S1: Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with me, Michael Ray Dolnick. This is Moody Radio's
S1: Bible study all across America, and we're not going to
S1: be taking your questions today. It's a special pre-recorded Bible study,
S1: and we'll be talking about special Christmas prophecies of the
S1: Messiah from the Book of Isaiah. And it's really exciting
S1: for me to have my partners in Bible study here
S1: with me. Tricia McMillan, producer of Open Line is here.
S1: Chris Fabry, who is my partner in Bible study once
S1: a month on The Chris Fabry Show and has joined
S1: us from time to time right here on Open Line.
S1: I'm really grateful that you're here. Chris Fabry. And then
S1: also joining us is Eva Radonich, who is my partner
S1: in Bible study. Every morning at the kitchen counter when
S1: we drink coffee every single morning. Eve is also a
S1: professor at Moody. Adjunct professor and also a Bible teacher
S1: who has written in the Moody. Bible commentary. I love.
S2: This team. Yes, I love being together. The four of us.
S1: You know, you got to say. Coffee? Coffee? Yeah. Coffee.
S1: I got my cup of coffee here. That's right. I
S1: got my New York accent on. You know, I have
S1: sisters that still speak like that. Yes. And they say
S1: to me things like. Michael, what do you talk so funny?
S1: And I'm like, ah, but I just don't. Anyway, I'm
S1: so glad to be with you. We're studying in the
S1: book of Isaiah. We last hour talked about Isaiah seven,
S1: one of the great predictions. It's a prediction of the
S1: virgin birth. But Isaiah has a really interesting strategy with
S1: with Isaiah, with the way he gives these prophecies here
S1: in the first part, it's called the Book of Emanuel,
S1: chapter seven through 12. It's about the king. And what
S1: you have is a situation, sort of a judgmental situation,
S1: a valley, and then it peaks with a messianic prophecy.
S1: And then, uh, that's what we see in chapter seven
S1: and then chapter eight. There's another judgmental kind of bad situation,
S1: tough prophecy of a judgment that's coming. That's chapter eight,
S1: that's another valley. And then it peaks with the promise
S1: of the messianic king in chapter nine. And then what
S1: follows after that is another valley of judgment. And then
S1: chapter 11, another prophecy of the messianic king peaking. So
S1: it goes from valley to peak, valley to peak valley
S1: to peak over and over, back and forth. It's sort
S1: of an interchange right there. And so we're at the
S1: chapter nine one. And, uh, this is talking about dark
S1: and gloomy times for Judea, for Judah and for Israel,
S1: because judgment was coming. It says, nevertheless, chapter nine, verse one,
S1: the gloom of the distressed land will not be like
S1: that of the former times, when he humbled the land
S1: of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali. It's something's going
S1: to change from this gloomy, dark time. And it's it's
S1: really important that we see this, that the rod of
S1: oppression will be broken. But here's the thing. I sometimes
S1: think that we miss the point when we talk about
S1: the gospel. I think that sometimes we talk all about
S1: the darkness and the gloom and the suffering that people have,
S1: but there really is joy. I was just talking to
S1: someone about a Christmas program that I went to see,
S1: and I said, you know, they ought to do it
S1: with more joy, because that's the prophecy here. It's about joy.
S1: But I think we should start by saying, why do
S1: you think people feel the gloom and the darkness these days?
S2: Just overall. Yeah, I know they look at, you know,
S2: headlines and, you know, world events and things seem so
S2: terrible on a big scale. I think they look like that.
S2: They feel like that.
S1: Yeah.
S3: Algorithm is toward the negative.
S2: Oh, yes.
S3: Everything is you know what I see on my social media?
S3: If I look, everything is an argument about something, and
S3: somebody's pushing something or cutting in front of somebody or
S3: yelling at the police or the police are, you know,
S3: it's like we we live in a world of great
S3: conflict and we are actually drawn to that. That's what
S3: I don't understand. I don't understand why I'm drawn to it.
S3: Watching a football game or a baseball game. What? All
S3: I see, it's when a fight breaks out, you know.
S1: That's a hockey game breaks out. Right. Yeah. Yeah.
S3: Well, that's what we. There's something inside that, you know,
S3: gravitates toward that. That's not real godly, I think.
S2: Yeah, yeah.
S4: And I think too, the, the individual that there are
S4: things happening in our lives that are, But, you know,
S4: we have bad days or we have these bad things
S4: that happen to us or to our friends or to
S4: our family members, and we know people that, you know,
S4: they've lost a job, they've lost a loved one, they've
S4: they've had a diagnosis that those all compile added to it.
S4: In the Northern Hemisphere, we just have lit actual dark,
S4: darker days in the winter time. And so yeah, I'm
S4: sad you're not. You're not getting that sunshine. You're not
S4: seeing the, the, the daylight as much. And so you
S4: can just get very inward focused and you and bad
S4: news travels faster than good news. Like you just don't
S4: hear it. And so it that just spreads like gossip,
S4: as it were. And and so you just feel I
S4: think all of those layers just kind of compound in
S4: your life. It's like, oh there's nothing good out there.
