Advent Podcast - Episode 17 - The Nineteenth Day of Advent

Messianic Prophecies

Isaiah 9:1-7 - Read by David Wallace
​1  But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2  The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
    on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Reflection
When Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the “Wonderful Counselor” he was urging Israel to remember their Messiah was indeed coming to establish his Kingdom, and he wrote during a period of history that was nothing less than tumultuous. The Assyrians were taking the people into captivity, but Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of this special child gave Israel the hope they so desperately needed: The child to be born would fulfill the covenant God made with David that Israel would never lack a king to sit on the throne. The child Isaiah refers to is, of course, Jesus and the complete fulfillment of the prophecy will happen at his return.
The last year has been very tumultuous for most of us with the COVID-19 pandemic, social and political unrest, wildfires and hurricanes. The world still needs hope, and this passage from Isaiah tells us that hope rests in the Messiah, who is “Wonderful Counselor”.  He always knows
what we are going through and what we need. As our Wonderful Counselor we can trust him to hear our concerns and guide us in the right direction, and we can be certain he has our best interests at heart because he loves us (1 John 4:19).


Our King and Savior is drawing near!
O come, let us adore him!