ISAIAH 9 FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN
ISAIAH 9
For unto us a Child is Born
Messianic prophecy
As a silver lining on a grey cloud, the
prophecy reveals that the darkness and calamity foretold shall not continue to
afflict the people as severely as in the past — first when King Benhadad of
Syria brought affliction (1 Kings 15:20) and later, more grievously, through
the coming invasion by the Assyrian king (2 Kings 15:29). God assured them that
this affliction would not last forever, illustrating His sovereignty: even
before hardship fully unfolds, He offers assurance that restoration is on the
horizon.
Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have
seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon
them hath the light shined.
In reality, the people of Zebulun and
Naphtali who were taken captive never returned, yet a remnant remained, living
for centuries amidst the Gentiles of Galilee in ignorance, despair, and gloom.
They dwelt far from the temple in Jerusalem and were deprived of many religious
privileges. But the Lord of hosts would not leave them there! Light is promised
to those dwelling in gross darkness, walking through the very shadow of death.
They are assured of joy, rejoicing, and deliverance. The fulfilment of these two
verses is vividly described in Matthew 4:13–16.
Isa 9:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and
not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and
as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
The nation may have grown in strength and
number — perhaps when the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity — yet
their joy did not match their increase. But such a people are promised
exultation and gladness, like the joy of harvest when first-fruits are offered
with thanksgiving, and the abundant rejoicing that comes when a battle is won
and great spoil is taken.
Isa 9:4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his
burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day
of Midian.
The prophecy continues with the promise of
breaking the iron yoke of oppression and tyranny — the rod of punishment and
servitude — just as in the days of Gideon against the Midianites (Judges 7).
That deliverance was a remarkable intervention of God, accomplished not by
human strength but as a striking manifestation of His presence and power,
rescuing the nation from long oppression.
Isa 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is
with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be
with burning and fuel of fire.
After every battle, the armour (greaves)
contributing to the clamour of war and the cloaks stained with blood would be
burned. But here, the promise speaks of deliverance from all earthly battles,
with a peace that will know no end.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.
Here we see the consummation of all the
promises — in the birth of a Child, the Son of God, fully human yet fully
divine. His government is not of this world but spiritual, and His sovereignty
shall endure. He is Wonderful in working miracles, a Counsellor
to all who seek His wisdom, the Mighty God, the omnipotent One who holds
the universe and yet intervenes in the lives of men, the Everlasting Father
from eternity to eternity, and the Prince of Peace, bringing everlasting
peace to those who believe in Him.
The prophet, in his vision, gazes intently at the scene: the joy of the people, the discarded armour of war, peace succeeding conflict, and light growing ever brighter as darkness flees — until, in that region, he beholds the Prince of Peace, the Sun of Righteousness.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with
justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.
His government
shall increase without bounds in both time and space, as shall the justice and
peace He will establish. The reign of His kingdom is rooted in the Davidic
throne, fulfilling God’s covenant promise to King David. The Messiah’s rule
will be ordered, administering justice and righteousness from the time of the
prophet’s vision and into eternity. The fervent intent and zeal of Yahweh will
ensure the fulfilment of this prophecy and promise.
Judgment on Arrogance and
Oppression
Isa 9:8 The
Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
This marks a new
prophecy from Adonai (continuing up to Isa 10:4). The message now shifts from
Messianic hope to a solemn warning against Israel’s rebellion. God’s word of
judgment is declared against the northern kingdom — often referred to as
Ephraim, Jacob, or Israel. The phrase “lighted upon Israel” signifies that
God’s message — like a fire or a spotlight — has fallen squarely upon them,
leaving no excuse. It is an announcement of impending chastisement for their
arrogance and waywardness.
Isa 9:9 And
all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria,
that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
All the people
shall come to know the message of God’s denouncement against their crimes and announcement
of His judgment upon the inhabitants of Ephraim and Samaria (the capital of the
northern kingdom). These people persist in arrogance, self-confidence, and
stubborn defiance against God’s warnings. Their hearts are described as “stout”
— hardened, unyielding, and unwilling to humble themselves before the Lord.
Their national pride blinds them to their spiritual poverty.
Isa 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we
will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them
into cedars.
This verse
captures Israel’s brazen arrogance. After suffering damage and loss — likely
from earlier invasions — they dismiss God’s judgments and boast of rebuilding
even stronger and grander. “Bricks” would be replaced by sturdier “hewn
stones,” and humble “sycomores” exchanged for the prized and lofty “cedars.”
Instead of repentance, they respond with defiance, trusting in their own
strength rather than turning to God.