S4: It's gloomy. It's all gloom and doom.
S1: You know, I think you're really right. And of all seasons.
S1: Think about this. It's the Christmas season. It's right after
S1: the dark. Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. It's right after
S1: the darkest day of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere.
S1: The longest day of the shortest day of the year. Right.
S4: Shortest day. Right. Yes.
S2: And I think that especially, like, now, if we're thinking
S2: about Christmas time, we're told that we're supposed to be happy. Happy?
S2: It's the happiest time. It's the most wonderful time of
S2: the year. You put it in song, right? And yet
S2: people look at their lives like the very thing that
S2: Tricia was saying and think, well, that's not me. Well,
S2: this is it makes it even worse. If you're expecting
S2: to have a good time and then you don't. Your
S2: bad times even worse. Yeah, right.
S4: And then you're forcing it like I'm supposed to be happy.
S4: Everyone else is happy or looks happy. I'm not. Now
S4: you have to force it and fake it.
S1: Yeah, I think I think that's really true. And I
S1: think that now we don't have to fake it. The
S1: promise of Isaiah nine. Is there someone who can really
S1: bring joy and bring light? I want you to just
S1: a lot of times we hear at Christmas time Isaiah
S1: nine six and seven, or just Isaiah nine six because
S1: of Handel's Messiah. For unto us a son is born.
S1: You know that. Yeah. That's right. But it really starts
S1: with Isaiah nine one about the the land that was
S1: in gloom. But it won't be like that in the future.
S1: He will bring honor by way of the sea to
S1: the land east of the Jordan and to Galilee of
S1: the nations. That's the northern part of Israel. The people
S1: walking in darkness. Now, my version says have seen. But
S1: it could be translated just as much. We'll see a
S1: great light. A light will dawn on those living in
S1: the land of darkness. You've enlarged the nation and increased
S1: its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they
S1: rejoice at the harvest time. And they rejoice when dividing spoils.
S1: They're going to be made to go from gloom to gladness,
S1: from darkness to light, from sorrow to joy. Howe because
S1: he shatters the oppressive yoke. Verse four says, for the
S1: trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war
S1: will be burned as fuel. The wars will be over. Why?
S1: For a child will be born for us, a son
S1: will be given to us, and the government will be
S1: on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
S1: eternal father, Prince of Peace. What does this tell us?
S1: Where should our joy be in gloomy times? Where should
S1: we focus our attention? How are we going to experience
S1: that joy? It's not through buying gifts, I got to
S1: tell you. That makes me more depressed. Stressed to where
S1: will it come from for a child?
S3: God himself will become a child. Isn't that great? Yeah.
S1: That is I think that's so important. I think when
S1: we just read Isaiah nine six out of context, it's wonderful,
S1: but put it in context.
S2: Even better. Yeah.
S4: Especially because you've got that oppressive spirit and hey, now
S4: there's going to be peace. Yeah. Like. And a counselor. Like,
S4: those are. Those are what you need during those gloomy times.
S1: Yeah, yeah. I think that that that's so crucial to
S1: understand it. And so what we have in verse six,
S1: now that we've put it in context, is this messianic king.
S1: Now I want to note several things. First of all,
S1: let's do some observational Bible study. What does the fact
S1: that this king will be born tell us about his
S1: nature is he will be human. He'll be human. Her growl. Yeah, exactly. Uh,
S1: this is just an amazing thing. It is talking about
S1: one who is going to be like us. Uh, that
S1: when we notice the the picture in Philippians two about
S1: the Messiah coming fully human, that God humbled himself and
S1: took the form of a human being, fully human. What
S1: an amazing thing. What does that what does that tell
S1: us about Jesus about in terms of our understanding, our gloom?
S2: He understands our circumstances. He understands when things are happening
S2: to us. He understands how we would feel about it
S2: because he's also human.
S1: I hate to be, you know, but so often what
S1: I've been seeing these ads on TV, he gets us.
S1: It's really true. He fully understands us. He fully gets us.
S1: And then and we're going to talk about this more.
S1: Not only does it talk about, uh, his birth, it
S1: says the government will be on his shoulders. That deals
S1: with his authority, his royalty. So we've got his humanness
S1: through his birth, his authority or royalty through the government
S1: resting on his shoulder. But then his name's. What do
S1: his names indicate?
S3: Can I say something about wonderful, counselor? Yeah, because I
S3: had this friend who was a missionary in India for
S3: years and years. He was old when I was just
S3: a kid, and we'd get to this verse and he
S3: would say in his thick accent, don't put him together there.
S3: His name is wonderful.
S1: And he would.
S3: Say, and I don't know what the translation. I think
S3: it probably is wonderful, counselor. It is. But his name
S3: is wonderful. It is. And he is counselor and Mighty God.
S3: So I always hear Doctor Frykenberg in my.
S1: Head.
S3: Saying his his name is wonderful. And you can you
S3: can pause right there before you rush to the counselor.
S3: But he is that wonderful counselor as well, isn't he?
