The Kingdom and Its King

EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | Sean Cavender | Bald Knob, Arkansas

Isaiah prophesied about 700 years before the time of Christ and is one of the most influential prophets of the Old Testament. Many of his prophecies warn rebellious Israel of impending judgment, admonish them to repent of iniquity, and point to the hope of the restoration of the kingdom of God. Some of the more memorable prophecies of the Messiah are found in the book of Isaiah. For example, the prediction that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son is found in Isaiah 7:14. Another prominent prophecy is found in Isaiah 9:6-7:

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this,” (New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update)

Notice the government/kingdom language used by Isaiah. We may hear these verses quoted around the Christmas holiday in attempts to celebrate and remember the hopeful anticipation of the birth of Jesus, but this prophecy is filled with much more than just a prediction of the birth of Christ. These verses are acknowledging the dominant role the Messiah would have as the Anointed ruler over the kingdom of God.

Isaiah 9:6-7 is a royal decree of the Messiah’s identity, His mission, and the royal names and offices He would be filling. While The Living Bible is not always a precious translation, it does provide a helpful paraphrase of Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: ‘Wonderful,’ ‘Counselor,’ ‘The Mighty God,’ ‘The Everlasting Father,’ ‘ The Prince of Peace.'” The TLB’s more loosely translated phrase “these will be his royal titles” is a helpful reminder to readers that the names found in Isaiah 9:6-7 are not names by which the Messiah would be called or referred to, but that they are the roles, offices and titles the Messiah would fill.

The Throne of David
David is the prototypical king; he established the kingdom of Israel and conquered its enemies like no other before or after him. Israel would expect the Messiah to be like David – only better! David was a king that demonstrated faithfulness to God. He was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14). God made a promise to David that one of his heirs would sit on the throne and establish an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:16). Throughout the rest of Israel’s history, the prophets would show how God was working to fulfill this promise to establish David’s throne.

Isaiah’s prophecies are based upon the sure mercies of David, the covenant God made with David and Israel, realized through the resurrected Jesus (Isaiah 55:3; Acts 13:34). The New Testament firmly identifies Jesus as the rightful heir to the throne of David. He is a descendant of David according to the flesh (Matthew 1:6; Romans 1:3). After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He ascended into heaven where He was exalted to the right hand of God and seated on David’s throne (Acts 2:29-33). Jesus is reigning on David’s throne and is presently ruling over the kingdom of God.

The Messianic Reign
Isaiah 9 announces the great monarch who will reign over the kingdom of God, ruling from David’s throne. Isaiah describes the Messianic king as the One who will rule with godly counsel and wisdom (“Wonderful Counselor”), might and strength (“Mighty God”), the giver of eternal life (“Eternal Father”), and establisher of peace (“Prince of Peace”). The Messiah will rule as the royal, benevolent and righteous monarch. Jesus of Nazareth is the One who has been exalted to David’s throne and rules in this way.

Jesus is the One in whom all wisdom and knowledge are found (Colossians 2:3)
Jesus is the Mighty God who wages war and defeats His enemies (Revelation 19:11-16)
Jesus is the “founding father” and bringer of eternal life (Hebrews 5:9)
Jesus is the way to have peace with God (Romans 5:1-2)

Jesus’ kingdom is an everlasting one since He is the “Everlasting/Eternal Father” (Isaiah 9:6). The eternal nature of the kingdom is according to the covenant God made with David (2 Samuel 7:16). The Messiah will rule with righteousness and justice “forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7). The Messianic kingdom is not an earthly, physical, nationalistic kingdom that we should expect to find on the earth – now or in the future. Jesus is presently ruling in heaven and promises to return at the end of the age, at the day of Judgment and the final resurrection to bring saints to their eternal home (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31-32).

The prophet foretold the expansion or growth of the kingdom of God and Christ. Isaiah 9:7 indicates there will be no end to the increase of the Messianic rule and government. First, the kingdom was made available to all the children of Israel who would accept the Messiah (Isaiah 55:1-3). That is why the gospel was proclaimed to the “Jew first.” The kingdom fo Christ did not stop there – the proclamation of King Jesus through the gospel (good news) is that all who believe, repent and obey the King can be saved (Romans 1:16)! Sadly, some in the first group – the Jews – reject King Jesus. Therefore, the kingdom was taken away from them and given to all who are willing to confess their loyalty and allegiance to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 21:43).

Conclusion
Jesus is the King that Isaiah prophesied about many years ago. He rules over God’s kingdom with fairness, justice, and righteousness. He expects citizens of His kingdom to live by the principles by which He governs. King Jesus offers hope and salvation to any who will come to Him and drink of the waters He freely gives. Jesus is the Son who has been born and to whom the kingdom has been granted! Let us recognize Jesus as the rightful ruler and pledge our lives to Him.

19.07.02 | GROW magazine