Isa 9:11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the
adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
Because of Israel’s persistent
pride, God will strengthen their enemies, Rezin, king of Syria, along with other
hostile nations — notably the Assyrians — will be united against Israel as
instruments of divine judgment.
Isa 9:12 The Syrians before, and the
Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this
his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Israel will be attacked from both
directions — the Syrians from the east, the Philistines from the west — leaving
them exposed and vulnerable. The imagery of being devoured “with open mouth”
evokes a picture of relentless, merciless enemies. Yet, even after such
judgment, God’s anger is not yet appeased. His hand remains outstretched,
symbolising both continued discipline and the lingering offer of mercy, should
they turn back.
Isa 9:13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
The very purpose of God’s
chastisement was to turn the people back to Him in repentance, to seek His
protection and favour. But they stubbornly refuse to return to the One who
seeks to correct them in love. Neither do they acknowledge His sovereignty nor
appeal to His mercy.
Isa 9:14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from
Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
“Head and tail” is a proverbial
expression representing those in honour and authority contrasted with the wretched
and mean people. Likewise, “branch and rush” symbolises those exalted like a
palm tree and the base and worthless like the coarse, long-jointed reed growing
in marshes — an apt emblem for society’s extremes. The judgment of the Lord
shall be total and sweeping, cutting across every rank and corner of the
nation.
Isa 9:15 The
ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth
lies, he is the tail.
God’s judgment
will remove the nation’s leaders: the ancient and honourable — the elders,
statesmen, and those of high rank and dignity — the “head”; as well as the
false prophets who lead the people astray with deceitful assurances of peace
and security — the “tail.” Both the noble and the deceptive will be swept away
in one decisive act of divine justice.
Isa 9:16 For
the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are
led of them are destroyed.
‘They that call this people blessed’ —
likely the false prophets — and ‘they that are called blessed by them’ shall be
swallowed up! This is how it reads from the original. The responsibility for
national apostasy lies both with the corrupt leaders and with those who
willingly follow their misleading counsel. Both are destined for destruction.
Isa 9:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy
in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows:
for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh
folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is
stretched out still.
The Lord, who is ever compassionate
towards the weak and vulnerable, now withholds His mercy even from the young
men — the strength and hope of the nation — as well as from the fatherless and
widows, those who are typically the special objects of His tender care. For He
finds that every person is profane, deceitful, idolatrous, and licentious,
practising wickedness and speaking folly. Yet even amidst such judgement, the
Lord’s hand remains outstretched — a symbol of both His continuing discipline
and His enduring offer of mercy, should they turn back to Him.
Isa 9:18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
Wickedness is here
likened to an unquenchable fire, consuming everything in its path. It first
devours the briers and thorns — a metaphor for the lowly and insignificant —
and then spreads to the dense thickets and forests, representing the great and
mighty of the land. The imagery paints a vivid picture of how sin and
lawlessness engulf all classes of people, mounting up like smoke to the
heavens, leaving desolation in its wake. It’s a striking depiction of national
ruin brought about by unchecked sin.
Isa 9:19
Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people
shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
The whole land is
desolated and laid waste by the anger and indignation of the LORD. Amidst this
widespread ruin, the people themselves become fuel for the fire — devouring one
another as burning wood consumes its fellows. Wickedness leads to anarchy, strife,
and mutual destruction. The natural bonds of life are dissolved, and a man will
show no compassion even toward his own brother.
Isa 9:20 And
he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left
hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of
his own arm:
This is not a
literal famine, but a vivid portrayal of the raging wickedness consuming the
people. One shall snatch – cut
off his right hand and shall eat it with the left hand is descriptive of
blood-thirsty men driven by an unappeased hunger for blood and
vengeance. To ‘eat the flesh of his own arm’ signifies insatiable fury, envy, rage, hatred, spreading anarchy,
strife, and death that neighbours, kindred, and companions will be
consumed in the fires of mutual destruction.
Isa 9:21
Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be
against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is
stretched out still.
Manasseh, Ephraim — the names of the two sons of Joseph (Gen 46:20, 48:20) are used to express the tender union of brotherhood and friendship. But because of anarchy reigning amidst them, Manasseh will turn against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh, thirsting for each other’s blood. Yet, even while devouring each other, they will unite against a common foe, Judah. This heightens the imagery of anarchy, with brother turned against brother, yet pausing in their strife only to jointly oppose another. Even after such judgment, God's wrath has not subsided. His hand remains extended—both in continued correction and in an enduring invitation to mercy, should they repent.
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