Day 6 – An Established Throne

“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.
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.
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.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
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.
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.”

~ Isaiah 9:2-7

Isaiah is a man that God allowed to see much of who He is while Isaiah was still alive. The first few chapters of Isaiah are full of visions and accounts of the impending judgement that God will pour out on His people. In Isaiah 1 we see the unfaithful city and the vengeance it is due. Isaiah 2 is the picture of the soul shaking power seen in the day of the Lord’s judgement. Isaiah 3 describes the punishment that is coming to both Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah 5 is a set of warnings that God lays out for those who disobey Him.

Yet in Isaiah 6 we see a bit of a tone change from the wrath of God. In that chapter we see Isaiah getting a glimpse of the Lord being worshipped by angels in the throneroom of heaven. If for just a second, all of us get a glimpse of God in all of His holiness. It is that holiness that Isaiah is privileged to get a front row seat to in this heavenly vision.

God also gives Isaiah quite a few glimpses into what the Messiah’s character would be like and what He would do. In the Scripture we just read we got a glimpse of the One who would bring light and joy to Israel and to the outermost reaches of the world.  It is this light that announces His coming in the gospel of John:

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ~ John 1:9

The character of His divine identity is something that unfolds here in Isaiah 9 and then is reinforced in Christ’s life and ministry as revealed early on in the New Testament. As the Wonderful Counselor He is the great high priest who is able to sympathize with us with us in our weakness (Hebrews 4:15). As our mighty God He is One who makes the blind to see, lame to walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf to hear and He calls the dead to life. As the Everlasting Father Christ is the walking picture of the Heavenly Father to us (John 14:6). As the Prince of Peace Christ is our peace who tears down the dividing wall between a holy God and a sinful man (Ephesians 2:14).

The four Gospels are the announcement that this wonderful King has come. He’s established a kingdom that is not of this world and will never fail. It is a kingdom whose subjects are marked by love, peace, kindness and self-control. As He establishes His kingdom, the waiting world can do nothing else but to sing of the King.

May we look to see the King as He’s revealed Himself in the pages of Scripture. May we know Christ as the reigning King who knows the hurt of His people, who rules over every part of our life, who is constantly revealing the glory of the Father and the King who is pleading our our behalf. May we praise the King who has come and is coming again!

Prayer

Take some time to pray to God in complete recognition of who Christ is and what He has done. Give thanks for the Son in a time of thankful prayer.