THE CHILD KING!
Isa 9:5-7 KJV
5 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.
6 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah the prophet was speaking regarding the reign of Hezekiah, a boy king of about nine or ten years old, who would sit upon the throne of David and Solomon and restore the glory of the kingdom. The name Hezekiah means “Jehovah strengthens” and there is much rejoicing regarding his rise to power. But the language is excessive as it relates to an earthly king for Isaiah calls him Eel gibowr “God, the mighty hero.”
The veil between heaven and earth grew thin as Isaiah saw beyond the child king Hezekiah to the infant King of Kings. Now the language is not disproportionate. Now we are talking about God condensed in a baby boy. Augustine wrote the following poem that describes the difficulty we have in describing Him.
Maker of the sun,
He is made under the sun.
In the Father he remains,
From his mother he goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely speechless.
Filling the world,
He lies in a manger.
Ruler of the stars,
He nurses at his mother's bosom.
He is both great in the nature of God,
and small in the form of a servant.
A babe laid in a manger was called mighty. His birth shook the heavens and gave birth to a new star. That star greatly affected the magi and sent them on a long quixotic journey to find the infant king. Their arrival in Jerusalem
Angels broke through the veil of secrecy in uncontained joy. They expelled their praise to humble shepherds on the hillside. “Glory to God in the Highest” they shouted to the lowest.
They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes and lift them high;
Thou cam'st, a little baby-thing
That made a woman cry.
n George Macdonald
Dear Lord, once again let us look beyond the thin veil and peer over into that land to which we belong. Let us see a bit of heaven today. AMEN
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