Let’s Chat: Pleased to Dwell 5

Who is a God like this one, who forgives, pardons, loves steadfastly, shows compassion and faithfulness? It sounds like an Exodus 34 remix! And Micah ends with total trust in God’s loyalty to the promises made to Abraham and the Patriarchs!

~ Peter Mead, Pleased to Dwell

You can see all posts in this series by clicking on this line.

Throughout the Old Testament, priests, judges, and kings all failed. What could possibly happen next to put an end to the catastrophe? The King, the LORD Himself, coming to lead His people as one of them!

At one of the most crucial points in the Old Testament, the king at the time (Ahaz) betrayed the LORD. He chose to run to the enemy of God and His people for refuge – the exact thing king David in Psalm 2 warns against (you should run to the King instead)! In the face of the collapse of David’s house, God gives a sign as a seal that He would make good on His promise.

What was that sign? The birth of a child.

First comes the promise of a virgin giving birth to a child (7:14), and by the end of the sequence we have the announcement of the greatest birth the new leader that would be born (9:6-7). It will be a male child, whose government will be forever, and whose titles build on each other to thrill the reader. Wonderful Counselor – whose wisdom will accomplish the greatest of challenges. Mighty God – again we discover that the Messianic ruler will be divine. Everlasting Father – the term typically used of the LORD reinforces the identity of this ruler. Prince of Peace – His rule will bring all the blessings of peace. The ruler is destined to sit on David’s throne.

~ Peter Mead, Pleased to Dwell

If you’re like me (or someone like Alexander Solzhenitsyn), a government being forever sounds terrifying! Hang on though, because this government isn’t like the governments of sinful humans or a far away dictators in the sky. No, this King is different! His name (or title) speaks volumes to why we should anticipate and love His reign!

Wonderful Counsellor – This wisdom isn’t focused on obtaining and retaining greatness, but sharing His own goodness! Here is the Isaiah 55:6-9 goodness and wisdom by which Jesus reigns over everything. This isn’t wisdom the originates from an earthly, human, or demonic source. This is wisdom from high above coming down in peace and impartiality (James 3:13-18).

Mighty God – This King won’t be a far-off God, but God Himself stepping near. Not a weak God, but mighty! Capable of meeting the greatest of challenges (sin and death) for His people, overcoming both by His wisdom and might.

Everlasting Father – When the people of Israel first requested a king (1 Samuel 8), they wanted a replacement for the one-judge-after-another drama of the Book of Judges. Thankfully, God had a better plan than just a forever-judge! They wanted a judge to rule over them like a king ruled over all the other nations around them (again, like Ahaz, the people are running to another king besides the King; see 1 Samuel 1:5 and 7). God did eventually give them a forever King, but He was very unlike the kings of the nations of men. Jesus was a King who communicated the Fatherly heart of God for His people perfectly – concerned, caring, condescending to the weak, relentless in pursuit of the lost, and so on.

Prince of Peace – Here is the King of Psalm 2 Himself! Only Jesus is exactly the kind of King God would have to reign and watch over for His people. In Jesus, as the angels announced to the shepherds and the Apostles announced to us, God will have perfect peace with us in Jesus!

Wow! What a God!

Let’s Chat

How does the forever-kingdom of Jesus sound?

Which of the four truths (Wonderful Counsellor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) impacts you the most right now?

Looking at the Old Testament, there was so much failure and rebellion and lack of trust. Still, God coming through on His promise so that we can trust the Promiser. Does that reassure your heart this Christmas season?

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If you’d like to dive deeper into Immanuel, those four truths about Jesus our King, and Isaiah, feel free to check this essay I wrote in seminary.

Immanuel – Standing Before God, This We Are and No More