Purpose

Isaiah 9:6-7 is a source of rich meditation on the glory of the Messiah Jesus' person and work. In this section we describe the first name, The Wonderful Counselor" from Isaiah 9:6.

B) The Source of Comforting Light (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Verses 6 and 7 go on and mention two additional promises: the deliverer and security–enduring peace.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Our hope focuses on the child that would reign forever over a kingdom that brings people out of darkness into light. This is the glorious kingdom of God now in our midst and yet is growing more and more apparent around the world. The liberal media news will mention nothing of the growing Kingdom of Jesus, but in fact nothing will stop its reach to the ends of the world. If we could stand on the observer deck of earth and time, we would God’s mighty redemptive plan being fulfilled.

Isaiah mention’s this Messiah or king to have four two-word descriptive nouns. They serve as a foundation for His wonderful reign. His Names reflect never-changing policies that are built on His person rather than mere passing preference. Let us summarize them and then discuss each in more detail. Each summary reveals the advantage of trusting Him as well as the result if I one does not.

• Wonderful Counselor: I can gain from Christ’s wisdom

• Mighty God: I can rely on Christ’s power

• Eternal Father: I can embrace Christ’s care

• Prince of Peace: I can receive Christ’s healing
  

Without these trusts in our great Lord, we will not love our neighbor as ourselves. We will be too busy trying to satisfy our own needs. Let us now turn to think of our Glorious Lord by describing each of these names of Christ.

Each Name is a faith enabler. It is like a key to a special part of our hearts. It gives us faith to live a good and powerful Christian life. Without one of these keys, we no doubt will remained chained to our own resources.

(1) Wonderful Counselor: I can gain from Christ’s wisdom (Isaiah 9:6)

Without trusting His wisdom, I am either prideful over my own success and knowledge or depressed over my failures, but by relying on the Wonderful Counselor I can trust Him with every detail of my life and in what goes around me.Counseling rooms are being filled as never before. More narcotics are legally being distributed than one could ever have anticipated. But there is no healing. Counselors do not promise a cure.

Guidance counselors are not sure of their advice. We would expect the world to be this way but in many ways it describes the church. Pastors have given up hope. No one knows what to say to people anymore. Listen to how much God wants to instill this trust in our wonderful counselor.

“For they are a nation lacking in counsel, And there is no understanding in them. Would that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would discern their future!” (Dt 32:28-29).

Although there seems to be many books on finding God’s will, it seems there is a crisis of trusting God with their lives. Instead we have picked up the magic wand and gone for the self-help books. The healthcare crisis that this and other modern nations face stems from this problem of not seeking and following the advice of the Wonderful Counselor.

The good news is that Christ’s kingdom is here now. I can trust Him. We all can trust this infinitely wise God. He does marvelous things for those who trust in Him. Peter and Paul quotes from the Old Testament.

“For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED” (1 Peter 2:6).

Unless we trust His counsel, we will not wait on Him and find the wonderful answers to prayer. One person I know had two cars. One was smashed and couldn’t get repaired. His job requires him to run around to and fro. His wife and 4 children find it very difficult to get by with one car. But they had promised the Lord money for missions beyond their tithe. They decided to trust God with one car rather than use the money they had.

Early one Sunday morning a couple from their church, who had heard about this need, delivered their car, a Honda, to them as a gift. In order to wait upon the Lord, we need to trust Him. In this case, the couple that received was blessed; the couple that gave stored up riches in heaven, and the church was encouraged at that brave giving!

Jesus Christ is the Wonderful Counselor with His infinite wisdom. It is His special purpose and means by which He accomplishes His perfect and most wise will. Christ incorporated wisdom into every aspect of His creation so to form His wonderful plan. Why would we ever think other sources of knowledge are better than knowing Him?

Application

Is there some way that you do not trust the Lord with your life? Perhaps it is some sickness, closeness of death, some odd circumstance or person who has entered your life. Go to the Wonderful Counselor. It’s free! The counsel can’t be beat. Just remember to obey Him even if it seems a bit silly or strange.

Next page: The Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)