WEBVTT - Hour 2: Messianic Bible Study: Isaiah 9 and 11 0:00:08.780 --> 0:00:12.230 Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open 0:00:12.230 --> 0:00:15.530 Line with me, Michael Ray Dolnick. This is Moody Radio's 0:00:15.530 --> 0:00:19.520 Bible study all across America, and we're not going to 0:00:19.520 --> 0:00:24.140 be taking your questions today. It's a special pre-recorded Bible study, 0:00:24.140 --> 0:00:28.970 and we'll be talking about special Christmas prophecies of the 0:00:28.970 --> 0:00:33.290 Messiah from the Book of Isaiah. And it's really exciting 0:00:33.290 --> 0:00:36.080 for me to have my partners in Bible study here 0:00:36.080 --> 0:00:39.500 with me. Tricia McMillan, producer of Open Line is here. 0:00:39.530 --> 0:00:43.700 Chris Fabry, who is my partner in Bible study once 0:00:43.700 --> 0:00:46.220 a month on The Chris Fabry Show and has joined 0:00:46.220 --> 0:00:48.140 us from time to time right here on Open Line. 0:00:48.140 --> 0:00:50.990 I'm really grateful that you're here. Chris Fabry. And then 0:00:50.990 --> 0:00:54.620 also joining us is Eva Radonich, who is my partner 0:00:54.620 --> 0:00:57.200 in Bible study. Every morning at the kitchen counter when 0:00:57.200 --> 0:01:00.720 we drink coffee every single morning. Eve is also a 0:01:00.720 --> 0:01:05.070 professor at Moody. Adjunct professor and also a Bible teacher 0:01:05.069 --> 0:01:07.290 who has written in the Moody. Bible commentary. I love. 0:01:07.290 --> 0:01:10.289 This team. Yes, I love being together. The four of us. 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:13.410 You know, you got to say. Coffee? Coffee? Yeah. Coffee. 0:01:13.440 --> 0:01:16.619 I got my cup of coffee here. That's right. I 0:01:16.620 --> 0:01:20.490 got my New York accent on. You know, I have 0:01:20.490 --> 0:01:23.880 sisters that still speak like that. Yes. And they say 0:01:23.880 --> 0:01:26.700 to me things like. Michael, what do you talk so funny? 0:01:27.390 --> 0:01:32.190 And I'm like, ah, but I just don't. Anyway, I'm 0:01:32.190 --> 0:01:33.630 so glad to be with you. We're studying in the 0:01:33.630 --> 0:01:37.470 book of Isaiah. We last hour talked about Isaiah seven, 0:01:37.470 --> 0:01:39.960 one of the great predictions. It's a prediction of the 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:45.479 virgin birth. But Isaiah has a really interesting strategy with 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:48.780 with Isaiah, with the way he gives these prophecies here 0:01:48.780 --> 0:01:51.150 in the first part, it's called the Book of Emanuel, 0:01:51.180 --> 0:01:54.990 chapter seven through 12. It's about the king. And what 0:01:54.990 --> 0:01:59.260 you have is a situation, sort of a judgmental situation, 0:01:59.290 --> 0:02:02.590 a valley, and then it peaks with a messianic prophecy. 0:02:02.590 --> 0:02:05.380 And then, uh, that's what we see in chapter seven 0:02:05.380 --> 0:02:11.380 and then chapter eight. There's another judgmental kind of bad situation, 0:02:11.410 --> 0:02:15.640 tough prophecy of a judgment that's coming. That's chapter eight, 0:02:15.669 --> 0:02:18.730 that's another valley. And then it peaks with the promise 0:02:18.730 --> 0:02:21.430 of the messianic king in chapter nine. And then what 0:02:21.430 --> 0:02:25.390 follows after that is another valley of judgment. And then 0:02:25.389 --> 0:02:29.470 chapter 11, another prophecy of the messianic king peaking. So 0:02:29.470 --> 0:02:32.860 it goes from valley to peak, valley to peak valley 0:02:32.860 --> 0:02:34.990 to peak over and over, back and forth. It's