Neville Turley

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

God’s prophets were inspired by the Holy Spirit. They fearlessly revealed God’s will.  In their preaching and teaching they would relentlessly attack the evils prevalent in their society. Their messages were not always well received, and many were martyred.

Isaiah was the greatest of the Hebrew prophets. He was born in Jerusalem in 765 BC and at the age of 25 accepted God’s call to be a prophet.  (Isaiah 6:8)

The prophecies and events Isaiah foretold are so accurate, he could have been giving an eye witness account of the life of Jesus. He wrote of the human nature of the Messiah, his miraculous birth and the twofold form of his ministry. 

Isaiah said the Messiah would heal and uplift his people spiritually.  “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, …” (Isaiah 61:1)

The Messiah would also heal physical disabilities. “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.”  (Isaiah 35:5-6)

The book of Isaiah contains such a wealth of detail, one needs to study it closely. In our verse for the day there is a line that is sometimes overlooked. It refers to that first Christmas – “to us a child is given”.

Long before you were born, God gave you your first Christmas gift.  It is the most precious gift, you will ever receive. God’s love for you is so great, the Father gave you his beloved son – the long-awaited Messiah, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

He gave you his son so that he could be your Father too.

Prayer: Father God, may the Holy Spirit motivate us to appreciate anew your gift of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen