Mahwah, NJ Bible Conference 2021 - Ministry

Grow In Grace

Isaiah 9:6-7
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.
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.

Zebulon and Naphtali and the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel were suffering in great darkness (9:1). Yet a great light would rise upon them (verse 2)! What is that light? "Unto us a Child is born." For God's people, it is Christmas every day. The Child has been born, and God's light has come.

Moreover, "a Son is given." He is the Eternal Son. And His government will be distinct from everything we know now. Righteousness normally cannot exist with peace because righteousness demands that I must be dealt with. But Christ will reign in peace! God has done a work through the death and resurrection of Christ in order to deal with everything that righteousness would require.

Note again that it is only "His shoulder" which sustains the government. When, as a Shepherd, He rescues His lost sheep, He places it upon His shoulders (plural), which represents double security. Yet the whole universal rule will only require one shoulder.

Evil that remains unaddressed will only increase. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Yet His one shoulder will be enough to halt the activity of wickedness throughout the entire world.

Also, we learn about His name, which is also singular and yet is presented in these several aspects. He does not only have a wonderful name (as in Judges 13:18), but His name is "Wonderful."

In addition, His name is Counselor to bring help and understanding. He is called the Mighty God. He is Father of Eternity, providing blessing. He is the Prince of Peace, the one who is its source and has secured it for us.

The impact of such a government and such a peace will never be interrupted. Violence and corruption will cease. No one will have to say, "Know the Lord," because everyone will know Him (Jeremiah 31:34). This is the one whose coming kingdom we await.