“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Seven hundred years before His birth, Isaiah predicted His coming.  The verbal description in the aforementioned verse leaves no doubt he is speaking of Jesus Christ, our redeemer.  Feel the power connected with those words, all in capital letters: Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace!

“For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.”  Isaiah 9:5 KJV

Matthew Henry wrote, “Christ broke the yoke of ceremonial law and delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, that we might serve him without fear.  This is done by the Spirit working like fire, not as the battle of the warrior is fought, with confused noise, but it is done with the Spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, by a work of God upon the hearts of men.”

As we approach the season of the birth of Christ, let us reflect on the terms Isaiah used to introduce Him.  Wonderful: fantastic, tremendous, wondrous, extraordinarily good or great.  Counselor: advocate, pleader, advisor.  The Mighty God: powerful, mightily, great strength, great force, great intensity, Supreme Being, supernatural, perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe.  The Everlasting Father:  ageless, unceasing, unending, eternal, Father God, the first person in the Trinity.  The Prince of Peace:  supreme, ruler, governor, keeper, Ruler of rulers, independent, autonomous, royal, greatest in authority and power, harmonious, prosperity, contentment, tranquility, serene, peaceful.  How can we not be humbled and awed by such a description!

He preserves the peace, commands peace and is the peace within our hearts.  He is the author and giver of all good.  Bless His name.  Only when we open our hearts and allow Him full access will we come to know this peace he went to the cross for.  In all the turmoil today, especially with the raging abuse and cruelty to all the species of God’s Kingdom, if we trust the Prince of Peace, we will be assured He is in control.  It is in Jesus that we find our refuge and well-being.

John Flavel (1627-1691), an English Presbyterian minister wrote, “He is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, a garment to the naked, healing to the wounded; and whatever a soul can desire is found in him.”

LORD, I come to you with a thankful heart for the promise of peace, for the Prince of Peace.  Spread this peace like a blanket across our hearts and nation.  Let YOUR Spirit flame in our hearts that we may change the things within that will have us connected with YOU.  In JESUS name I pray, Amen.