God’s Promised Wonderful Working

Isaiah 9:1-7

(Is. 11:1–9)

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.

2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.

5 For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

What wonderful things God had promised in the Messiah to come!  Out of the darkness and distress of God’s people Israel who He had heavily disciplined for their continual rebellion and disobedience He offered hope and light of redeeming grace!  He seemingly lightly esteemed them and heavily oppressed them for their sin, but now offered a light to illuminate their darkness of the shadow of death hanging over them, both physical and spiritual.  This is the gospel with a future king and Christ we now know from this side of His coming into the world as our joy and hope.  The Lord would break the yoke of bondage on His people as from out of Egypt and the power of the oppressor of of our souls, that old serpent of old called the devil and Satan (Revelation 12:9).  He has won the battle as at Midian and delivered us all in the promised Messiah from the battle that was against us.  This Child was born as King to rule as God’s only Son which gives Him that right of government over all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages.  He is truly wonderful, our counselor, the mighty God in the flesh (John 1:14), our eternal Father (2 John 1:3), and our prince of peace with God (Romans 5:1).  Yes, His kingdom has no end as our Lord and King.  He has and will establish His kingdom rule from the throne of New Jerusalem to come down from heaven to earth.  His justice and righteousness of judgment will replace our sinful dabbling of government and nations which we now endure.  God’s zeal has done all these things.  Such planning and design for eternal hope in Jesus the Christ who is the promised Messiah to bring His chosen people out of sin’s bondage in darkness into such marvelous light of His indwelling presence until we see His face!  This is God’s promised wonderful working I doing great things to increase our joy in Him as a new and everlasting nation of His people, the invisible church!