Devotionals

God With Us

by Gail Davis
12/21/16
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Isaiah was the Messianic prophet of God. People call him the Messianic prophet because a large number of his teachings to Judah and Jerusalem foretold the coming Messiah. A very famous passage from Isaiah foretells the coming Christ child who will take away the gloom and anguish people feel and fear. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light and will rejoice. Let us consider this passage now from Isaiah 9:1a, 2-4, 6-7.

¹There will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish, (Isaiah said).

²The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them, (Isaiah said).

³You (the Lord) shall multiply the nation; You shall increase their gladness. They will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

⁴For You (Lord) shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.

⁶For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah exhorted the Judeans to repent from their sins and return to God. He spoke God’s judgment on them for their sins urging them to repent. Isaiah foretold the destruction God would allow to overcome them if they did not return to Him. The enemies of Judah would overtake, enslave, oppress, and torment them.

By returning to and following the LORD, Isaiah said the Judeans would no longer experience gloom from famine and enemies. He told them to stand strong and keep faith with God and He would send a great light – one who would multiply their nation, break their yokes of burden and the rods of their oppressors. This Light would be their warrior so the Judean warriors needed no war boots or cloaks. These verses led Isaiah’s listeners to expect a warrior to save them. Isaiah said something new with the next verses.

With verse six, Isaiah explained their Savior, the Messiah, would arrive as a child. The anointed and chosen one – the Messiah - who would deliver people would come as a meek and mild child. Isaiah further stated the government would rest on His shoulders. “How could that be if He was a child?” they might have wondered. “A child and a King? Impossible,” they might have thought. Isaiah broadened the image of the Messiah as being more than a warrior, child, and king.

• He said this Messiah, this chosen One, would be a “Wonderful Counselor.” He would be extraordinarily and astonishingly more wise and intelligent than their own elders and leaders with the wisdom and knowledge of God.


• This Messiah would be called Mighty God, Isaiah said. He would not be a mere fallible man, but would come from the LORD and people would know He is God.


• This Chosen One would be Eternal Father. He would be the One whom the Judeans knew from their past and Who existed from before time, the One they called Abba Father with trust and love.


• This Messiah would be called the Prince of Peace, the Ruler and Bringer of complete peace, welfare, and contentment in life, in their hearts, and in their minds.

This Chosen One from God who is God would counsel and guide them so they could live in peace. The Messiah would be Warrior, Prince, King, and Counselor for all people and would come as a child. He would bring salvation from their enemies and from their sin and lead people to be in an eternal relationship with the LORD God.

Isaiah continued by saying His government, His Kingdom, and His peace would increase and never end. The Messiah would come from the line of David and would establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time and forever. The LORD would be the one to make it happen. Nothing the Israelites could do would establish God’s kingdom on earth because they were sinful humans and incapable to save themselves. God in His righteousness would provide the Savior, the sacrifice for human sin. God’s passion for people and His zeal would make this happen, Isaiah said.

When the Judeans needed comfort, God sent a prophet – Isaiah – to proclaim salvation and peace and tell them of His Chosen One, the Messiah. They may have been incredulous when considering a child as a Savior, King, and Warrior. God had a plan. He would send His Son, the Messiah, into the world as the lowest –a baby - so even the people whom society casts out would hear and recognize Him. He raised the Messiah up to be teacher, deliverer, and Savior for all humankind. Through Jesus the Messiah’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, every person for all time can know the love of God. Because this Messiah came down from God to earth, Isaiah called Him “God with us” in Isaiah 8:10 and “Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:14. Matthew called Him Emmanuel in Matthew 1:23, meaning “God with us.”

This Emmanuel did not come only to return to His kingdom. He came to be God with us and for us until we each join Him in His Kingdom. The Messiah came to save people from their sins, and through His indwelling Holy Spirit, give His wisdom, strength, power, love, and hope to all who believe in Him. This is Emmanuel, God with us. We are not alone and will never be alone as long as we remain faithful to the Lord.

This is God for us-

The Messiah – the Christ - is our

       Prince of Peace,

             Wonderful Counselor,

                   Mighty God, and

                         Everlasting Father.

God with us