One of the most familiar passages of Old Testament Scripture
quoted at Christmas is Isaiah 9:6-7
6 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.
7 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.
These verses come at the end of section where Isaiah brings the bad of a
coming siege by the barbaric Assyrians.
The regions of Zebulan and Naphali (9:1) would be the first to be
invaded and begin a period of great darkness.
Despite the bad news, Isaiah promises the good news of a day when “there will be no more gloom,” a time
when the “deep darkness” will be
inundated with “great light” (9:2). At time of rejoicing and joy (9:3) when God’s
people are free from the heavy hand of oppression (9:4), and a time where there
will be no more war (9:5). “How does the victorious, covenant-fulfilling work
of God come about? By what way do the Lord’s people enter a non-contributory
salvation? By mere fact of the King’s birth. The emphasis rests not on us
but on a child is born. Child: his human decent. Son his maleness
and dignity in the royal line. Born of human parentage but also given
by the Lord. His people’s shoulders are delivered when his shoulders
accept the burden of rule. He will be called: literally ‘one will
call his name.’ In its highest sense ‘name’ sums up character; it declares the
person. The perfection of this King is seen in his qualification for
ruling (Wonderful Counsellor), his person and power (Mighty God),
his relations to his subjects (Everlasting Father) and the society he
creates (Prince of Peace).”[1]
This King’s birth is what we are to celebrate all year round, but what we
give special attention during Advent. Unfortunately,
in celebration of the King’s birth, He often only receives a brief
acknowledgment. In other words, the
emphasis falls on “us” and not “a child has been born.” That may be part of the reason so many of us
experience a depressive let down once Christmas has passed.
Waiting in faith and hope are a central theme of the Believers life and
the heart of what we celebrate at Advent. It is time when despite the darkness,
sadness, and oppression we may face, we know that the King is going to return
and fulfill the promises given to us by Isaiah. As Michael Green aptly wrote; “It is by
allowing his mind to dwell on the return of Christ that the Christian will
regain a sense of balance and proportion, however difficult his present
circumstances, and the peace which passes understanding will take root deeply
in his heart.”[2]
[1]
J. Alec Motyer, Isaiah, An Introduction & Commentary.
[2]
Michael Green, The Second Epistle of Peter and the Epistle of Jude; An
Introduction and Commentary.
No comments:
Post a Comment