sort 0:02:34.990 --> 0:02:37.030 of an interchange right there. And so we're at the 0:02:37.030 --> 0:02:42.730 chapter nine one. And, uh, this is talking about dark 0:02:42.730 --> 0:02:48.340 and gloomy times for Judea, for Judah and for Israel, 0:02:48.370 --> 0:02:53.770 because judgment was coming. It says, nevertheless, chapter nine, verse one, 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:56.680 the gloom of the distressed land will not be like 0:02:56.680 --> 0:02:59.480 that of the former times, when he humbled the land 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:03.530 of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali. It's something's going 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:09.920 to change from this gloomy, dark time. And it's it's 0:03:09.919 --> 0:03:14.450 really important that we see this, that the rod of 0:03:14.450 --> 0:03:18.530 oppression will be broken. But here's the thing. I sometimes 0:03:18.560 --> 0:03:21.380 think that we miss the point when we talk about 0:03:21.380 --> 0:03:25.880 the gospel. I think that sometimes we talk all about 0:03:25.880 --> 0:03:31.820 the darkness and the gloom and the suffering that people have, 0:03:32.690 --> 0:03:36.380 but there really is joy. I was just talking to 0:03:36.410 --> 0:03:38.420 someone about a Christmas program that I went to see, 0:03:38.450 --> 0:03:39.860 and I said, you know, they ought to do it 0:03:39.860 --> 0:03:45.980 with more joy, because that's the prophecy here. It's about joy. 0:03:45.980 --> 0:03:48.800 But I think we should start by saying, why do 0:03:48.800 --> 0:03:51.800 you think people feel the gloom and the darkness these days? 0:03:53.810 --> 0:03:57.000 Just overall. Yeah, I know they look at, you know, 0:03:57.030 --> 0:04:00.630 headlines and, you know, world events and things seem so 0:04:00.660 --> 0:04:03.869 terrible on a big scale. I think they look like that. 0:04:04.080 --> 0:04:05.010 They feel like that. 0:04:05.040 --> 0:04:05.430 Yeah. 0:04:05.520 --> 0:04:07.530 Algorithm is toward the negative. 0:04:07.710 --> 0:04:08.460 Oh, yes. 0:04:08.490 --> 0:04:11.670 Everything is you know what I see on my social media? 0:04:11.670 --> 0:04:14.640 If I look, everything is an argument about something, and 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:18.150 somebody's pushing something or cutting in front of somebody or 0:04:18.150 --> 0:04:20.190 yelling at the police or the police are, you know, 0:04:20.220 --> 0:04:23.730 it's like we we live in a world of great 0:04:23.730 --> 0:04:27.300 conflict and we are actually drawn to that. That's what 0:04:27.300 --> 0:04:30.180 I don't understand. I don't understand why I'm drawn to it. 0:04:30.360 --> 0:04:32.940 Watching a football game or a baseball game. What? All 0:04:32.940 --> 0:04:34.950 I see, it's when a fight breaks out, you know. 0:04:35.040 --> 0:04:38.190 That's a hockey game breaks out. Right. Yeah. Yeah. 0:04:38.220 --> 0:04:42.690 Well, that's what we. There's something inside that, you know, 0:04:42.720 --> 0:04:46.350 gravitates toward that. That's not real godly, I think. 