ISAIAH 7-9:7ISA 7ISA 8ISA 9:1-71Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6For 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. 7Of 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. (Isaiah 9:1‑7)
In this magnificent prophecy we see the significance of the two elements which form the basis of the prophecy, the confederacy of the Syrian and Samaria, and the child of the prophet. It was a time of confederacy against Judah, but the sign of Judah's help was a child.
As the prophecy rolls on to its conclusion we find these two elements dealt with—hostile confederacies arc broken up, and Judah 's strength is laid in the child, and the child alone. Judah is warned against forming counter-confederacies—instructed to hold to the Word of God during the interval, or the patience, and to know that her help in due season would come, but come in the child, and in the child alone.
Today there are confederacies to be recognized by us, and they are to be known by us as not being helpful to us. Do we not see the significance of the two elements which form the basis of this prophecy?
In what form does this child come forth? What is the manhood of this child, this only help of Israel? The child is unfolded in the "Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
With us the same child is unfolded in another personal glory. "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." A divine name is now revealed in this same child. We have now the blessed publication of the name, "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," as we shall have, in millennial days, another name unfolded. From the beginning to the end we have God disclosing Himself in His doings for us, from the creation to the kingdom.
The confederacy ends in a terrific breach and rupture the—child in His new and wondrous glory and strength. And this child diffuses glory and joy. It is as light dawning, and as the gathering of harvest.
Words of Truth