Every Advent and Christmas, the familiar chorus of “For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s Messiah would blare from speakers throughout my home. Unbeknownst to my parents, or perhaps purposefully ignored, were the groans from my brothers and me about the “boring Christmas music.” Yet the words of Isaiah 9 took root from that time, sealed in my memory from thereon — 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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Those words that communicated the splendor and awe of Christ’s grandiosity at his coming are especially meaningful when understood through the perspective of its first listeners — the Israelites.
Isaiah wrote this prophecy 700 years before Christ was born during a tumultuous period marked by war, economic oppression, and destruction. Israel was warring with the Assyrians who were on the march, taking people into captivity by droves. Israel’s main ally — Damascus — had just been defeated, and Israel now lived in a feudal state, forced to pay high taxes to Assyria.
Isaiah’s prophecy came at a time when the kingdom of Judah was feeling powerless and afraid. Its promise of a future where Israel would be free, prosperous, and at peace gave a despairing people hope — the oppressor would be broken, warfare would end, and they would get a future King. This was the most mysterious of the promises. The future king would come as an infant, mysteriously human and divine, he would bear the government on his shoulders and establish a righteous kingdom. He gives this child the most bewildering titles — “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father,” and “Prince of Peace.”
The mystery of how a king could be everlasting if born as an infant, how could he be a mighty God if human. This and many mysteries have been revealed to us through time, but its promise is as true for us today as it was for the Israelites. While we know of Christ’s coming, death, and resurrection and know of our salvation, there are many earthly trials that we can relate to. For whom of us hasn’t felt times of confusion and need for wisdom? Who of us hasn’t longed for protection and provision? Do we not all wish for rescue and peace in our own spiritual lives? This Advent, let us invite Christ to be our counselor, our God, our Father, and our Prince of Peace.
Wonderful Counselor
Isaiah prophesies a “Wonderful Counselor” to give the Israelites an indication of the nature that this King would have. He would have a kingly wisdom like Solomon, providing exceptional guidance and counsel to his people. The word used here for “wonderful” literally means “incomprehensible.” His counsel would be beyond human capabilities or understanding because he knows his people, he has “the knowledge of all human nature” (Psalm 139:1-2). As John writes, “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:25).
Perhaps this Advent, you are navigating a trial or discerning a choice that feels beyond conclusion. It could be a question of your vocation, a complicated relationship, or a series of setbacks that seem to have no resolution. With the turbulence and disorder that earthly living can bring, you can long for some roadmap or explicit response from God. This Advent, let us bring our knots to God to untangle our clouded vision to clear. With confidence, let us trust our “counselor” to reveal a “wonderful” resolution beyond anything we can conceive.
Reflect: Where in your life do you need the gift of counsel or guidance? Are there any difficulties in your life that you have been withholding from God and prayer? Do you believe that God is capable of resolving these issues in your life?
Everlasting Father
The Hebrew phrase Isaiah uses, which is translated as “Everlasting Father,” can literally be translated as “Father of Eternity.” This coming king would be a father forever. Later, in Isaiah’s prophecy we hear, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). There is no end, but also no beginning for the Messiah. In ancient times it was common to consider rulers the “father” of their nation. He was viewed much like the father of a family, called to protect and provide for his children.
Similarly, this king who will come to be a father to the children of Israel will protect and provide for them. His reign will not be limited as it would be for other rulers by age or death. It will be endless.
The Advent season is naturally filled with moments of longing and desire. In a time where culture is intent on lavish spending, rich celebrations, and also treasured time with family and friends we may feel increasingly aware of what we don’t have. There are those of us grieving the loss of a loved one this year, navigating our first Christmas without them. Some may feel a longing for marriage or parenthood and feel that deep longing when surrounded by the celebrations of couples and young families. Maybe we’ve been struggling financially, and the Christmas season feels like an added burden, reminding us of what we don’t have. Maybe we are battling anxiety and depression and feel guilty in light of the joyful festivities. Whatever our lack, let us present to our Abba with confidence that he will protect and provide.
Pray: Prayerfully listen to “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Find some beautiful versions here). Think about how you relate to these words — the longing, the mourning, the exile. Pray for the same “rejoicing” heard in the song’s chorus this Christmas. Present your needs to God like a child to their father with confidence that he will provide.
Mighty God
It was not unusual for kings to be given lavish titles in this era, but the titles given to this king quickly escalated from wonderful counselor, everlasting father, and prince of peace which could all be used to describe an earthly ruler at that time to one — Mighty God — that could not. Isaiah leaves little room for question. The child who will be born will be God himself. For the Israelites, this could have conjured images of a powerful authority, a military hero who would powerfully lead over the armies of God like no king before him. We, of course, know that this “Mighty God” would rule with a far different sort of might. His might came in the form of his divine power and authority with which he ruled his public ministry, in the dying on the cross, and in the resurrection that could only come from God himself.
There may be times we find ourselves yearning for the same sort of deliverance the Israelites sought. We may live with encumberments that feel like chains of injustice we wish to be freed from. Perhaps we’re working a dead-end job or a deeply laborious one that is just a means to stay afloat. Perhaps we’re in a difficult marriage, struggling to stay together. Maybe we’re caring for aging loved ones while juggling many other responsibilities. Perhaps we’re in a community where we are regularly mocked or belittled for our faith or the values we choose. Often, we are chained by our own addictions and earthly attachments. Whatever our burdens, we know that the same “might” the Israelites desired and received is there for us this Advent and Christmas.
Pray: Dear Jesus, this Christmas, please show me your mightiness. I need to be freed from….
Prince of Peace
While the Israelites would have desperately desired peace amid their centuries-long war and oppression, the type of peace spoken about here is deeper than that. The meaning of peace used here is not the Greek word “shalom,” meaning calm and tranquility, but the Hebrew translation meaning a spiritual harmony brought about by restoration, redemption, and reconciliation between an individual and God.
When it comes to the things that cause turmoil in our lives we let the tail wag the dog. We think and pray, that if God could just make our lives less stressful, if he could change the hearts and temperament of this disagreeable person in our lives, we would have so much more peace. And God can do those things. But often the greatest way we can create peace in our own lives is by starting with ourselves and our relationship with Christ. We can continue to hope and pray for changes in our lives to create more peace, but it may not happen as quickly as desired, or in the way we expect (certainly the peace that came for the Israelites was far off their radar). But what we can do is work on our relationship with Christ. We can encounter Emmanuel in whatever causes disharmony, and ask him to meet us there, to heal us there, to restore us.
Reflect and Pray: Think about the things in your life that disturb your peace. What distracts or disturbs your ability to get closer to Christ? What wound, distraction, or dependency is impacting your spiritual life? How can the prince of peace bring restoration this Christmas season?
The prophecy given to the Israelites would likely have been a great source of hope but also confusion. Like Mary at the Annunciation it would have left them contemplating, “How can this be?” We know how this came to be, and how these promises were delivered. But they are eternally promised for us and eternally delivered. These promises for the Israelites are here for all of us today who bear earthly grief, oppression, conflict, sickness, and despair that we wish to be freed from. This Advent, allow these promises to stir similar hopes in your heart. Reflect on what you most need to be delivered from to have a deeper relationship with Christ and fervently pray for it with the same ardor of the Israelites in exile. The same “Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace” that came as a child comes for us all. He comes to restore, to father, to bring joy, peace, justice, might, and counsel. Let us invite him this Christmas season.