0:04:46.380 --> 0:04:47.250 Yeah, yeah. 0:04:47.279 --> 0:04:51.000 And I think too, the, the individual that there are 0:04:51.029 --> 0:04:54.719 things happening in our lives that are, But, you know, 0:04:54.750 --> 0:04:57.810 we have bad days or we have these bad things 0:04:57.810 --> 0:05:00.989 that happen to us or to our friends or to 0:05:01.020 --> 0:05:03.630 our family members, and we know people that, you know, 0:05:03.660 --> 0:05:06.480 they've lost a job, they've lost a loved one, they've 0:05:06.510 --> 0:05:12.090 they've had a diagnosis that those all compile added to it. 0:05:12.089 --> 0:05:16.080 In the Northern Hemisphere, we just have lit actual dark, 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:21.180 darker days in the winter time. And so yeah, I'm 0:05:21.300 --> 0:05:24.599 sad you're not. You're not getting that sunshine. You're not 0:05:24.660 --> 0:05:28.920 seeing the, the, the daylight as much. And so you 0:05:28.920 --> 0:05:33.360 can just get very inward focused and you and bad 0:05:33.360 --> 0:05:35.820 news travels faster than good news. Like you just don't 0:05:35.820 --> 0:05:39.450 hear it. And so it that just spreads like gossip, 0:05:39.450 --> 0:05:42.000 as it were. And and so you just feel I 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:44.700 think all of those layers just kind of compound in 0:05:44.700 --> 0:05:47.609 your life. It's like, oh there's nothing good out there. 0:05:47.610 --> 0:05:49.710 It's gloomy. It's all gloom and doom. 0:05:50.370 --> 0:05:53.529 You know, I think you're really right. And of all seasons. 0:05:53.560 --> 0:05:57.339 Think about this. It's the Christmas season. It's right after 0:05:57.339 --> 0:06:01.420 the dark. Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. It's right after 0:06:01.420 --> 0:06:05.050 the darkest day of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere. 0:06:05.230 --> 0:06:07.750 The longest day of the shortest day of the year. Right. 0:06:07.870 --> 0:06:08.950 Shortest day. Right. Yes. 0:06:09.610 --> 0:06:12.040 And I think that especially, like, now, if we're thinking 0:06:12.040 --> 0:06:15.640 about Christmas time, we're told that we're supposed to be happy. Happy? 0:06:15.730 --> 0:06:18.550 It's the happiest time. It's the most wonderful time of 0:06:18.550 --> 0:06:20.739 the year. You put it in song, right? And yet 0:06:20.770 --> 0:06:22.599 people look at their lives like the very thing that 0:06:22.600 --> 0:06:24.790 Tricia was saying and think, well, that's not me. Well, 0:06:24.820 --> 0:06:27.310 this is it makes it even worse. If you're expecting 0:06:27.339 --> 0:06:29.440 to have a good time and then you don't. Your 0:06:29.440 --> 0:06:31.180 bad times even worse. Yeah, right. 0:06:31.360 --> 0:06:34.240 And then you're forcing it like I'm supposed to be happy. 0:06:34.270 --> 0:06:37.450 Everyone else is happy or looks happy. I'm not. Now 0:06:37.450 --> 0:06:39.339 you have to force it and fake it. 0:06:39.370 --> 0:06:42.070 Yeah, I think I think that's really true. And I 0:06:42.070 --> 0:06:44.950 think that now we don't have to fake it. The 0:06:44.950 --> 0:06:47.979 promise of Isaiah nine. Is there someone who can really 0:06:47.980 --> 0:06:51.730 bring joy and bring light? I want you to just 0:06:51.770 --> 0:06:54.650 a lot of times we hear at Christmas time Isaiah 0:06:54.650 --> 0:06:58.010 nine six and seven, or just Isaiah nine six because 0:06:58.010 --> 0:07:02.030 of Handel's Messiah. For unto us a son is born. 0:07:02.060 --> 0:07:07.040 You know that. Yeah. That's right. But it really starts 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:09.860 with Isaiah nine one about the the land that was 0:07:09.860 --> 0:07:12.650 in gloom. But it won't be like that in the future. 