“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

– ISAIAH 9:6 ESV –

We could spend all 25 days on this verse alone but consider the unfathomable depth of even the first statement: the Child is “born,” but the Son is “given.” These are not redundant, poetic words, but carefully chosen ones from God. This Son – His Son – the Only Begotten of The Father was “born” of a virgin – Deity clothed in flesh. But notice the Son is “given” because the Son has existed from all Eternity!

To fully appreciate the jaw-dropping significance of verse 6, we need to get a running start in Isaiah 9:1-4 ESV. While we won’t take time to explore all the riches here, look at the Light and the Joy radiating from this prophetic Word given to Isaiah during very dark days of national and personal despair:

But there will be no gloom for her who was 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 has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

And when God does the indescribable by sending the Messiah through the headshaking, mind-blowing humility of the manger, it will be even more stunning than the day of Midian (Judges 7)! For the God who breaks jars to banish an earthly enemy will break the oppressive chains and punishing rod of the enemy of our souls with only a manger!

And backing off a bit from the meekness of the manger, God gives us full line-of-sight to the glorious destiny of the Promised One:

Universal Dominion and Authority will rest upon Him
He will be the Wonderful & Extraordinary Counselor (the “One Who Plans”)
He will be Divinely Powerful in His Ability to Deliver
He will be the Father of All Eternity
He will be the Prince of Shalom (“wholeness and completeness”)

O COME LET US ADORE HIM!