S1: So let's think about those names. All four couplets. Wonderful counselor,
S1: Mighty God, Eternal father, Prince of Peace. What does that
S1: tell us about his nature? That he will be. What?
S4: Good.
S1: Not only good. More than good.
S2: I think he's going to be deity because of the
S2: wonderful part. Isn't that word one of those words?
S1: All the words. Every. All four couplets indicate deity. And
S1: we're going to go through the details of them when
S1: we come back. But they all indicate his deity. And
S1: that's just it. It's not just that his birth indicates
S1: his humanity. His titles indicate his deity. He's the God man,
S1: and he is the source of hope and joy and
S1: light that we have in the midst of gloomy, dark times.
S1: We're going to come right back with more on the
S1: wonderful Counselor in just a moment. This is open line
S1: with me and my friends as we study the scriptures.
S1: Are you looking to deepen your grasp of Paul's powerful epistles?
S1: The Moody Bible Commentary excerpt on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and
S1: Colossians is your key to unlocking these treasured books with
S1: clear explanations and practical insights. This resource illuminates Paul's teachings
S1: on grace, unity, joy, and the supremacy of the Lord Jesus.
S1: Request your copy of this Moody Bible Commentary excerpt. When
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S1: Line radio.org. Everyone has questions about God, the Bible and
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UU: Oh man named John the West had been heralding the news.
S5: About the coming of a Savior for both the Gentiles
S5: and the Jews.
UU: And it happened in Judea, in the town of Bethlehem.
S5: With a bright star, or the stable was born the
S5: Son of Man.
S1: Wow! What a great reminder of what this is all about.
S1: That was the birth of the King right then in Bethlehem.
S1: I'm so grateful for that song. It reminds me it's
S1: for all. For both the Gentiles and the Jews. It's
S1: for all people that this great news has come. Well,
S1: I'm here with Tricia McMillan, Chris Fabry, and Eva Rydell.
S1: My name is Michael Ray Melnick, and we're studying Isaiah's
S1: messianic hope. We looked at Isaiah seven in the first hour.
S1: We're in Isaiah nine right now. We're not going to
S1: cover all the prophecies in Isaiah, but we may have
S1: to do some of the those as a special spring
S1: Easter Bible study, resurrection Bible study, when we we when
S1: we plan one for the springtime. But we're going to
S1: do a cover three of them today, Isaiah seven nine
S1: and 11. And we're in Isaiah nine, where the birth
S1: of the King is to give us great hope in
S1: dark and gloomy times. It gives us light and joy
S1: in dark and gloomy times. And I mentioned that the
S1: four titles of the Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father,
S1: which I will translate differently, uh, and Prince of Peace. Actually,
S1: all of them indicate his deity. And Trish said, I
S1: want to see how that works.
S4: Tell me more. How does Wonderful counselor indicate deity? The
S4: others I.
S1: Get. Yeah. You might call a baby a wonderful baby.
S1: Or even grow up to be a counselor. Yeah, but
S1: how do you call them? Wonderful, counselor. Okay, here's the word.
S1: The word for wonder. Okay. Uh, it's used commonly in
S1: times like, uh, uh. Signs and wonders. Miraculous. Okay. Uh,
S1: and it's used exclusively in Scripture of the acts of God,
S1: the word wonder, the acts of God on behalf of
S1: his people or judgment of their enemies. It's used of
S1: God's actions exclusively and better. I know that we think of, uh,
S1: it says wonderful, counselor, but if you were really to
S1: read the Hebrew very literally. It would be a wonder
S1: of a counselor like, uh, you know, you've seen the
S1: expressions in Hebrew like a foolish man in the book
S1: of Proverbs. It literally is a fool of a man.
S1: Or if you see expressions like that in Scripture, so
S1: in Hebrew here, it's a wonder of a counselor and
S1: it refers to this. And so I'm going to have
S1: you all turn in your Bible. And Chris, you're going
S1: to you're going to help me out here. Look at
S1: judges 13.
S3: Joshua. Judges.
S1: Ruth, do you remember judges? Good. There you go. Judges 1313.
S1: This is about the birth of Samson. His parents are
S1: told that Samson is going to be born. And he's.
S1: This is the angel of the Lord, a Pre-incarnate Messiah,
S1: coming and talking to them. And, uh, they, uh, this
S1: is what happens, uh, In verse 16. Okay, pick it
S1: up there. Why don't you read for us through verse 18? Okay.
S3: 16, 18. The angel of the Lord said to him,
S3: if I stay, I won't eat your food. But if
S3: you want to prepare a burnt offering, offer it to
S3: the Lord. For Manoah did not know he was the
S3: angel of the Lord. Then Manoah said to him, Manoah
S3: is his father, Samson's father. What is your name? So
S3: that we may honor you when your words come true.
S3: Verse 18. Why do you ask my name? The angel
S3: of the Lord asked him, since it is wonderful, keep.
S1: Reading through verse 20.
S3: Okay, so Manoah took a young goat and a grain
S3: offering and offered them on a rock to the Lord.