0:07:12.650 --> 0:07:16.100 He will bring honor by way of the sea to 0:07:16.130 --> 0:07:18.410 the land east of the Jordan and to Galilee of 0:07:18.410 --> 0:07:21.620 the nations. That's the northern part of Israel. The people 0:07:21.620 --> 0:07:25.550 walking in darkness. Now, my version says have seen. But 0:07:25.550 --> 0:07:28.550 it could be translated just as much. We'll see a 0:07:28.550 --> 0:07:31.880 great light. A light will dawn on those living in 0:07:31.880 --> 0:07:35.810 the land of darkness. You've enlarged the nation and increased 0:07:35.810 --> 0:07:39.860 its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they 0:07:39.860 --> 0:07:43.430 rejoice at the harvest time. And they rejoice when dividing spoils. 0:07:43.430 --> 0:07:46.730 They're going to be made to go from gloom to gladness, 0:07:46.730 --> 0:07:51.510 from darkness to light, from sorrow to joy. Howe because 0:07:51.510 --> 0:07:55.170 he shatters the oppressive yoke. Verse four says, for the 0:07:55.170 --> 0:07:57.780 trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war 0:07:57.780 --> 0:08:01.380 will be burned as fuel. The wars will be over. Why? 0:08:01.410 --> 0:08:05.550 For a child will be born for us, a son 0:08:05.550 --> 0:08:08.310 will be given to us, and the government will be 0:08:08.310 --> 0:08:13.350 on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 0:08:13.380 --> 0:08:18.630 eternal father, Prince of Peace. What does this tell us? 0:08:18.630 --> 0:08:22.080 Where should our joy be in gloomy times? Where should 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:26.160 we focus our attention? How are we going to experience 0:08:26.160 --> 0:08:29.520 that joy? It's not through buying gifts, I got to 0:08:29.520 --> 0:08:34.710 tell you. That makes me more depressed. Stressed to where 0:08:34.710 --> 0:08:38.760 will it come from for a child? 0:08:38.790 --> 0:08:43.170 God himself will become a child. Isn't that great? Yeah. 0:08:43.170 --> 0:08:46.290 That is I think that's so important. I think when 0:08:46.290 --> 0:08:49.989 we just read Isaiah nine six out of context, it's wonderful, 0:08:50.679 --> 0:08:52.510 but put it in context. 0:08:52.540 --> 0:08:53.770 Even better. Yeah. 0:08:54.640 --> 0:08:57.490 Especially because you've got that oppressive spirit and hey, now 0:08:57.490 --> 0:09:01.300 there's going to be peace. Yeah. Like. And a counselor. Like, 0:09:01.330 --> 0:09:04.210 those are. Those are what you need during those gloomy times. 0:09:04.240 --> 0:09:07.690 Yeah, yeah. I think that that that's so crucial to 0:09:07.720 --> 0:09:11.530 understand it. And so what we have in verse six, 0:09:11.530 --> 0:09:15.370 now that we've put it in context, is this messianic king. 0:09:16.090 --> 0:09:19.270 Now I want to note several things. First of all, 0:09:19.270 --> 0:09:23.740 let's do some observational Bible study. What does the fact 0:09:23.740 --> 0:09:26.770 that this king will be born tell us about his 0:09:26.770 --> 0:09:36.849 nature is he will be human. He'll be human. Her growl. Yeah, exactly. Uh, 0:09:37.150 --> 0:09:40.900 this is just an amazing thing. It is talking about 0:09:40.900 --> 0:09:45.970 one who is going to be like us. Uh, that 0:09:46.270 --> 0:09:49.939 when we notice the the picture in Philippians two about 0:09:49.940 --> 0:09:56.180 the Messiah coming fully human, that God humbled himself and 0:09:56.179 --> 0:10:00.350 took the form of a human being, fully human. What 0:10:00.380 --> 0:10:03.080 an amazing thing. What does that what does that tell 0:10:03.080 --> 0:10:07.550 us about Jesus about in terms of our understanding, our gloom? 0:10:08.540 --> 0:10:12.350 He understands our circumstances. He understands when things are happening 0:10:12.380 --> 0:10:14.300 to us. He understands how we would feel about it 0:10:14.300 --> 0:10:16.940 because he's also human. 