The Book Of Isaiah. Day 37, A Messianic Prophecy, Part Two

The Lord has been foretelling a time of distress but He is also foretelling a time of rejoicing. The first part of this prophecy, which we studied yesterday, was fulfilled during the days of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The remainder of this prophecy will be fulfilled when He returns to reign over the earth.

"You have enlarged the nation, and increased their joy; they rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire." (Isaiah 9:3-5) Gideon and his men won a great victory over the enemy nation of Midian in Judges 7 and there was much rejoicing, but that victory pales in comparison to the victory of the Messiah. Under His eternal reign, war will cease to exist. Israel will have peace on every side. Death and conflict and disease and distress will be no more.

These things will be possible because the King of kings and Lord of lords, of the royal tribe of Judah, of the direct lineage of David, will be in charge. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Isaiah says "to us", meaning the nation of Israel as a whole and to the tribe of Judah specifically; the Messiah will be of Jewish descent. But He will be the Savior of the Gentiles as well. He will be the Savior of all who place their trust in Him, Jews and Gentiles alike.

There can be no doubt that Isaiah is speaking of the Messiah. It would be blasphemy to refer to an ordinary man by the titles of "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". This can only be the Lord who is reigning over the earth---the Lord in the person of God the Son. To call anyone else by these titles would be an abomination.

If this were not already made clear by what Isaiah says in verse 6, the concluding verses of Isaiah's prophecy will make it clear. No mere man can reign over every nation of the world, much less reign over the entire world forever and ever. "Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:7)

How can a human being born of the line of David live forever? How can the Lord be born as a man? This is something that can only be done by the Lord Himself, so Isaiah says, "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Even the prophet Isaiah didn't know exactly how the Lord was going to fulfill this prophecy but he had faith that the Lord would accomplish it. 

We are blessed to be living in a time when we know how the Lord accomplished it! He accomplished it through the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ who is fully God and fully man. Because He has already fulfilled that portion of the prophecy, we can be absolutely confident that He will fulfill the second portion of the prophecy, which is that someday the Lord Jesus Christ will be King over all the earth, forever and ever, and that we who have placed our faith in Him will live forever and ever under His peaceful and glorious reign.