Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Over the last few weeks we have been giving prayerful consideration to the message of Israel’s magisterial prophet, Isaiah. And we have learned that he had a Word from the Lord for the people of his generation, one of both judgmentand hope. Isaiah predicted that though God would indeed judge His own people for their disobedience and spiritual apostasy, He would also move to save them and bring them back into a place of unparalleled blessing and prosperity. This amazing recovery, recorded in the inspired words of Isaiah 9:2-7, would be accomplished by the arrival of a new Davidic King. This One, whom the Lord Himself will send from heaven, will sit on “the throne of David,” and will rule the entire world with “justice and righteousness,” and will reign in sovereign power “forevermore” (v. 7). And we have also learned that this great King, according to the prophet, has four special names or titles. Last week we considered the first one, “Wonderful Counselor.” On this coming Lord’s Day, the third Sunday of Advent, we will be looking at the second royal title ascribed to Him, “Mighty God.”
Of course, we know that the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy did not occur until some seven hundred years had passed. The “child” and “son” that the prophet had spoken of was born to the virgin (see Isaiah 7:10-14 and Matthew 1:18-25) and then “wrapped in cloths” and placed in “a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). And the miracle of miracles is that the helpless baby there in that manger was the one and only “Mighty God”! On Sunday we will explore the glory, wonder, and mystery of this blessed event, and how this royal title helps us to better understand and love our Savior and Lord.
I love you all so very much, and you are always on my heart and in my prayers!
Mike