Tuesday, December 18, 2018

To Us a Child is Born

“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.  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.” 
                                                                                                                                 -Isaiah 9:6-7

My reading plan (very appropriately) has me in the early chapters of Isaiah right now  This morning I came across the verses listed above, and what struck me wasn’t the richness (I’ve always been struck by it), but instead all that led up to these verses in the preceding chapters.  There is so much here about what the Messianic figure will accomplish in coming to the earth.  

I thought thus that it’d be helpful to give a quick synopsis of the Christ-figure’s work according to Isaiah 1-12.  I hope this blesses you and helps you to truly remember the "reason for the season." 

Isaiah 1a(:1-20) – Among God's people, religious practice hasn’t worked, because it hasn’t changed the heart.  The people have been given the Law, which, if they’ll keep it, will be righteousness for them (Dt. 6:25).  But they haven’t kept it, and indeed this inability serves to prove the fallenness of man in Adam (cf. Rom. 3:20).  Therefore, the Lord is going to have to atone for the people Himself (1:18).  The offended will have to become the offense.

-1b(:21-31) – Because of the lack of godliness among the people of God, the nation, symbolized as a “city,” is entirely evil, and living in a different paradigm entirely than what is God's purpose for them.  This city exemplifies what Augustine called the “City of Man,” which was being built ever since Cain went in his sinful pride away from God's seed to build cities (Gen. 4:17ff). Thus there is a need for a new godly city to be established, and God will build it.

-2a(:1-5) – God will establish this new glorious city up on a mountain, higher than all the other mountains.  Moses gave the Word of God to the people from a mountain (Ex. 20ff), and later, the city of God in the world, with the Temple in the middle, was founded on a mountain (in Jerusalem). Now, a new spiritual city with a new Temple is said to be built, out of which will flow the Word of God, drawing people from all nations to come hear from God and live with Him (2:2-5).  Their song as they draw near to God will be like the songs of ascents in Psalms 120-135.

-2b(:6)-3 – In this day, God’s people will be known as those who see how counterfeit the idols of their hearts are, and repent from them to serve Him.  Thus they cast them away to follow God (cf. Ac 14:17, 1 Thes. 1:10).

-4-5a(:7) – The “branch” of the Lord – personifying the source of life in God’s creation – will be established, since the first vineyard of the Lord (Israel) has been proven as fallen and lifeless.  (Thus Jesus later says He’s the Vine and His disciples are branches – all spiritual life in the world comes from Him alone, Jn. 15:1ff).

-5b(:8-30) – God will judge the pride of man.  Indeed, he does judge it – where there is pride, there will always be judgment and hardship. (cf. Rom. 1:18ff)

-6a(:1-7) – Isaiah the prophet is brought in a vision to God’s throne and is struck down in his own eyes as a man in desperate need for salvation.  This witness of God’s glory and the reality of man’s sin is a picture of what all people must undergo to be “saved”: They must see that they’re made for God’s glory, that they have fallen short of the glory, and that in Christ alone, they can be brought near through God’s atonement (Rom. 3:21ff).

-6b(:8-13) – Isaiah then is sent as a messenger to take this message to the world. Of course people won’t listen, but that doesn’t change Isaiah’s mission.  Thus sometimes God’s Word doesn’t save but instead condemns (which is what exactly Jesus says at Mark. 4:11-12).  But a remnant will hear.

-7-8a(:10) -  This miraculous inbreaking of God’s grace into the world (not to suggest He’s never been gracious) will be accompanied by another miracle: a baby being born to a Virgin (7:14), who will be called “God with us” (Immanuel).  Apparently this impossible act will be possible because the child is divine.  But then a child is born to Isaiah, as a miraculous event nonetheless (named "Mahershalalhashbaz"), with this purpose: to show that the coming “God with us” child will also be a human.  In essence, Isaiah is saying “He’ll be 'God-with-us,' but He’ll be a human child.” 

-8b(:11-22) – The one coming is identified with God, and he will become a) a stone of stumbling, b) a sanctuary, and c) a rock of offense (8:14). That is, 
a) He’ll be seen as the Law of God personified (thus righteousness - conformity to God's truth - will be tied up with him, cf. Jn. 1:1ff, and all will one day be judged up next to Him, Ac. 17:31). 
b) He Himself will become the spiritual house of God, so that people come to God through Him as the Mediator and Way to heaven (cf. Jn. 14:6, Heb. 4:15-16).  The Temple will thus fall later and never be reconstructed because He is the Temple (Jn. 2:20-22).
c) He’ll offend many people, but only because He reveals fully the pride and sin of man, and their need thus to be atoned for by God’s grace.  Therefore, “Blessed are those who aren’t offended by me” (Matt. 11:6).

Ch. 9 – The Divine child born to the people, will rule, counsel, and work peace, even Fathering the people; and nations will come inquire of Him.  His rule will fulfill the promise to David to have a Kingly descendent whose Kingdom never ends (cf. 2 Sam. 7:11-14, Dan. 2, 4, 7:13-14).  

-10-11 – Only a remnant of the proud nations (including Israel) will embrace this King and come under His rule (10: 20-23, 11:11).  But there will be a profound wisdom and excellence to His rule (11:1-5), such that the world has never seen.  Thus, though only a remnant will come, people will continually be coming to Him, so that the number of those coming to Him increases.  

Ch. 12 – Those under His rule will never spiritually thirst, but will rest satisfied and happy in Him.  “With joy” they will “draw water from the wells of salvation” (12:3).  Thus Jesus said at the Feast of Tabernacles, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said” (likely referring to Isaiah 12:3, Ezekiel 47, Zechariah 13 & 14, and perhaps many others), “’Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (Jn. 7:37-38).   

Upon reading Isaiah 1-12, I’m struck at how beautifully the whole story of the Bible is contained here. The preeminence of God’s glory as the backdrop of man’s existence is perfectly contained in His anger over sin alongside His desire to bless and bring life to people.  The sin and fallenness of man is seen in Israel’s history and the historical situation that they’re under that thus makes them ripe for promises of the coming of a Messiah.  The temporary nature of the city of Jerusalem, the Temple, the sacrificial system, and the fact that these things are merely meant to show outwardly what God wants to become inward, is all depicted vividly.  Thus this teaching opens up the door to understanding that the Messiah’s work will be to fulfill righteousness in Himself (Matt. 3:15), become Himself the spiritual city and Kingdom of God (Heb. 12:22), and satisfy those who are over life and themselves enough to long for and thus see His glory (Matt. 5:6).  Very few will embrace Him.  But some will; and those who do will be captivated by His wisdom and perfection, such that, if ever presented with the option to leave him, can only respond, "Where else can we go?  You have the words of eternal life!" (cf. Jn. 6:68)

Thus we see why the New Testament Christians were so captivated by Christ’s glory: What a glory to behold indeed!  And we also see why the Christmas season is so joyful: With joy, in Jesus, we draw water from the wells of salvation, and it satisfies us eternally.

So come and drink! 

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