0:10:16.970 --> 0:10:19.760 I hate to be, you know, but so often what 0:10:19.790 --> 0:10:22.610 I've been seeing these ads on TV, he gets us. 0:10:24.410 --> 0:10:28.790 It's really true. He fully understands us. He fully gets us. 0:10:28.790 --> 0:10:31.370 And then and we're going to talk about this more. 0:10:31.370 --> 0:10:34.819 Not only does it talk about, uh, his birth, it 0:10:34.820 --> 0:10:38.810 says the government will be on his shoulders. That deals 0:10:38.809 --> 0:10:43.400 with his authority, his royalty. So we've got his humanness 0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:46.840 through his birth, his authority or royalty through the government 0:10:46.870 --> 0:10:49.420 resting on his shoulder. But then his name's. What do 0:10:49.450 --> 0:10:51.189 his names indicate? 0:10:51.910 --> 0:10:55.569 Can I say something about wonderful, counselor? Yeah, because I 0:10:55.570 --> 0:10:59.020 had this friend who was a missionary in India for 0:10:59.020 --> 0:11:01.150 years and years. He was old when I was just 0:11:01.150 --> 0:11:03.700 a kid, and we'd get to this verse and he 0:11:03.700 --> 0:11:08.109 would say in his thick accent, don't put him together there. 0:11:08.110 --> 0:11:09.970 His name is wonderful. 0:11:10.330 --> 0:11:11.079 And he would. 0:11:11.080 --> 0:11:13.780 Say, and I don't know what the translation. I think 0:11:13.780 --> 0:11:16.750 it probably is wonderful, counselor. It is. But his name 0:11:16.750 --> 0:11:20.830 is wonderful. It is. And he is counselor and Mighty God. 0:11:20.830 --> 0:11:22.960 So I always hear Doctor Frykenberg in my. 0:11:22.960 --> 0:11:23.320 Head. 0:11:23.770 --> 0:11:27.429 Saying his his name is wonderful. And you can you 0:11:27.429 --> 0:11:30.280 can pause right there before you rush to the counselor. 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:33.069 But he is that wonderful counselor as well, isn't he? 0:11:33.220 --> 0:11:37.959 So let's think about those names. All four couplets. Wonderful counselor, 0:11:37.960 --> 0:11:41.559 Mighty God, Eternal father, Prince of Peace. What does that 0:11:41.559 --> 0:11:46.420 tell us about his nature? That he will be. What? 0:11:47.140 --> 0:11:48.040 Good. 0:11:48.130 --> 0:11:49.990 Not only good. More than good. 0:11:50.140 --> 0:11:52.240 I think he's going to be deity because of the 0:11:52.240 --> 0:11:54.730 wonderful part. Isn't that word one of those words? 0:11:54.760 --> 0:11:59.770 All the words. Every. All four couplets indicate deity. And 0:11:59.770 --> 0:12:02.140 we're going to go through the details of them when 0:12:02.140 --> 0:12:07.089 we come back. But they all indicate his deity. And 0:12:07.090 --> 0:12:09.640 that's just it. It's not just that his birth indicates 0:12:09.640 --> 0:12:15.610 his humanity. His titles indicate his deity. He's the God man, 0:12:15.610 --> 0:12:18.429 and he is the source of hope and joy and 0:12:18.429 --> 0:12:21.790 light that we have in the midst of gloomy, dark times. 0:12:21.820 --> 0:12:24.339 We're going to come right back with more on the 0:12:24.340 --> 0:12:27.700 wonderful Counselor in just a moment. This is open line 0:12:27.700 --> 0:12:31.059 with me and my friends as we study the scriptures. 0:12:33.610 --> 0:12:37.150 Are you looking to deepen your grasp of Paul's powerful epistles? 0:12:37.150 --> 0:12:41.110 The Moody Bible Commentary excerpt on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and 0:12:41.110 --> 0:12:45.050 Colossians is your key to unlocking these treasured books with 0:12:45.050 --> 0:12:49.520 clear explanations and practical insights. This resource illuminates Paul's teachings 0:12:49.520 --> 0:12:53.510 on grace, unity, joy, and the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. 