A Child is Born

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

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 Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Most of us know Handel’s oratorio chorus “Messiah,” and at Christmas time we are delighted by the sounds of its most famous song, the “Hallelujah Chorus.” How many of us, though, are aware that this song can only truly be sung after an earlier set proclaims, “For Unto Us a Child is Born”? The words for this song are taken from Isaiah 9, which describes a scene of darkness, gloom and oppression that is pierced with the light of dawn. For centuries, the Jewish people envisioned and expected a great warrior king who would save them from their oppressors. But God chose a child instead, a baby born in lowly circumstances, to save people from their spiritual oppression. In this series of messages Alistair Begg describes who this child is and what earns him the right to be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. Celebrate the great news that A Child is Born!