COMMENTARY

Isaiah 9:2-7
A child is born whose name is wonderful and whose government is characterized by permanence, justice and righteousness. The people of Isaiah's day were in darkness. Assyria had just taken Zebulon and Naphtali to captivity in 734 B.C. Out of this darkness the people see a light of God's promise of a messianic king, a son of God. This produces great rejoicing. His royal names define his character: wisdom, courage, fatherly concern and peace. His government will be characterized by permanence, justice and righteousness. The result will be peace. This will take place not because of human effort or political intrigue but because of Yahweh's zeal. Christians interpret this message by seeing Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, whose nature and government will b…