S3: And he did a wonderful thing while Manoah and his
S3: wife were watching, when the flame went up from the
S3: altar to the sky, the angel of the Lord went
S3: up in its flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this,
S3: they fell face down on the ground. The angel of
S3: the Lord did not appear again to Manoah and his wife.
S3: Then Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.
S1: And then he says, we're going to die. Because we
S1: have seen God. Because we have seen God. Okay. Now,
S1: I wanted to ask Tricia. I think that's just a
S1: wonderful passage. But do you see what I mean about
S1: the word wonderful?
S4: Yes. His name is wonderful. Yeah. And it's God's name. Yeah.
S1: And it's a distinct has to do with miraculous works
S1: of God on the part for his people acting on
S1: behalf of his people. I think that that's it's not.
S1: You know, I hate to say it, but I think
S1: that just reading wonderful counselor really misses the point.
S4: Oh, yes. Absolutely. Well, and he's wonderful and does wonderful
S4: things in verse 19, he did a wonderful thing. Yeah.
S1: Wondrous thing is how I would translate it. A wondrous thing.
S4: Why does that carry more weight? Yeah. Wondrous. Oh, okay.
S4: But wonderful, I think because we just use wonderful so casually.
S1: Exactly.
S4: That was awesome. I have wonderful.
S1: Yeah. Students say to me I have a wonderful schedule
S1: this semester. They would never say I have a wondrous schedule. No, no, no.
S4: They would.
S1: Not. And that's really it captures it that this is
S1: an act of God. And so when it says he's
S1: a wonder of a counselor, it's not just that he's
S1: any old. He's not a therapist, you know? Uh, it's, uh,
S1: someone want to read Isaiah 40, verse 13? Sure.
S2: Uh, I can read that. Yeah.
S1: And, uh, I'll give you another one. Isaiah 11, verse two.
S2: Which one do you want us to read first?
S1: You read Isaiah 40 verse 13. Mhm. And you can
S1: read Isaiah 11, verse two.
S2: 4040. Verse 13. Yeah. Oh hang on, I was in
S2: the wrong chapter.
S1: Oh, no. Oh, no. Gotta be ready.
S2: Oh, gotta be ready. Gotta be ready. All right. Flipping
S2: over 40.
S1: I like hearing the pages turn.
S2: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord? Or as
S2: his counselor? Been informed of him who has directed the
S2: spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has informed him.
S1: See, what it's saying is, God needs no counselor. Do
S1: you know why? Because he's the Supreme counselor. He needs
S1: wisdom from no one else. He's got all the wisdom
S1: he needs.
S2: Mhm. Mhm. All right.
S4: And Isaiah 11 verse two.
S1: Speaking about the Messiah.
S4: The spirit of the Lord will rest on him a
S4: spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength,
S4: a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
S1: The spirit of counsel rests on him. The Spirit of
S1: God brings divine counsel upon the birth of the Messiah,
S1: that when the Messiah comes. So, uh. And then one
S1: last time, where this verse is used together in the
S1: book of these two words are used together in the
S1: book of Isaiah. Isaiah 2829, which is, I think it's
S1: it's the only place in the Bible that I'm aware
S1: of that these two words are used together. Here's what
S1: it says. Uh, this comes from the Lord of hosts.
S1: He gives wonderful counselor and wonderful counsel. He gives great wisdom.
S1: So when it talks about God being a wonder of
S1: a counselor, it is using it in the divine sense,
S1: the sense of divine counsel.
S2: It's interesting. In the new American Standard, it says, who
S2: has made his counsel wonderful and his wisdom great. Yeah.
S1: Yeah, it's.
S3: And so Proverbs two and wisdom and understanding. And there's
S3: also this aspect of wonder that is awe inspired and fearful.
S3: There is a certain aspect of fear here because I
S3: was reading in in Isaiah eight it says, do not
S3: fear what they fear. Do not be terrified. You are
S3: to regard only the Lord of hosts as holy. Only
S3: he should be feared only. He should be held in awe. Right?
S3: And that shows, you know, no matter what is going
S3: on in my life, that it feels like it's it's big.
S3: God's bigger than that. He's got he's he has that
S3: under control. And I got to remember that. Yeah.
S1: We all have to remember that. And and the very
S1: next title points us to it. We've got the wonder
S1: of a counselor. He's also in Hebrew algebra, the mighty God.
S1: It's a title that's used of some people say, oh,
S1: it just means a warrior. But, uh, in the very
S1: next chapter. And it doesn't just mean a warrior. It's
S1: used in 1021. Uh, and there in 1021, it says this.
S1: The remnant will return the remnant of Jacob to the
S1: mighty God. Uh, they're not returning to a warrior. The
S1: remnant of Israel returns to God himself, the powerful God
S1: who can do what? Whatever it is that needs to
S1: be done. He can act. And then the next phrase
S1: that's used is Father or Eternal Father. And, you know,
S1: I don't know if this bothers you because the God
S1: the Son is not God the Father.
S2: That really mixes people up, I think. Yes, yes, yes.
S4: It's confusing. Yeah.
