This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary Dr. Wellum’s exposition of Isaiah 7-11 given on Sunday, January 11, 2009.
Handel’s Messiah begins with a musical tour of the Old Testament literature foreshadowing the coming king. Today we look at Isaiah 7-11. In this section of Scripture, Isaiah proffers a simple message of a glorious son who would come to save his people.
Isaiah begins in chapters 1-5 with an introductory collection of oracles taken at different points from his ministry. These words of judgment condemn Israel for their idolatry and social injustice, yet they still promise hope to God’s covenant-breaking people. In fact, Isaiah’s own encounter with the thrice holy God in chapter 6 provides a paradigm for Israel, who will also encounter God and find salvation (Isa. 12) as they are cleansed of their sins (1:18; 6:7).
But how? How can rebellious Israel meet God and obtain mercy?
This is what Isaiah 7-11 reveals. Three times we see that the hope of Israel and our hope is the Son of God coming to dwell among his people, establishing his kingdom and ruling with Spiritual fullness.
Isaiah 7:14 reads, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” In this God-initiated sign, Isaiah foretells the virgin birth of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:23). In a word, Immanuel, God shows how he will rescue his people. Through the sending of God’s Son (cf. Jn. 3:16; Phil. 2:5-11), YHWH will save his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 is another passage about a son. This time, Isaiah predicts that a son is coming to establish a kingdom that cannot be destroyed. Isaiah records:
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.
This life-giving oracle to a people living in darkness (9:1-5) is a powerful reaffirmation that the promised son of David is coming to rule with peace, justice, and perfect righteousness (2 Sam. 7). God’s promises will not fail, but there is more.
In Isaiah 11, the stump of Jesse is shown to also possess the fullness of Spirit. David’s son is not just of flesh, he is also of the Spirit. He is not a man-made messianic figure whose change we can believe in; he is the Son of God, the pre-existent, all-glorious God. He is the second member of the Trinity who was conceived of a virgin, God with us. He is Jesus Christ, our Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His name does not just mean blessing, it means salvation.
This week may we meditate on Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Messiah, and give thanks that his humble incarnation outstrips the pomp of any worldly inauguration. Jesus, our salvation, is the hope of the world. He has already come to inaugurate his kingdom and we have the blessed assurance that he is coming to reclaim it.
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