Our Righteous King
“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.”
Next to watching Home Alone or having Christmas dinner with my family while Nat King Cole is playing in the background, nothing says "Christmas" to me more than Isaiah 9:6. This verse expresses the very heart of what Christmas is all about, which is why so many Christians are familiar with it.
Yet because of its familiarity, we can forget the wonder of the truth revealed in this prophecy: Jesus was given to us.
When Isaiah prophesied these words about the future king, the kingdom of Judah was in a dark place. Its king, Ahaz, had abandoned serving the LORD and turned to worship idols, even sacrificing his own son (2 Kings 16:3). The priests had also become corrupted, helping him set up altars to Assyrian gods in the house of the LORD (2 Kings 16:10-11). Because of this failed leadership, the people went astray as well.
And yet, the LORD showed grace to His people. Despite the wickedness of King Ahaz, Isaiah prophesied that God would give them a righteous king to lead them – One who would be called “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:3-15). This king would not follow in the ways of the other kings of Judah and Israel. Instead, he would rule them in a God-like way, being a king who was a wonderful counselor, displaying the might and fatherly heart of God, and establishing peace.
Hundreds of years later, Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. While shepherds tended their flocks by night, the promised king was announced to the world:
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord- Luke 2:10-11
The righteous leader the world so desperately needed had come. And his rule would never end (Isaiah 9:7).
The Son has been given to us (Isaiah 9:6a). We have been brought into the kingdom of Jesus (Colossians 1:13), the One who answers the cry of every heart for righteous leadership. Even when we don’t see good leadership around us, Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us to look up and know that we have Christ.
CELEBRATING THE KING
As we enter the Advent season, position your heart for a fresh wonder at the coming of Jesus, the righteous King. He has been given to you.
Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus, our King. Thank you for bringing us out of darkness and into the kingdom of your beloved Son.
Thank you that in Jesus, the cry of our hearts for righteous leadership is answered. Help us to have fresh wonder
as we remember that Jesus has been given to us. Amen.
