The faithful king to come 9:2-7

 

In contrast to Ahaz, who refused to listen to and obey God, the Lord would raise up a faithful king who would be born and reign in the future (the Millennium). This pericope climaxes the present section (7:1-9:7) dealing with the signs of God's presence.¹¹⁷Again a child is the centerpiece of the prophecy and provides a sign and hope for the future.

9:2 Light would come to those walking in darkness as they lived in a dark land (v. 1), namely, the Israelites.¹¹⁸God would enlighten them by bringing new light to them even though they did not deserve it (cf. Matt. 4:15-16). This was revelation about the future that was sure compared to the unreliable predictions of mediums and wizards (cf. 8:19).

"The darkness-light motif points to a creative work of God, who alone can make such a transformation (cf.4:5; Gn. 1:2-3; 2 Cor. 4:6)."¹¹⁹

9:3 God would reveal His presence to His people, and the results would be national growth (cf. 7:20-23; 49:19-23) and abundance (cf. 5:10; 33:23; 35:1-2), really every type of joy.

9:4 God would deliver them from their enemies, primarily physical but also spiritual enemies. The Assyrians would impose a yoke on the Israelites, but God would break that yoke off (cf. Exod. 1:11; 2:11; 3:7-8; 5:4-6, 10-14; 6:6-7; Lev. 26:13; Matt. 11:29-30). This deliverance would be entirely of God and against overwhelming odds, as when God broke the yoke of Midian (Judg. 6-7, cf. especially 6:35; 7:2-14, and 20).

9:5 God would not just give victory to Israel, but He would cause wars to cease (cf. Ps. 46:9-10). His people would enter into the fruits of a past victory, namely, the victory of their Messiah.

9:6 The end of war depends on the coming of a person, a royal person yet one never explicitly called a king here (cf. Matt. 11:27; 28:18; John 5:22). He would appear as a child (emphatic in the Hebrew text); he would not just be God come to earth but God born on earth, both human and divine. The "child born"points to His humanity and the "son given"to His deity.¹²⁰God would not defeat Israel's enemies by using larger, more powerful armies, but through the influence of a child to be born (cf. Ps. 2:7; John 3:16). This child to be born to Isaiah's people would have traits that God was with them. Thus He would be the ultimate fulfillment of the Immanuel sign (7:14). Four titles underscore His deity and humanity.

"Wonderful Counselor"is literally "wonder of a counselor"(cf. Judg. 13:18). His counsel would transcend merely human wisdom. Jesus advised, for example, that strength lies in weakness, victory in surrender, and life in death. He would be "Mighty God,"would possess all the power of God (cf. 10:21; Deut. 10:17; Jer. 32:18). He would not just be the father of the nation in the sense that Israel's kings were, but He would be the "Eternal Father"whose reign, because He is God, would last forever. In climax, He would be the "Prince of Peace,"the monarch whose coming results in peace between God and man and between man and man.

"Isaiah does not intend that we should understand that in actual life the Child would bear or be addressed by these names, anymore than in actual life He should bear the name Immanuel. . . . The thought is that the Child is worthy to bear these names, and that they are accurate descriptions and designations of His being and character."¹²¹

"To summarize, the messianic ruler's titles depict Him as an extraordinary military strategist who will be able to execute His plans because of His supernatural abilities as a warrior. His military prowess will ensure His beneficent rule over His people, who will enjoy peace and prosperity because of His ability to subdue all His enemies."¹²²

The first two titles suggest divine wisdom and power, and the second two present the ends He would achieve through the use of those attributes, namely, fatherly care and sovereign peace.

There is an interesting alternation of the human and divine descriptions of the Messiah in this verse, which is especially clear in the Hebrew text.

9:7 He would be the final king whose reign would result in increasing peace forever. Most governments increase through war, but this one would grow through peace. He would be an eschatological figure yet He would be a Davidic king, the perfect Davidic descendant who would accomplish for Israel all that God intended in justice and righteousness (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12-17). This would happen because Yahweh of armies Himself would bring it to pass for the welfare of His people. It is, therefore, certain of fulfillment.