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

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^[1] VanGemeren, W. A. (1995). Isaiah. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 482). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

^[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.

^[6] Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1053). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[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.

^[10] Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1053). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.