Sermon - Midweek Advent 2 - Isaiah 7 & 9

Advent Midweek 1

Genesis 3:15

December 6, 2017

Pastor Huebel mentioned Sunday that prophecy is just history written in advance. That is certainly true of these two famous prophecies from Isaiah. Some of the clearest and best messianic prophecies come from this prophet, and he is a regular staple of our Advent meditations. Today we'll look at two of these famous passages – Isaiah 7 and Isaiah 9.

But to do so, we'll need a little history lesson. It was a little more than 700 years before the birth of Christ when Isaiah the prophet lived and preached. At this time, the great kingdom of David and Solomon had sadly become divided by civil war into a Northern and Southern kingdom. In the north, most of the 12 tribes, and in the south you had Judah and Benjamin, but by far the largest was Judah. And so the prophets in these days of the Divided Kingdom refer to both – the Northern Kingdom, Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, Judah.

Though they had reached a peaceful coexistence with each other, the now divided kingdoms still faced threats from without. The Assyrians, in particular, were a very cruel, brutal conqueror. They were known for all sorts of atrocities that I won't even mention or describe in the pulpit. I've sometimes called them the “Old Testament Nazis”, but perhaps that's not even adequate to describe their cruelty to those at the tip of their spear and sword. In light of this rising threat, the Northern Kingdom, along with neighboring Syria, wanted king Ahaz of the Southern Kingdom to join their coalition – three small kingdoms against the evil empire of the Assyrians.

But Ahaz was a wicked king, and he sidled up to the Assyrians. He feared the big dog more than the smaller two, though he still feared them. But he did not fear the Lord God almighty. Isaiah's message to Ahaz was to trust in the Lord, not outside nations. And so God, through Isaiah, gave Ahaz a sign. A prophecy with two fulfillments.

In the first, Isaiah's oracle showed that in the time of about 9 months – the time it would take a young woman to conceive and bear a son – God would deliver Judah from the 2 kings that were threatening him. And indeed, in 722 B.C. Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, fell to the Assyrians. We might call this the near fulfillment, or the lesser fulfillment.

But the greater and far better fulfillment would have far more wide ranging impact. A virgin would conceive and bear a son. And that miraculous child would deliver all people from the threats of our enemies, the cruel trio of sin, death, and Satan. The New Testament confirms this, interprets Isaiah for us, in Matthew 1:22-23 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)”

Ahaz was a wicked king, but God worked in spite of him to bring about the fulfillment of his plan and promises. Ahaz, a descendant of David himself, would also be an ancestor of Jesus, the true Son of David. But this was God's doing.

You can't save yourself by your own reason or strength, your own good works or spiritual commitment. Though there is no merit or worthiness in you but only sin and corruption – but still God promises, God works, and God accomplishes your salvation. So also, no sinful man can claim credit for the birth of this child born to the virgin, but only God gets the glory for sending his Son to us. No man can claim the honor, even in part, for the saving work and sacrificial death of Christ. Only God the Father can say, “That's my boy. Like Father, like Son.”

That Jesus was born of a virgin is good news for you. It means your salvation comes from outside of this sinful, fallen world. If it came from below, it would be unworthy of your faith. For what can man do, of himself? But if it comes from God, it cannot fail. If salvation is his doing, you can trust it always and fully.

Two chapters later, we have another oracle, in which the prophet describes this promised deliverer, this child that would be born. For one, he is identified with Galilee. Part of the area that was once conquered by the wicked Assyrians. Part of the nation that was laid waste by the enemy. But God has a way of bringing something from nothing, bringing salvation out of the ruins, light from darkness, and even life from death itself.

And so the sign that old King Ahaz scorned would be fulfilled in the Son that is given – the one called Jesus, the Christ. But look what else Isaiah calls him:

Immanuel, that is, “God with us”. Likewise, in chapter 9, “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father”. This is no mere human savior. Here comes no average or even above average man. No earthly leader, no worldly politician elected or appointed or otherwise. Here, among us, is God himself made flesh. The Messiah is, perhaps above all, the very embodiment of Yahweh himself, come to earth, present among his people. And this is no small thing.

It is noteworthy that many of the heresies that have plagues the church over the years attack this very point – that Jesus Christ is true God. It's why the church has responded with creeds and statements and catechisms that make it clear who he is – God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten not made. True God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, and my Lord. To take away or deny Jesus' divine nature is to make him no Messiah at all. For God has promised that's the Messiah he would send. He will not do his saving half-way or half-heartedly. He will not delegate it, even to an archangel. He will see to it himself. God will visit his people.

He is the Wonderful Counselor. The counsel he gives, the word he speaks, is the object of our wonder. The things he says ought to amaze us. The Gospel is astounding. The free gift of salvation, which we proclaim is so many ways.... may we never lose our sense of awe at this. This central teaching of our faith – Christ crucified for sinners - that he's done it all for you, and all that's left is to believe it and live in grateful response to it. This is better, wiser counsel than any you could hear. This is a more wonderful word than any you could imagine.

And Prince of Peace. Princes and Kings and the mighty men of this world talk a good game when it comes to peace, but they often fail to achieve it. But he is not just a prince who brings peace, as if in a temporary condition. He is the Prince of Peace. All peace, that is all true peace, is rooted in him. The peace that he brings is a peace with God. It is a peace that passes understanding. Like his kingdom, it is not of this world, peace not as the world gives. It's a peace you can't see or touch, but it must be known by faith, according to his word.

And what else about this Messiah, this child born unto us? He will rule with justice and righteousness on the throne of his father David – and he will do so forever. David. Remember God's promise when David got it into his head to build God a temple? Look the ark is in a tent – the tabernacle – while I dwell in a fine palace. Let me build a house for God, a temple. It was an honorable inclination. But God turned it around on him and said, “No, David. I'll build you a house. And I will establish your house (your dynasty) forever.” David's son Solomon would build that temple. And God would hold up his end of the bargain.

Though in the rise and fall of nations it may have seemed like God had forgotten, or had failed. David's line was shattered when the kingdom divided. The Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians. Later the Southern Kingdom would fall to the Babylonians. Ahaz and his descendants would be no more – at least not reigning on the throne. The Davidic dynasy – once a mighty tree was cut down to the stump. But a shoot was to come from that stump of Jesse (words from Isaiah 11). And David's throne would be restored... in Christ.

Not an earthly throne. But a heavenly throne. Though he left that throne for a time, our king became enthroned in human flesh, and in a manger, and on a cross. Enthroned in his resurrected flesh, ascended to the right hand of God where David's son and David's Lord reigns even today, for all God's chosen people.

This is the kind of Messiah Isaiah foresaw. The One born of a virgin. The one unlike any other. The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The One to restore David's throne. The One we call Jesus, who has delivered us from our enemies. Rejoice with great joy. For unto us child is born. Unto us the Son is given. Amen.