The opening verses of chapter 9 follow one another in a very instructive and delightful sequence. Verse 1 Continues the picture of great darkness and affliction that closed chapter 8. Verse 2 tells of the great light that burst in upon the darkness. Verse 3, of the great joy that follows; for translation authorities tell us that the word “not” should be deleted. Verse 4 speaks of the great deliverance that will be granted: verse 5, of the removal by burning of all that speaks of warfare, so that great peace is established.
Referring this to the first advent of the Lord Jesus, as Matthew does, we recognize that these great things have been the result in a spiritual way. They are just what the Gospel brings, whether to Jew or Gentile. They will be achieved for Israel, and indeed for the saved nations, in the coming day when the Lord appears in His glory. Then every oppressor will be completely destroyed and peace will descend upon the earth.
Verse 6 begins with “For”; that is, it supplies the basic reason or ground on which the prophecy rests. The meaning and implications of the great name, Immanuel, are unfolded to us. He is truly the “Child” born to the virgin but He is also the “Son” given. In the fuller light of the New Testament we can see how fitting is the word “given” here rather than “born”. He who was “Son” became “seed of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3); that is, by His birth of the virgin. Hence His Sonship preceded His birth, and, as the fruit of inspiration, the prophecy was so worded as to be in harmony with the truth later to be revealed.
The government is to rest on the shoulder of Immanuel, and the full import of the name is now given to us under five headings. The first is “Wonderful”; that is, Singular and beyond all powers of human scrutiny. Then He is “Counselor”; One involved in the counseling which precedes Divine acts, as for instance, “Let Us make man...” (Gen. 1:26). This must be so inasmuch as He is “Mighty God”. Again, being so, when He takes flesh and blood, His name of course must be “God with us”. Moreover, He is “Father of eternity”, as more literally the words read. Eternity has its origin in Him. The ascription of Deity to the Child born could not be more distinct.
Lastly, being all this, He is “Prince of peace”, the only One who, in this rebellious world, can establish it upon a permanent basis. This He will do by the warrior judgments predicted in verses 4 and 5. Becoming “Seed of David”, as we have seen, He will sit upon the throne of David, and having crushed man’s rebellion and evil, He will govern with judgment and justice to the glory of God and the blessing of men. The Second Advent of our Lord will see these great predictions fulfilled to the letter.
The epoch in which we live is not the day of God’s government upon the earth but the day of His grace, when government is still in the hands of the Gentiles and God is gathering out of the nations a people for His name. The time of grace may soon end, and then God will arise to deal with the world problems created by the sin of man. To bring the whole earth into subjection will indeed be a colossal task, but as our scripture says, “The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.” We may well rejoice that so it will be.
Chapters 9:8—14:32
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