For unto us a child is born
This is a reason of all that is said in the context; of the great
light that shone upon and was seen by those that sat in darkness,
and in the land of the shadow of death; of the great joy among
the people; of the breaking off of the yoke, rod, and staff of
the oppressor; and of the burning of garments rolled in blood, so
putting an end to war, and establishing peace; all which is owing
to the child here said to be born, by whom we are to understand
the Messiah; as the Targum interprets it; and not Hezekiah, as
many of the Jewish writers F14 apply it; who could never be
represented as a child just born, when he was, at least, ten or
eleven years of age when this prophecy was given out, and twenty
nine when Sennacherib came up with his army against him, as Aben
Ezra observes; to which time he and others refer the context; nor
can any reason be assigned why he should be called a "son", in
such a peculiar and unusual manner; nor can it be said of him,
that he was the great light which shined upon the inhabitants of
Galilee; nor was his birth the occasion of so great joy as the
birth of this child is said to be; nor can it, with any justness,
be said of him, that of the increase of his government and peace
there was no end; seeing his government only extended to the two
tribes of Benjamin and Judah, and his reign was but twenty nine
years, and for the most part attended with affliction,
oppression, and war; besides, the many august titles here used
cannot be ascribed unto him, nor to any mere creature whatever
F15; but everything agrees with Christ;
and to him it is applied, even by some ancient and modern writers
among the Jews F16 themselves. This clause respects
his humanity, his incarnation and birth, which is spoken of in
the present tense, though future, because of the certainty of it;
that he should really become man, assume a true body, and a
reasonable soul, partake of the same flesh and blood with the
children, be made flesh, and dwell among us: and this was to us,
(wnl) , "for us": for our
good, for our profit and advantage; not for angels, but for men;
for the saints under the Old Testament, and under the New; for
all his people, his brethren, and children; that they might have
a sanctified nature; that law and justice might be satisfied in
that nature which had sinned, and Satan be ruined by it, which he
himself had ruined; and that Christ might be a fit Mediator and
Redeemer of his people, and be capable of executing his several
offices to our advantage; his priestly office, by satisfying and
interceding for us; his prophetic office, by teaching us; and his
kingly office, by ruling over us; and that he might answer the
relations he stands in of a father, husband, brother, and friend:
unto us a son is given:
even he who is the Son of God, his own Son, his only begotten
Son, his beloved Son, the dear Son of his love; all which
aggravate his love in the gift of him, to be the covenant and
head unto us, to be the Saviour of us, and a sacrifice for us;
and in delivering him up into the hands of men, justice, and
death; this is a free gift of God's love, a very large and
comprehensive one, is unparalleled and unspeakable, unchangeable
and irreversible. And the government shall be upon his
shoulder:
not only of the world in general, but of the church in
particular; this child is born to royal dignity; he is King of
saints; his government consists in ruling in the hearts of his
people, in enacting laws for them, and causing them to submit
unto them, in subduing their enemies, in protecting them, their
persons and properties, rights and liberties, and in supplying
them with everything necessary; and this government is delegated
to him from his Father, is devolved upon him by him, is not of
this world, but is spiritual; it is righteously administered, is
peaceable, and will continue for ever: and its being said to be
"upon his shoulder" is an allusion to magistrates having a key or
rod laid on their shoulders, as ensigns of their office, or
carried by their officers for them, see ( Isaiah 9:4 ) ( 22:21 ) and
it shows that it was laid upon him, or enjoined him by his
father, though not against his will; and it denotes a weight of
honour and care bore by him, whose shoulders are fit for the
same, and equal to it; and that he is the prop and support of his
church and people, who are safe under his government and
protection: and his name shall be called
Wonderful:
not that he should be commonly called among men by this name, nor
by any of the following; but that he should appear to be, or to
have that in him, or to do what would sufficiently answer to this
name, and to the rest: he is wonderful in his person, and in the
glory and beauty of it; that he should be God and man in one
person, and have two natures, so different from each other,
united in him; that he, being truly God, should become man; and
that he should be born of a virgin; wonderful in the disposition
of his mind, and in the qualities he is possessed of; in his love
to his people, and his sympathy with them; in his humility,
meekness, and patience; in his wisdom, conduct, courage, and
greatness of soul: wonderful in his life; in his private life
many wonderful things are recorded of him; as the direction of
the wise men to him by a star, and their worshipping of him; the
preservation of him from Herod's cruelty; his disputation with
