Sermon Notes: "Jesus is the Better King" from Isaiah 9:6-7
Introduction: Why is a king important?
As you think
about stories you have read or movies you have seen, who is your favorite or
who has been the ultimate king? Share
with the person beside you. Maybe you
said: Mufasa, King Triton, King Henry Eighth, King Aragorn (Lord of the Rings),
Aslan or others?
As Americans, we take pride in the fact that as a
nation we rejected the tyranny of a king.
But even though politically we have rejected this, we are still obsessed
with royalty in literature, movies and current events (Royal Wedding-Prince
Harry & Meghan). This morning, we will look at kings in past, present, and
future and ultimately pointing to Jesus as the better king.
Past
·
1 Samuel 8:4-7
o God through Samuel warns the people of what will happen if
they have a king: serve in the army, sons and daughters to serve the kingdom, a
tenth of your money/crops to provide for kingdom
·
Great kings of Israel
o David-defeated Goliath and was a great warrior but also
committed adultery and killed someone
§ 16 And your house and your
kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established
forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)
o Solomon-built the temple, asked for wisdom, but was led
astray through many women and worshipping other idols/gods
§ 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father
walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I
have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish
your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying,
‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 9:4-5)
·
Every king in Israel’s
history failed to live up to righteous standard.
·
Israel was always looking
for the king that was to come.
·
Notice this about God
even after he was rejected—he warns the people, he provides for the people
through kings, he continually shows grace, mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, and
love to his people.
Present-Read
Isaiah 9:6-7
·
Child, Son
o The
child (v. 6) is the Immanuel (7:14). He is God’s gift to man’s predicament. He
is fully human (“child,” “born,” “son”), but he is also divine[1]
o Son was given to the people, in order to inform
the Jews that their salvation and that of the whole Church is contained in the
person of Christ.[2]
·
Called
o Wonderful Counselor
§ “Wonderful
Counselor” combines the idea of doing something “wonderful, extraordinary,
miraculous” (peleʾ) with the skill of
“giving wise advice, making plans, counsel[3]
o Mighty God
§ “God
is mighty” or “God is a mighty warrior,”[4]
§ we
may now rely on him with safety. With good reason does he call him strong or mighty, because our contest is with the devil, death, and sin,[5]
o Everlasting Father
§ Second,
the title “Everlasting Father” is an idiom used to describe the Messiah’s
relationship to time, not His relationship to the other Members of the Trinity.
The Messiah will be a “fatherly” Ruler. Third, perhaps Isaiah had in mind the
promise to David (2 Sam. 7:16) about the “foreverness” of the kingdom which God
promised would come through David’s line.[6]
o Prince of Peace
§ every
king wanted to bring peace and prosperity to his subjects. Peace implies an end
of war and is reminiscent of the ideal peace[7]
§ the
coming of Christ will be a calm and blessed safety.[8]
§ Not
only, therefore, does he promise outward peace,
but that peace by which we return to a state of favour with God, Justified by faith, says Paul, we have peace with God. (Rom. 5:1)[9]
o Ivan D. Friesen in Believers Church Bible Commentary on
Isaiah “The names given to the child are usually called throne names because
they are the names that a king would receive at his enthronement. Wonderful Counselor describes the
king’s wisdom in resolving interstate disputes. Mighty God asserts the king’s power. Everlasting Father attributes long life to the king. Prince of Peace refers to the king as
the source of economic, social and political well-being.”
·
He will reign on David’s
throne
o Justice (just and justifier-Romans 3:26)
o Righteousness
§ He
will maintain righteousness as His
rule will conform to God’s holy character and demands.[10]
o Forever
§ Reference
again to 2 Samuel 7:16-King from line of David will reign forever.
·
Seated at right hand of
God right now
o He is interceding for you (Hebrews 7:25)
o “It is finished” (John 19:30)
Future
·
God wins and is
victorious
·
All will bow down and
worship him as Revelation 19:16 says as the “King
of kings and Lord of lords.”
Closing:
Why
was a king important? Brown and Keele in Sacred Bond write, “One of the primary
duties of the king was to provide peace and protection for the
people. Kings took titles and duties of father and shepherd to
the people. Kings regularly helped the poor and needy of society…Typically,
the better things were for the king, the better they were for you. This was the world of Israel and David. These
were the virtues and conceptions of kingship that God used to speak of the
office that Christ fulfilled as our king.”
Need
peace-run to King Jesus who is our Prince of Peace
Need
protection-run to King Jesus who is our Mighty God
Need
guidance or unconditional love-run to King Jesus who is our Everlasting Father
Need
help for your needs-run to King Jesus who is our Wonderful Counselor
[2]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(Vol. 1, p. 308). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3]
Smith, G. V. (2007). Isaiah 1–39. (E. R. Clendenen,
Ed.) (p. 240). Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
[4]
Smith, G. V. (2007). Isaiah 1–39. (E. R. Clendenen,
Ed.) (p. 241). Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
[5]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(Vol. 1, pp. 310–311). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[7]
Smith, G. V. (2007). Isaiah 1–39. (E. R. Clendenen,
Ed.) (p. 241). Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
[8]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(Vol. 1, p. 312). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[9]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(Vol. 1, p. 312). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
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