Isaiah 9

CHAPTER 9

To Us a Child Is Born (9:1–7)

1 Nevertheless. . . As always throughout Scripture, judgment—distress, darkness, gloom (Isaiah 8:22)—is accompanied by deliverance for those who trust in God. Even though Israel had rejected God, “nevertheless” He would save His faithful people in the end. In this section, Isaiah prophesies of a day in the future when God would give His people light once more⁵⁷ (verse 2).

2–3 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. That light was Christ, the light of the world (John 8:12), a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). Here Isaiah is clearly looking far ahead—though he doesn’t know when this light will appear. Neither do we know when that Light—Christ—will come again a second time (Mark13:32–33);but we know He will come.

Isaiah says that the people have seen a great light. Biblical writers often spoke of future events in the past tense—as if they had already happened. The writers did this to indicate their complete certainty that their words would indeed come true. We too can have the certainty that what God has spoken He will indeed bring to pass; we can look on it, in a sense, as having already happened.⁵⁸

Together with sending a “great light” (Jesus), God “has” also enlarged the nation (verse 3)—that is, God will enlarge the new Israel by bringing the Gentiles into it. This “enlarged nation” can be interpreted to mean either the spiritual Church in this present age or a future kingdom to be established at Christ’s second coming.

4–7 In verses 4–5, Isaiah compares this future deliverance to Israel’s amazing victory over Midian, when God enabled three hundred Israelites to defeat a large and powerful enemy (see Judges Chapter 7). But the means of this future deliverance would not be an “army” of three hundred men; it would be a child,a son (verse 6)—a royal descendant of David (Matthew 1:1), who would reign on David’s throne (verse 7). The coming of this Son would fulfill the promise God made to David that his throne would be established forever⁵⁹ (2 Samuel 7:16).

In verses 6–7, Isaiah describes the child that is to be born. Isaiah has already mentioned a child who was a “type” or a foreshadowing of this future child (see Isaiah 7:14 and comment), but here we have a description of the future child himself: it is Jesus. Isaiah cannot be speaking in these verses simply of a future great king of Judah; the person described here is much, much more than that. He is God Himself. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (verse 6). Of the increase of His government there will be no end (verse 7). This is the Son of David, the Son of God, who will reign on David’s throne forever (see Mark 1:9–11; Luke 1:30–33).

This, then, is Isaiah’s great prophecy of the coming of Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the King of kings. In His kingdom the people rejoice (verse 3), the yoke of sin is shattered (verse 4), and the garment of war is required no longer (verse 5). In the darkest days of Israel’s history, the prophet Isaiah received from God this vision of light and hope; and today men and women in their own dark days are still experiencing this light and hope: the gift of a Son from a God of love (John 3:16).

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel (9:8–21)

8–12 Isaiah now begins a new prophecy, this time a prophecy of judgment against Jacob (Israel)—specifically against the northern kingdom and its capital city, Samaria. From its beginning, the northern kingdom had always been more godless and wicked than the southern kingdom (Judah). Now God’s judgment is ready to fall on Israel in full. Rezin’s foes (the Assyrians) are strengthened (verse 11); the Arameans (Syrians) and the Philistines (Israel’s ancient enemies on the west) have already begun to “devour” Israel (verse 12). But God’s hand is still upraised; His full judgment is yet to come.

13–17 God has struck Israel—He has begun to punish them—but Israel’s people have not returned to him (verse 13). Therefore, the Lord will intensify His punishment: He will cut off (destroy) Israel’s head and tail . . . palm branch and reed—that is, Israel’s leaders, who are leading the people astray (verses 14–16). Leaders bear the greatest blame (James 3:1), but their followers are guilty also; in Israel even the fatherless and widows are ungodly and wicked (verse 17).

18–21 Wickedness burns like a fire; unchecked wickedness spreads rapidly throughout a nation (verse 18). But the spreading fire of wickedness is soon followed by the fire of God’s judgment (verse 19). Part of God’s judgment on Israel will come in the form of civil war, in which “brother will eat brother.” Manasseh will feed on Ephraim,⁶⁰ and together they will turn against Judah (verses 20–21). But still God’s anger will burn against them, because of their refusal to repent.