S1: And we don't want to confuse that literally in Hebrew
S1: does not say Eternal Father. It says father of eternity
S1: or father of time. Now, when we use the term
S1: father of eternity, what's a different nuance? It doesn't refer
S1: to like a father and son. What's that referring to?
S1: Father of time. Who's the father of our country?
S4: Like the Founding fathers? Yeah, the founding father.
S1: Yeah, exactly. The father of our country, George Washington. He
S1: founded the United States, first president, and so forth. Okay,
S1: so the same thing when we talk about father of Time.
S1: What's it talking about.
S4: The creator, the.
S2: Creator, the.
S1: Creator of time. Yeah, think about that. The creator of time. Uh,
S1: doesn't that bring some or very thing? The very first
S1: thing that God created wasn't the heavens and the earth.
S1: The first thing God created was the beginning. Yeah. Before
S1: before God created time. There was no such thing as
S1: beginning or end.
S2: Which is why he lives above time. Yeah, he's above time.
S1: He is not part of time. Uh, he is transcendent.
S1: But he created. He's the father of time. He's the
S1: creator of time. And last of all, he's the Prince
S1: of Peace. The word prince, sometimes people think means, uh,
S1: the son of the king. But in Hebrew, sar just
S1: means ruler. He's the ruler of peace. He's the one
S1: that brings us peace. Now, that is just remarkable when
S1: we look at these titles. And I want to come
S1: back to this, even though we were supposed to move
S1: to Isaiah 11, in the next segment. But I want
S1: to come back to this. But here's the thing about this.
S1: What brings light and joy in gloomy and dark times?
S1: I'll tell you the birth of the king. That's he's
S1: the one, uh, the God man. When he comes for us,
S1: we're going to talk about what that means for us
S1: when we come back. So don't go away. This is
S1: open line with Michael Ray Dolnick and friends. We're so
S1: glad that Febc partners with Open Line with Doctor Michael
S1: Ray Dolnick bringing the Febc mailbag every week. Learn how
S1: far East Broadcasting Company is taking Christ to the world
S1: at febc. Org on their weekly podcast. Until all have
S1: heard with Ed Cannon, you'll hear stories of lives changed
S1: by Messiah all across the globe. Again, you can hear
S1: the podcast when you visit febc.org. That's febc.org.
S5: Mary, did you know that your baby boy would someday
S5: walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby
S5: boy would save our sons and daughters?
UU: Did you know that your baby boy has come to
UU: make you new? This child.
S1: Will do. What I love about this song is I
S1: think it's my new favorite Christmas song, is that it
S1: really emphasizes the deity and humanity of Jesus. I think
S1: that's what is so significant about it. And that's what
S1: we discovered when we were looking at Isaiah nine six. 96.
S1: All four couplets, all four royal titles. And that's what
S1: they are. They're not names. Their royal titles of this
S1: king indicate that he's born so he's fully human, and
S1: the titles indicate his deity. And Tricia, you just, uh,
S1: had a little insight into the Father of Eternity. Well, you.
S4: Were talking about the father of eternity. The father of time,
S4: that he's the creator of time. And it made me
S4: think of John one where it says, in the beginning
S4: was the word, and the word was with God, and
S4: the word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
S4: All things were created through him, and apart from him
S4: not one thing was created that has been created. Life
S4: was in him and that life was the light of men.
S4: We were talking about how gloomy this is and the
S4: good news. The hope is that this child will be
S4: born into that darkness. And John one five says that
S4: light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not
S4: overcome it.
S3: Can I just say I was thinking of that too?
S6: Great minds think alike. Yeah. I mean, isn't that.
S1: Phenomenal? Sometimes when we read in the New Testament that
S1: the Hebrew Scriptures foretold the Messiah and we think, oh,
S1: I'm not sure where I see that. And then you
S1: kind of start digging in in a passage like Isaiah
S1: nine six. And I could just see the little light
S1: bulbs going on over your head. Tricia. I just love that.
S1: I think that that's so great when we see that happen,
S1: you know that this is what's going on. Now, I
S1: heard Joe Stoll, former president of Moody and dear Friend
S1: still representing Moody. We love him so much. He was
S1: talking the other day and he said, the significance of
S1: Isaiah nine six is often missed because it says, for
S1: unto us a son is born, unto us a son
S1: is given, that this isn't just for them back then.
S1: It's for us. And I was wondering what you think when.
S1: When you look at this passage. In what sense is
S1: this significant for each of us?
S2: I think because it's it's true for us today. It
S2: applies for the the fact that we are serving a
S2: mighty God, that we are serving this Messiah who is
S2: all of these things. It's not just for then, it's
S2: for right now. It's for in the morning when you
S2: get up and you have a flat tire, or your
S2: kid comes home from school and says, I'm dropping out
S2: or anything that's happening, that he is still the same.
S2: He is still the same.
S1: Yeah, I was thinking about I talked, I preached a
S1: couple of weeks ago at a big congregation. It was
S1: really nice that they had me. They and I talked
S1: about how times are so dark and people think that
S1: their hope is in the election, you know, this one
S1: or that one, and our hope isn't in a Gentile president.