the doctors in the temple at twelve years of age; and his living
such a mean and obscure life for thirty years together: and his
public life was nothing but a continued series of wonders; his
baptism in Jordan; his temptations in the wilderness; his
doctrines and miracles, and his transfiguration on the mount:
wonderful in his death; that he should die at all, who is the
Prince of life, the Lord of life and glory; that he should die
with his own and his Father's consent, and that for sinners, even
the chief of sinners; and by dying procure life for us; abolish
death; destroy him that had the power of it, the devil; and
obtain eternal salvation and redemption: the circumstances
attending his death were marvellous: such as the darkness that
was upon the earth; the rending of the vail, and cleaving of the
rocks: wonderful in his resurrection from the dead, which was by
his own power, before he saw corruption, at the time signified by
types and prophecy, and with the same body exceedingly glorious;
and which has an influence on our justification, regeneration,
and resurrection: wonderful in his ascension to heaven, both in
the manner of it, in a cloud, and in the effects of it, receiving
gifts for men, and giving them to them; in his entrance into
heaven; session at the right hand of God; and intercession for
transgressors: wonderful he will be in his second coming to
judgment; the signs of it are many and marvellous; the manner of
it wonderfully glorious; the different effects of it on men,
filling some with joy, and others with terror; and the things
that will then be done; as the raising of the dead; placing all
nations before him; separating the righteous from the wicked;
pronouncing their distinct sentences, and executing them; in a
word, Christ is wonderful, in all he is, has, or belong unto him;
in his person, offices, and relations; in his people, who are for
signs and wonders; in his doctrines and ordinances; and in the
manifestations of himself and of his grace to his people, now and
hereafter; nay, the word signifies not only "wonderful", but a
"miracle" itself, as Christ is in his person F17, see (
Judges
13:17-19 ) : Counsellor;
this some read in conjunction with the former title, thus,
"Wonderful Counsellor"; so the Arabic version; and the
Septuagint, which calls him, "the Angel of the great council";
and the Targum is,
``who does wonderfully in council;''and which agrees with ( Isaiah 28:29 ) . This title belongs to Christ, as concerned with his Father, and the blessed Spirit, in the works of nature, providence, and grace. God stands in no need of counsel, nor does it properly fall on him, though it is sometimes ascribed to him, speaking after the manner of men. Creatures are not of his council, but Christ is; he was privy to all his thoughts, purposes, and decrees; he was consulted in creation, and in the works of providence, ( Genesis 1:26 ) ( Genesis 11:7 ) and in the great affair of redemption and salvation; the council held concerning that is the great council the Septuagint version here makes mention of; and may be called the council of peace, ( Zechariah 6:13 ) in which the scheme of salvation was fixed; the author of it was found, and pitched upon; the way of it agreed on, to be through the assumption of human nature, and by obedience, sufferings, and death; and the time of Christ's incarnation and death settled, as well as all blessings of grace and glory, for the persons who were to share in this salvation. This title also agrees with Christ in respect to his people, to whom he is council, and for whom he is council; he is council to them; he gives them council; so he did in person, when on earth; he advised sinners to repentance; encouraged souls to believe in him; directed the weary to come to him for rest; the hungry and thirsty for food; such as were healed and pardoned, he counselled them to sin no more; and he advised his followers to do to all men as they would men should do to them; to behave in an humble and modest manner; to bear reproaches and persecutions cheerfully; to love one another; and to pray to his Father, in his name, for all things they wanted: and now he gives his people counsel by the ministry of the word, which is the counsel of God, the produce of his wisdom, a transcript of his eternal council and covenant, a declaration of the will of God, and of Christ; and in which Christ counsels the poor in spirit to come to him for riches, the naked for clothing, the ignorant for spiritual light and knowledge, such as are ready to perish for salvation; and he counsels those that believe to abide in him, and by his truths and ordinances; which counsel is wholesome and suitable, hearty, sincere, and faithful; is wise and prudent, and freely given; and which being taken, infallibly succeeds: he is council for them in heaven; he appears there in the presence of God for them; represents their persons, and presents their petitions; answers to all charges exhibited against them; and, as their advocate, pleads their cause; and calls for blessings agreed to be bestowed upon them, which they want; for all which he is abundantly qualified, being the only wise God, the Ancient of days, the Father of his people; and, as Mediator, the Wisdom of God, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are, and on whom the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, and of counsel and might, rests: the mighty God;