Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7 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.
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.
Devotional: Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate God’s most gracious gift of love to mankind. And as we continue to consider His perspective as He sent His Son, Emmanuel, God with us, we look at His intent as He shared, centuries in advance, what was to come.
Consider a 30,000-foot glance at God’s redemption story. He called a people to be His own (Israel). He set them apart and gave them strict laws that would identify them as His. Those laws included a sacrificial system that would constantly remind them of their propensity for sin and rebellion, and their need for forgiveness. God’s intent was that they would walk in obedience and reflect His glory here on earth, but their rebellion would consistently lead them into bondage. Therefore, they needed rescue, and God would do just that. He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, and He delivered them time and again from ruthless kings.
Amidst this pattern of rebellion, rescue, obedience, then back to rebellion again, God began to remind, through His prophets, a promise given when they became a people of blessing. A promise of a coming blessing, a rescue, a King, whose Kingdom would never end. And we see details of this promise spoken through the prophet Isaiah: a child will be born. One who would be a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
The crescendo? The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Reflect:
- When you think about the long-awaited promise and the fulfillment of that promise through Jesus, what thoughts come to mind about the zeal of the Lord of which Isaiah speaks?