S1: Our hope is in a Jewish king that was born here.
S1: That and he still comes and brings light and joy
S1: in our lives. Uh, he's for us. You have.
S3: But we have to choose that. You know, we have to.
S3: Because in the middle of, you know, as I mentioned earlier,
S3: the Psalms talk about this, the real struggle of life
S3: and where why are you silent, God? And where are you?
S3: And Psalm 22, which even Jesus cries out on the cross. Um,
S3: he felt that pain and that that that struggle with
S3: the darkness, you know, as a as a human being.
S3: And we do too. And it's okay to feel that.
S3: It's what I'm saying is a the fact that Jesus
S3: came and is available to us doesn't take away all
S3: of our suffering or struggle, but it gives us the
S3: ability to walk through it as he did, you know,
S3: before us and to to choose that joy, and to
S3: choose to see the suffering that I'm going through is
S3: something that God has at least allowed in my life
S3: to do something in me that is going to make
S3: perfect my faith. You know, make me more complete in
S3: him and mature in him. And that's hard to do.
S1: Mhm. Mhm. Yeah.
S2: Would you. Which makes me go ahead. Go ahead. Tricia.
S2: I was going to.
S4: Say it's that. And I think for me the thing is,
S4: is where I live like in my house, if I
S4: have all of the lights out, it's very dark. And sometimes, um,
S4: things get left on the floor and you just trip over.
S6: Them with all those kids.
S4: Or, or the dark can be very scary. And if
S4: you have even just a small little candle or the
S4: light on the flashlight on your phone, or even a
S4: regular flashlight, um, it gives you peace. It gives you hope. Like, oh, well,
S4: I can walk through this. Sure. No problem. You can
S4: see what's out there. And this is a great light. Yeah.
S4: And the light has dawned, which means it's just going
S4: to get brighter if it's just dawning, it's going to
S4: continue to get brighter. And I think the hope that
S4: that that's what Jesus does is he can shed light
S4: on the darkness, I think inside our hearts as well
S4: as the darkness all around us, that then we when
S4: he fills us with his light, then we can be
S4: those lights to other people and bring that hope of
S4: the gospel to other people as well.
S1: John. John is John 812. I believe it is as
S1: Jesus said, I am the light of the world. I
S1: think that's also related to this. And it's really true
S1: that that in the darkest of times he'll shine the
S1: light to brightest. And by the way, I think you're 100% correct, Chris,
S1: that it's something we have to choose the very next
S1: verse here, Isaiah nine seven, which talks about what will
S1: happen when he returns, that he will reign on the
S1: throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it
S1: and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on
S1: and forever. Well, that's when it won't be a tough
S1: choice that we have to make. But till then, till
S1: he returns and establishes his kingdom and the reign on earth,
S1: that's something that in this dark world, we're going to
S1: have to choose on a daily basis.
S2: All of this reminds me of your favorite promise from Jesus. Michael. Yeah.
S1: My favorite. The least. Not my favorite, but.
S6: My the the.
S1: Least quoted promise of the Bible.
S2: Or at least the one we don't want to claim.
S6: Yeah.
S2: Claim. Yeah. John 16, verse 33 Jesus says, these things
S2: I have spoken to you so that you may have peace. Well,
S2: that's what we're talking about, right? Wonderful, counselor. Prince of peace.
S2: You may have peace in this world. You will have tribulation.
S2: But take courage. I have overcome the world. And I
S2: think the way he's in it, that's that puts it right.
S1: There with the Prince of Peace. Right.
S2: And also it says to take courage. It's not just
S2: going to automatically happen to you. You have to make
S2: the decision to trust as in the midst of everything. Yeah.
S3: Can I quote Don Cole here, too? Because this is
S3: the thing that I remember him, radio pastor for a
S3: long time who said struggle is not a sign of failure.
S3: Struggle is a sign of life. Oh, good. So if
S3: you're struggling today and if you have a hard time
S3: seeing that light, you know, and choosing the joy, it's okay.
S3: God is doing something in you. Even as you listen
S3: to this and you and you hear these verses and
S3: it's like, that makes a difference. That makes a difference
S3: in my life, I'm going to trust him.
S1: That's exactly right. I, I love Isaiah nine six. It's
S1: one of my favorite verses. And it really convinced me
S1: to believe that Jesus is God. Even before I believed
S1: in Jesus. That was a transformational, transformational verse for me.
S1: We're going to come back and talk about his reign,
S1: just like we did about verse seven in just a
S1: moment from Isaiah 11, that was Tricia McMillan, Chris Fabry,
S1: Eva Radonich and me, Michael Radonich. Stay with us. We'll
S1: be right back. People frequently think of Christmas as a
S1: Christian holiday and Hanukkah as a Jewish celebration. But if
S1: we really understood Christmas, we see that it's deeply connected
S1: to the Jewish people. I mean, we even sing born
S1: as the King of Israel, now Chosen People Ministries, one
S1: of open lines underwriters and a ministry that brings the
S1: good news to Jewish people around the world, is offering
S1: Christmas through Jewish eyes. This free booklet will show just
S1: how Jewish Christmas really is. For your free copy of
S1: Christmas Through Jewish Eyes, just go to the Open Line website.
