and by faith found comfort in trusting Him. God’s elect still look to Jesus and experience the peace procured through the blood of His cross.
‘His hand stretched out still’
As the Lord gives us eyes to see our own sin, discernment to know the enemies around us and within, He also lifts our eyes to see Christ and gives us faith to trust in Him. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. He who comforted His people in days long past comforts His people still. The same ‘hand stretched out still’ to judge, is stretched out still to bless.
Amen
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 561
“Every battle … is with confused noise.” Isa. 9. 5
W. Gadsby C.M.
1
Jesus our heavenly Warrior is,
He fights our battles well;
His wisdom, love, and power displays,
And conquers death and hell.
2
When this almighty Warrior stood
The church’s woes to bear,
Sin, Satan, and the curse of God,
In blazing wrath drew near.
3
He bore their every poisonous dart,
Nor from God’s vengeance fled;
Hell seized his agonisèd heart,
And, lo! he bowed his head.
4
He stained his garments in their blood,
And, O victorious King!
In triumph rose the conquering God,
Sweet victory to sing.
5
He satisfied the claims of law,
In that tremendous day;
Let saints from hence their comfort draw,
And sing their cares away.
6
O for a living faith to view
The victories of the Lamb;
And sweetly lean upon him too,
Nor fear to trust his name.
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 1057
“The people … in darkness have seen a great light.” Isa. 9. 2
C. Wesley 8.7.
1
Light of those whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death,
Come, and, thy bright beams revealing,
Dissipate the clouds beneath.
The new heaven’s and earth’s Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise,
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring day upon our eyes.
2
Still we wait for thy appearing;
Life and joy thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheering
Every poor benighted heart.
Come, and manifest the favour
Thou hast for the ransomed race;
Come, thou dear exalted Saviour!
Come, and bring thy gospel grace.
3
Save us in thy great compassion,
O thou mild, pacific Prince!
Give the knowledge of salvation,
Give the pardon of our sins.
By thy all-sufficient merit
Every burdened soul release;
By the shining of thy Spirit,
Guide us into perfect peace.
The Lord’s people of Isaiah’s day and during the following years waited patiently for the coming of the promised child, the Son of God. Today we are blessed to have seen in all its glory the wonderful work of redemption and grace by the Lord Jesus Christ. Both they, and we, look to Christ by faith, trusting in the power and efficacy of His blood.
5 March 2023