“For unto us a child is born, unto is 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.” Isaiah 9:5
Every year, for as long as I can remember, my family would start playing Handel’s Messiah after the Thanksgiving Day meal was done. That was the official start to our holiday celebrations. As the five of us kids grew up, it was not long until we were singing along with gusto, harmonies flowing around us, each of us knowing our part, knowing the words, and enjoying each other’s company as we shared in the beautiful music and scriptural words.
Can you even imagine what these words meant to the people of Israel? There is going to come to you a child, who is the Son of God, and He will bring counsel, peace, and a glimpse of the Almighty God. These words came to the Israelites as they were seeing their world fall apart around them, as Isaiah told them of the Lord’s anger and the exile they would experience because of their stubbornness in turning away from Him.
And yet, here is what the Lord also wants you to know, Israel! My Son will come and change the course of history. He will change the very fabric of our relationship, and not just yours and Mine, Israel, but with all people.
What could it have been like for Handel to put music to these words? I am doomed to sing them, rather than speak them, no matter why it is they come to mind. If you have never heard Handel’s Messiah, I encourage you to do so. In this song in particular, there is such a crescendo when the names of Jesus are sung. The harmonies, the music accompaniment, are amazing. You can feel the strength of the message...the Lord says, “I will save you through the coming of My Son. Watch for Him. He will do mighty things.”
What a way to begin the holiday season! Bill and I do it to this day. It is the start of our waiting and anticipating the birth of our Savior, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.