0:12:53.540 --> 0:12:56.750 Request your copy of this Moody Bible Commentary excerpt. When 0:12:56.750 --> 0:13:02.750 you give to open line, call (888) 644-7122 or visit Open 0:13:02.750 --> 0:13:07.670 Line radio.org. Everyone has questions about God, the Bible and 0:13:07.670 --> 0:13:09.950 living out our faith. And that's why we're here on 0:13:09.950 --> 0:13:13.130 Open Line. 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Become a kitchen table partner today by calling 0:13:29.929 --> 0:13:35.120 (888) 644-7122 or go to Open Line radio.org. 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:47.580 Oh man named John the West had been heralding the news. 0:13:47.880 --> 0:13:55.110 About the coming of a Savior for both the Gentiles 0:13:55.110 --> 0:13:59.219 and the Jews. 0:13:59.820 --> 0:14:08.640 And it happened in Judea, in the town of Bethlehem. 0:14:09.540 --> 0:14:16.800 With a bright star, or the stable was born the 0:14:16.800 --> 0:14:20.010 Son of Man. 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:27.300 Wow! What a great reminder of what this is all about. 0:14:27.480 --> 0:14:31.050 That was the birth of the King right then in Bethlehem. 0:14:31.080 --> 0:14:33.540 I'm so grateful for that song. It reminds me it's 0:14:33.540 --> 0:14:37.380 for all. For both the Gentiles and the Jews. It's 0:14:37.380 --> 0:14:40.590 for all people that this great news has come. Well, 0:14:40.590 --> 0:14:43.770 I'm here with Tricia McMillan, Chris Fabry, and Eva Rydell. 0:14:43.980 --> 0:14:47.190 My name is Michael Ray Melnick, and we're studying Isaiah's 0:14:47.190 --> 0:14:50.850 messianic hope. We looked at Isaiah seven in the first hour. 0:14:50.850 --> 0:14:54.119 We're in Isaiah nine right now. We're not going to 0:14:54.120 --> 0:14:56.370 cover all the prophecies in Isaiah, but we may have 0:14:56.370 --> 0:15:00.150 to do some of the those as a special spring 0:15:00.150 --> 0:15:04.560 Easter Bible study, resurrection Bible study, when we we when 0:15:04.560 --> 0:15:09.840 we plan one for the springtime. But we're going to 0:15:09.870 --> 0:15:13.470 do a cover three of them today, Isaiah seven nine 0:15:13.470 --> 0:15:17.250 and 11. And we're in Isaiah nine, where the birth 0:15:17.250 --> 0:15:19.740 of the King is to give us great hope in 0:15:19.740 --> 0:15:22.860 dark and gloomy times. It gives us light and joy 0:15:22.860 --> 0:15:27.720 in dark and gloomy times. And I mentioned that the 0:15:27.720 --> 0:15:32.520 four titles of the Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, 0:15:32.520 --> 0:15:38.760 which I will translate differently, uh, and Prince of Peace. Actually, 0:15:38.760 --> 0:15:43.570 all of them indicate his deity. And Trish said, I 0:15:43.570 --> 0:15:44.860 want to see how that works. 0:15:45.460 --> 0:15:49.150 Tell me more. How does Wonderful counselor indicate deity? The 0:15:49.150 --> 0:15:49.600 others I. 0:15:49.600 --> 0:15:52.600 Get. Yeah. You might call a baby a wonderful baby. 0:15:52.630 --> 0:15:55.600 Or even grow up to be a counselor. Yeah, but 0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:59.200 how do you call them? Wonderful, counselor. Okay, here's the word. 0:15:59.200 --> 0:16:05.620 The word for wonder. Okay. Uh, it's used commonly in 0:16:05.620 --> 0:16:14.200 times like, uh, uh. Signs and wonders. Miraculous. Okay. Uh, 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:20.500 and it's used exclusively in Scripture of the acts of God, 0:16:20.500 --> 0:16:23.830 the word wonder, the acts of God on behalf