And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
When John’s cold turned into pneumonia, he ended up in the hospital. At the same time, his mother was being treated for cancer a few floors above him, and he felt overwhelmed with worries about her and about his own health. Then on Christmas Eve, when the radio played the carol “O Holy Night,” John was flooded with a deep sense of God’s peace. He listened to the words about it being the night of the dear Savior’s birth: “A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” In that moment, his worries about himself and his mother vanished.
This “dear Savior” born to us, Jesus, is the “Prince of Peace,” as Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He came to earth as a baby, bringing light and salvation to “those living in the land of the shadow of death” (Matthew 4:16; see Isaiah 9:2). He embodies and gives peace to those He loves, even when they face hardship and death.
There in the hospital, John experienced the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) as he pondered the birth of Jesus. This encounter with God strengthened his faith and sense of gratitude as he lay in that sterile room away from his family at Christmas. May we too receive God’s gift of peace and hope.
Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV)
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloomw for those who were in distress.
In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,x
but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darknessy
have seen a great light;z
on those living in the land of deep darknessa
a light has dawned.b
3 You have enlarged the nationc
and increased their joy;d
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.e
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,f
you have shatteredg
the yokeh that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,i
the rod of their oppressor.j
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,k
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,l
to us a son is given,m
and the governmentn will be on his shoulders.o
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,p Mighty God,q
Everlastingr Father,s Prince of Peace.t
7 Of the greatness of his governmentu and peacev
there will be no end.w
He will reignx on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justicey and righteousnessz
from that time on and forever.a
The zealb of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
INSIGHT
- How have you experienced God’s peace in the midst of a difficult situation?
- Which aspect of God inIsaiah 9:6 do you most need today?
- Why?
The prophet Isaiah lived during the reign of four kings of Judah—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—around 740 years before Jesus’ birth. According to tradition, Isaiah was sawn in half, and thus many believe Hebrews 11:37 refers to him. In Isaiah’s beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah, this child to be born (God incarnate) would be called the “Prince of Peace” (9:6). Elsewhere, Isaiah offers a glimpse of the peace He’ll bring (11:1–9; 65:25). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will usher in this peace with His second coming and millennial reign, and “of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end” (9:7; Revelation 11:15).
PRAYER
God of peace, when I’m anxious and fretting about many things, help me to turn to You and receive Your gift of peace. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Habakkuk 1-3; Revelation 15