Isaiah 9

No more gloom for her who was in anguish. Former time: Zebulun and Naphtali brought into contempt; latter time: the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations, made glorious. Wesley: the storm fell most heavily here; afterward Shalmaneser carried Israel away; Galilee of the Gentiles because it bordered them.

North first under Assyria, then honoured. Matthew’s sea-road is this road.

Calvin: consolation after 8:22’s darkness. This chastisement lighter than Tiglath and Shalmaneser because a promise is attached; without the word the smallest stream drowns, with it the open sea is survivable. Galilee of the Gentiles: mixed with Gentiles since Solomon granted land to Hiram.

The promise is the seasoning. Zebulun, Naphtali, way of the sea, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. Wesley: Israel and Judah; darkness comprehends calamity and ignorance, idolatry and profaneness. Have seen—shall see at the coming of the Messiah.

“Light”—a shining on a historical people. They still walk; the light still comes.

Calvin: past tense for future, to set it before their eyes. Even in death, God can restore. Matthew applied it to Christ in Galilee correctly: the return from Babylon is a prelude that runs till Christ. Captivity was death; Jews there differed little from Gentiles, so the light reaches both. We lie buried till Christ shine by the doctrine of his word (Eph 5:14).

The word that raises the dead. Walked in darkness, great light, deep darkness, light shone.

You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you as at harvest, as when they divide the plunder. Wesley: the promise to Abraham made good by gathering Gentiles to the Jews; before thee—in thy presence and the place of thy worship.

“Multiplied”—a joy in a presence. Harvest and spoil are still the measure.

Calvin: this later, smaller remnant yields greater joy than the old full kingdom, because the face of God shines. True joy, not transitory. Before thee: Moses’ phrase; they behold Him by faith as the author of salvation. Christ brings a joy we cannot be robbed of.

Spiritual happiness, not head-count. Multiplied, joy, harvest, spoil.

The yoke of his burden, the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian. Wesley: burdensome yoke, staves for loads, rod of all oppressors, especially sin and the devil. The victory over Midian was won with three hundred men.

The yoke is broken. Midian is the pattern: God can do it with few. They still wore the yoke; He still breaks it.

Calvin: the cause of the joy—rescued from shameful slavery. Midian: God sometimes works alone so His hand is not hidden (Judg 7). Not the law as yoke, not Vespasian, not Hezekiah (that was danger, not slavery). From Babylon till Christ, one deliverance.

His arm, not their numbers. Yoke, staff, rod, Midian.

Every boot of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. Wesley: ordinary battle is noise and slaughter; this victory consumes the adversaries as by fire.

The gear of war is piled up for burning. The child of v. 6 is why the boots can burn.

Calvin: ordinary conquest hews enemies down; here the Lord conquers by His own hand, as lightning. The copulative is but: not the confusion of battle, but burning. Extends to the kingdom of Christ, not merely Cyrus.

He needs no pile of corpses. Boot, tumult, garment rolled in blood, fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; the government will be on his shoulder; his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Wesley: the ground of the light, joy, and victory. Us—unto us Jews, of whom Christ was born, and to whom he was primarily sent. Child—Messiah, not Hezekiah: the titles cannot without blasphemy be given to any mere man. Wonderful counsellor—of his church in all ages; all the treasures of wisdom (Col 2:3). Mighty God—God as well as man; El never used in the singular of a creature. Father of eternity—though as man then unborn, from everlasting to everlasting.

Shared christology—this child is Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, God and man. Given to us: a gift to a people who may receive Him. Government on His shoulder is still a burden He bears.

Calvin: not Hezekiah, already born. Son without addition is the Son of God (2 Sam 7:14; Ps 2:7). Given to us: little avail that Christ was born if He were not our own; this giving is a chief article of faith. Government on the shoulder like Eliakim’s key, not the cross. Wonderful: excellencies we perceive by faith; His grace exceeds miracles. Counsellor: from the Father’s bosom, the perfect teacher; wisdom from His gospel. Mighty God: El plus gibbor; if He were not God, glorying in Him would be cursed (Jer 17:5); the same reason as Immanuel (7:14). Father of the age: Author who keeps the Church through all ages. Prince of Peace: peace with God (Rom 5:1), then composure of mind.

He is ours, or the birth avails little. Neither side disputes this: child born, son given, government, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will perform this. Wesley: peaceable government to the ends of the earth; the throne promised to David and his seed for ever; from the beginning of it to all eternity. Zeal—almighty God, fervent affection to His own glory, the honour of His son, and His people.

The Lord will do it; they still live under that increase.

Calvin: this government alone is unchangeable; earthly kingdoms slip. Do not judge stability from appearances. Throne of David: nothing new, the old promise. Judgment and righteousness: the kingdom is spiritual, established by the Spirit; inner man regenerated first; we are not Christ’s unless we follow what is good and just and bear the impress sealed by the Spirit. Zeal: God inflamed with amazing love of believers; if they cannot measure the promise, still hope—the manner is wonderful.

His zeal performs what appearances deny. Increase, no end, throne of David, justice, righteousness, forevermore, zeal of the LORD of Armies.