S1: Open Line radio.org. Scroll down. You'll see a link that
S1: says A free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that.
S1: You'll be taken to a page where you can sign
S1: up for your own copy of Christmas Through Jewish Eyes.
S7: In the first light of a new day, No one
S7: knew he had arrived. Things continue as they had.
UU: Been, while a newborn softly cried. But the heavens, wrapped
UU: in wonder, knew the meaning of his birth. In the weakness.
S7: Of a baby they knew God had come to earth.
S1: What a great acapella piece! It's really one of my
S1: favorite Christmas songs, you guys. Do you know why.
S6: I.
S1: Love this song? Not only because it talks about the
S1: weakness of a baby, how the Messiah had come, and
S1: that's so. I remember when my firstborn was born and
S1: I held him. He was a two month old at
S1: the very first Christmas, and I couldn't. The incarnation just
S1: flabbergasted me as I held that little baby. And then
S1: the rest of the song talks about how he's going
S1: to come and he'll come again, not as a baby,
S1: and he'll come and establish his kingdom. And that's exactly
S1: what happens here in Isaiah 11. You know, Isaiah goes
S1: from the virgin birth to the birth of the of
S1: the God-Man in Isaiah. Isaiah seven to Isaiah nine, and
S1: then Isaiah 11. It's only really about the king coming
S1: and reigning, uh, not as a baby, but as a king,
S1: a righteous king. And that's what we want to talk
S1: about in this last segment is Isaiah 11, which talks
S1: about the righteous king. But there is sort of a hint,
S1: you know, just like in impossible situations, it's the birth
S1: of the messianic king that gives us hope. That's what
S1: Isaiah seven says in gloomy, dark times. It's the birth
S1: of the messianic king that brings joy and light. But
S1: here in some, uh, the times that are insignificant. Times
S1: that are weakness. Times of weakness and fragility. It's the
S1: birth of the King that gives us strength. And that's
S1: what Isaiah 11 is about. I wanted Eva. You had
S1: talked about this. It says the shoot will grow from
S1: the stump of Jesse. The idea there is the house
S1: of David seems to have been cut off. That big
S1: tree has been cut off. There's only a stump remaining.
S1: Only Jesse. Jesse is the father of David, and a
S1: branch from his roots will bear fruit. So the picture
S1: there is just a stump remains. And then out of
S1: that will come a shoot. What's that talking about?
S2: Even you know, the thing that strikes me with this
S2: is the very end of the book of Ruth. People
S2: forget why Ruth was written. They get all wrapped up
S2: in the love story part of it. But I think
S2: that the real point of the book of Ruth is
S2: that very last verse, when it talks about this baby
S2: that's born to Ruth with Grandma Naomi. And it goes
S2: through a series of genealogy. And it says to Obed
S2: was born Jesse and to Jesse was born David. And
S2: it sets up the Davidic line right there, way back
S2: in the book of Ruth. And they happen to live
S2: in Bethlehem, oh, little town of Bethlehem.
S1: And so they're setting up the fact that there's going
S1: to be this important line of David. And here in
S1: Isaiah 11, that important line seems to have been cut off.
S1: And and that's it needs to be restored. And there
S1: will be a shoot that will spring up from that
S1: line of Jesse and restore the house of David, and
S1: he'll do it with spirit and power and leadership. The
S1: spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. That's what
S1: verse two is about. And it just starts describing what
S1: his kingdom will be like. That's why, though, it's a
S1: fragile time for the line of David, though it's a
S1: insecure time. Uh, time of weakness. This one will come.
S1: And what will he do? Look at verse four. He
S1: will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the
S1: oppressed in the land. And look at verse five, righteousness
S1: will be his belt and faithfulness will be a belt
S1: around his waist. And then verse six, the wolf will
S1: live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down
S1: with the goat. Uh, when I start looking at this stuff, uh,
S1: what's it saying? He's going to bring justice. He's going
S1: to be righteous. He's going to bring peace as the
S1: Prince of Peace. Uh, infinite will play besides a cobra's pit.
S1: And a toddler will put his hand in a snake's den.
S1: None will harm or destroy another. On my entire holy mountain.
S1: There will be safety, for the land will be as
S1: full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea
S1: is filled with water. What's that saying? Everyone in the
S1: messianic kingdom, when Jesus reigns, will come in and they
S1: will come to know the king. That's great hope in
S1: a time of weakness and fragility, that we can be
S1: strengthened and know that God's going to keep his promises.
S1: So this is, uh, my class has asked me and
S1: I'm going to ask you the same question. Why do
S1: we study the book of revelation? I mean, you say
S1: it's all about the future, and yet there's a suffering
S1: church here that gets the book. Why give the book
S1: of revelation, which ends with Jesus on the throne forever
S1: and ever? Why give that to a suffering church in
S1: in the first century? What do you think?
S2: Well, great. Hope it's not always going to be like this. Yeah.
