Isaiah 9:6

During the peak of the 2021 COVID pandemic, someone shared with me the following regarding the dire conditions many faced. 

“Make no mistake. When loved ones are removed from your home by ambulance because the virus has hit them hard, you are not going to be able to sit by their hospital bed and hold their hand. You are not going to be able to pop in at 7:00 pm during visiting hours. They are going to have no one other than exhausted and brave hospital staff to see them through days or weeks. During that time, they will be completely alone. Imagine that person is someone you love dearly. Because it is a reality for many.” 

Disconcerting? Absolutely. Dire? Yes! What is our hope in such times? Is there any hope? Yes, we who have placed our faith in Jesus have the assurance that in even the darkest of times, our Eternal Father is with us (Isaiah 9:6).

Bible scholar and commentator Charles Ryrie explains that Eternal Father means “Messiah is eternally a Father to His people, guarding, supplying, and caring for their needs.” ¹ There could be no greater comfort in dire situations. 

Do you have a relationship with the Eternal Father through Jesus Christ? If so, with whom might you share Him? 

ETERNAL FATHER, in the best of times and in the direst of times, thank You for being with me. Embolden me to share the assurance I have in You with others.

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¹ Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update (Chicago: Moody Press, 2008).

Are you at your wit’s end? Do you need someone to talk to who can help you sort out your problems and worries? If so, go to God, where you will receive the best counsel in the world. 

Where do we find God counseling someone? Among numerous places, we find Him counseling Cain in Genesis 4:6-7. What was the problem? “Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.” What counsel did God give Cain? God asked Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?” Then, He warned and directed Cain, “…if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 

Yes, God is the wonderful Counselor, as Isaiah 9:6 says. Talk to Him, then follow His counsel. I record what God prompts me to do in my journal, Prayers of My Heart so I have a record of what He places on my heart. 

What do God’s counseling prompts sound like? At times He has counseled me, “Open your Bible and read a Psalm.” Other times it has been, “Stop procrastinating and tackle what is before you.” Or, “Instead of wondering about someone, call them.” A wise Christian will both talk things out with their counselor and also follow up on what He tells them to do. 

Lord, You are the wonderful COUNSELOR. Increase my sensitivity to Your Voice. Help me take seriously Your counsel and follow through on what You lead me to do.

Would you like an organized way to record what God is speaking to you? Grab a copy of Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to write down what God places on your heart. 

Have you read the book of Isaiah or perhaps some of the following of Isaiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah and how he describes Jesus? With which of the following are you familiar? 

Isaiah 9:6, “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.” 

Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 

What about Isaiah 19:20 where Jesus is described as a Champion? “It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” The word “Champion” in this verse is from the Hebrew word “raḇ” and means “Mighty One.” 

Yes, Isaiah describes the Lord as not only Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Savior, but also as Champion, the Mighty One. Are you in a battle and need a win? Do you know someone else who is struggling and needs victory in their life? Call on the Lord, who is Champion over all.

Lord, You are Savior and CHAMPION, the One who can save and deliver me. I look to You in praise.

Want to learn more about living by Christ’s divine nature? Get Debbie’s Bible study on 2 Peter, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.