Day 274

Day 274

Pray (ACts)

Read - Isaiah 9:6-7 

Message - Alan Burke 
Today we come ultimately before the true King, the King of kings (Rev 17:14), the one who sits enthroned over all earthly rules, over all people everywhere. One of the best known prophecies of the coming of Christ is from Isaiah 9. It comes in a time that the people were under the discipline of God, yet in the midst of it all, God is speaking through Isaiah to point his people to how this King would come. 

But before we think of this prophecy we think to David. David was the greatest king of God’s people, he was responsible for what was the golden age of Israel under (1 Chron 18:4). Remember how it all began, how he was left in the field as the youngest and least important son of Jesse, yet he became king and was a shepherd king who led God’s people. Even though Israel experienced a golden age, David was not a perfect king. He was one who demonstrated a heart that sometimes rebelled, at times he put what he wanted for himself before the will of God. He did some foolish, sinful things that put his people in danger to get what he wanted for himself.

The kings that followed went from bad to worse, the kingdom was split into two, the people were faithless, the were conquered by other nations who ruled over them and in a time such as this God speaks through Isaiah. In Isaiah 9:6-7 we are told “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

God was giving his people the promise of his divine grace to his people. This child has now come, the Son of God. This son and this promise of the incarnation is the invincible figure striding across the world stage. He is the Wonderful Counsellor one who is able to make wise plans. He is a ruler whose wisdom is beyond merely human capabilities, he is Mighty God. Everlasting Father as in king who is our benevolent protector, which is the task of the ideal king and is also the way God himself cares for his people. The Prince of Peace, whose reign will bring about peace, this king is the king that is divine. 

Isaiah focuses the messianic hope on an heir of David who would extend his rule from Israel to include all the Gentiles, and thus finally to bring to them the blessing of knowing the true God. Of the increase … no end. The empire of grace will forever expand, and every moment will be better than the last. Jesus has been given the throne of David (Lk 1:32), and rules with justice and with righteousness. This is the King that we have, this is the King we know through faith and this is the King who will return and take his people to himself. 

Pray (acTS)

Sing

WSC
Q47 What is forbidden in the first commandment?
The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, (Ps. 14:1) or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, (Rom. 1:21) and our God; (Ps. 81:10–11) and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone. (Rom. 1:25–26)
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