S4: Uh, it gives you that. Yes. Like you're saying that
S4: that hope of something good to look forward to, like that.
S4: That what you're going through isn't the end of the story.
S6: We know.
S4: Something better.
S6: Coming.
S1: We know how it ends.
S6: Yeah.
S1: That's it. Uh, you know, I, Jerry Seinfeld once said
S1: that he. He doesn't read a book unless he reads
S1: the end first.
S2: He's not going to waste his time unless he has
S2: a good ending.
S6: Yeah.
S1: So he starts at the back of the book. Yeah.
S1: That's okay. I'll read the book. And I think that
S1: that would be a good thing for each of us
S1: when we're in this life. Let's read revelation first because
S1: we know how it ends. And that's what Isaiah 11
S1: is doing here. We know how it ends. What were
S1: you going to say, Chris?
S3: Well, the one who reads this, revelation one three is blessed.
S3: And those who hear the words of this prophecy and
S3: keep what is written in it, are blessed because the
S3: time is near. So there's a blessing in revelation, as hard,
S3: you know, as a slog as it is, it's bloody
S3: and there's a war and there's the enemy. You know,
S3: there's great conflict here, but we know who is the
S3: victor in the end.
S1: Yeah. I think that's so important to remember who's on
S1: the throne and who will be on the throne right
S1: here on earth.
S2: And I love, I love verse nine and 11 nine.
S2: Isaiah 11 nine. It's in this at the end. When
S2: everything's wrapped up, they will not hurt or destroy. In
S2: all my holy mountain. For the earth will be full
S2: of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover
S2: the sea. I just love that. Yeah.
S1: And, uh, the thing that I want to just encourage
S1: our listeners to do, look at verse ten. On that day,
S1: the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for
S1: the peoples. Think of a victorious king standing on a
S1: hill with his banner raised high. The nations will seek him,
S1: and his resting place will be glorious. Listen, wherever you're
S1: at today, if you feel gloomy and dark, and this
S1: is going to be a lonely Christmas for you, and
S1: you feel like it's just not turned out as as
S1: hopeful as you were wanting it to be. The root
S1: of Jesse is still standing, and he will come and
S1: stand on that mountain. But he's available today, and the
S1: nation still need to seek him And individuals in those
S1: nations need to seek him. If we want to really
S1: experience Christmas, it's not chocolate covered cherries and candy canes
S1: and overeating and and all that. Do you know what
S1: it is? It's getting to know him in a deeper way.
S1: It's getting to. And listen, if you're listening and you think, well,
S1: I like Christmas. And I picked up this radio show,
S1: but I've never put my trust in Jesus. The best way,
S1: the best experience of this Christmas to experience the gift
S1: that God has. The Bible says, thanks be to God
S1: for his indescribable gift. That indescribable gift is the Lord Jesus.
S1: We've all kind of walked further and further away from him,
S1: and what he has done is God sent the Messiah,
S1: the God-Man. He died for us. Take the punishment that
S1: we deserved and was raised again. That proves he's really God.
S1: And all we have to do is put our trust
S1: in him, believe in him. And I just want to
S1: encourage you for the best Christmas you can have. The
S1: best Christmas you can have is to turn to the
S1: Lord Jesus, the one who's going to. He came once
S1: as the God man. He will return as the God King,
S1: the one that will reign over all the earth on
S1: the throne of David. And he will set everything aright
S1: when the king is on his throne. I just want
S1: to challenge you make have the best Christmas ever by
S1: putting your trust in Jesus. Any last words? Anyone?
S2: I was just thinking maybe you put your trust in
S2: Jesus a long time ago and have kind of wandered away,
S2: and all of a sudden, you know, it's just all
S2: about like you say, candy canes and plum and plum
S2: pudding and and Christmas trees. And maybe you need to
S2: go back and think again about what you thought about
S2: Jesus when you made that decision. Come back. Come back?
S6: Yeah.
S1: It's always the time. I want to wish everyone here
S1: a wonderful Christmas. And you know, when we talk about
S1: putting Christ back in Christmas, we talk about Having a
S1: joy filled Christmas. I think that's so crucial. The center
S1: of our Christmas celebration has to be the one that
S1: was revealed in Isaiah seven nine and 11 and all
S1: other all the other passages in Scripture. Thanks for joining me, Tricia.
S4: Thanks for having me.
S1: Yeah. And Chris, thanks for joining us from the far
S1: south there. And.
S3: Great pleasure Michael. Merry Christmas.
S6: Yeah.
S1: And merry Christmas Eve. I'll be celebrating with you.
S2: Merry Christmas everybody.
S6: Yeah.
S1: Uh, my name is Michael Ray. Donald. I'm so glad
S1: you're with us. And thanks, Omar, for all you did
S1: to engineer this program today. Uh, we're going to come
S1: back next week with more of your Bible questions, so
S1: don't lose hope. We're still going to take care of that.
S1: Check out our web page Openline radio.org. That'll have everything
S1: you're looking for. The Bible study across America will continue
S1: next week. Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick is a
S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
S1: Merry Christmas.