Today's reading from the LEC Family Advent Devotional is 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.
This passage is very familiar to all of us. We hear it sung in Handel's "Messiah." I've also seen the names of Jesus depicted in a church stained glass window. And I have a list that I keep in my Bible that gives the names of Jesus found in each book of the Bible. When we read this verse, we are reminded that Jesus came to us as a child, and we often reflect on how Jesus might have been as a child. What was his relationship with his parents? What did he learn as he grew up? And how did the experiences he went through as a young Jewish boy reflect in his adult years? I came upon an interesting interpretation of this verse from a Hebrew perspective and found the following things very interesting in how we should interpret this verse. First of all, a child is born and a son is given is Hebrew for humanity and divinity. So literally, the beginning of this verse is telling us that Jesus came in human form but was given to us by God. Also the Hebrew for given is "nuntawnun," which is a palindrome. Perhaps it's no coincidence that given or giving means that when you give, it comes back to you to give once again. A circle also expresses eternity -- never-ending. "To us a son is given" tells us that this son of God, Jesus, existed long before us and will continue to exist -- he will be God. "The government will be on his shoulders," in Hebrew, simply means "he will rule." All governments are on his shoulders, and he is in control of world affairs and guiding all governments to his conclusion. And finally, the last part of this verse gives the names of Jesus -- Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In many translations, we hear the words "and his name shall be called." "Name," in this instance, means "reputation" instead of "identification." Names can change the reputation of a person. We've seen this illustrated many times in the Bible -- Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sara, Simon "Peter," the Rock; Saul to Paul. When we pray, we usually say "dear Father" or "dear Lord." Perhaps we should be using these different names for Jesus when we pray -- "dear Wonderful Counselor," "dear Mighty God," "dear Everlasting Father."
Yes, "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" and his name is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father!
Today's Advent Photo of the Day
#child #pictureadvent
I am a child of God!
existed
before you and I and will continue to exist, hence he will be God. -
See more at:
http://www.chaimbentorah.com/2013/06/devotional-isaiah-96/#sthash.84aVskrX.dpuf
existed
before you and I and will continue to exist, hence he will be God. -
See more at:
http://www.chaimbentorah.com/2013/06/devotional-isaiah-96/#sthash.84aVskrX.dpuf
existed
before you and I and will continue to exist, hence he will be God. -
See more at:
http://www.chaimbentorah.com/2013/06/devotional-isaiah-96/#sthash.84aVskrX.dpuf
existed
before you and I and will continue to exist, hence he will be God. -
See more at:
http://www.chaimbentorah.com/2013/06/devotional-isaiah-96/#sthash.84aVskrX.dpuf
existed
before you and I and will continue to exist, hence he will be God. -
See more at:
http://www.chaimbentorah.com/2013/06/devotional-isaiah-96/#sthash.84aVskrX.dpuf
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