of 0:16:23.830 --> 0:16:27.850 his people or judgment of their enemies. It's used of 0:16:27.850 --> 0:16:34.960 God's actions exclusively and better. I know that we think of, uh, 0:16:34.960 --> 0:16:37.540 it says wonderful, counselor, but if you were really to 0:16:37.570 --> 0:16:40.490 read the Hebrew very literally. It would be a wonder 0:16:40.490 --> 0:16:44.660 of a counselor like, uh, you know, you've seen the 0:16:44.660 --> 0:16:47.900 expressions in Hebrew like a foolish man in the book 0:16:47.900 --> 0:16:51.020 of Proverbs. It literally is a fool of a man. 0:16:51.200 --> 0:16:56.780 Or if you see expressions like that in Scripture, so 0:16:56.810 --> 0:17:00.740 in Hebrew here, it's a wonder of a counselor and 0:17:00.740 --> 0:17:02.780 it refers to this. And so I'm going to have 0:17:02.780 --> 0:17:05.720 you all turn in your Bible. And Chris, you're going 0:17:05.750 --> 0:17:08.000 to you're going to help me out here. Look at 0:17:08.000 --> 0:17:09.410 judges 13. 0:17:10.430 --> 0:17:11.390 Joshua. Judges. 0:17:11.390 --> 0:17:16.160 Ruth, do you remember judges? Good. There you go. Judges 1313. 0:17:16.190 --> 0:17:19.370 This is about the birth of Samson. His parents are 0:17:19.369 --> 0:17:23.780 told that Samson is going to be born. And he's. 0:17:24.470 --> 0:17:27.320 This is the angel of the Lord, a Pre-incarnate Messiah, 0:17:27.350 --> 0:17:34.219 coming and talking to them. And, uh, they, uh, this 0:17:34.220 --> 0:17:40.439 is what happens, uh, In verse 16. Okay, pick it 0:17:40.440 --> 0:17:43.860 up there. Why don't you read for us through verse 18? Okay. 0:17:43.890 --> 0:17:46.350 16, 18. The angel of the Lord said to him, 0:17:46.350 --> 0:17:49.590 if I stay, I won't eat your food. But if 0:17:49.590 --> 0:17:52.350 you want to prepare a burnt offering, offer it to 0:17:52.380 --> 0:17:55.620 the Lord. For Manoah did not know he was the 0:17:55.619 --> 0:17:59.340 angel of the Lord. Then Manoah said to him, Manoah 0:17:59.340 --> 0:18:02.790 is his father, Samson's father. What is your name? So 0:18:02.790 --> 0:18:05.940 that we may honor you when your words come true. 0:18:05.970 --> 0:18:09.659 Verse 18. Why do you ask my name? The angel 0:18:09.660 --> 0:18:13.620 of the Lord asked him, since it is wonderful, keep. 0:18:13.619 --> 0:18:14.970 Reading through verse 20. 0:18:15.150 --> 0:18:18.659 Okay, so Manoah took a young goat and a grain 0:18:18.660 --> 0:18:21.690 offering and offered them on a rock to the Lord. 0:18:21.690 --> 0:18:25.140 And he did a wonderful thing while Manoah and his 0:18:25.140 --> 0:18:27.869 wife were watching, when the flame went up from the 0:18:27.869 --> 0:18:30.780 altar to the sky, the angel of the Lord went 0:18:30.780 --> 0:18:34.830 up in its flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, 0:18:34.830 --> 0:18:38.060 they fell face down on the ground. The angel of 0:18:38.060 --> 0:18:41.390 the Lord did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. 0:18:41.390 --> 0:18:45.470 Then Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord. 0:18:46.190 --> 0:18:50.869 And then he says, we're going to die. Because we 0:18:50.869 --> 0:18:56.720 have seen God. Because we have seen God. Okay. Now, 0:18:56.750 --> 0:18:59.300 I wanted to ask Tricia. I think that's just a 0:18:59.300 --> 0:19:01.250 wonderful passage. But do you see what I mean about 0:19:01.250 --> 0:19:02.389 the word wonderful? 0:19:02.420 --> 0:19:07.370 Yes. His name is wonderful. Yeah. And it's God's name. Yeah. 0:19:07.400 --> 0:19:11.450 And it's a distinct has to do with miraculous works 0:19:11.450 --> 0:19:14.840 of God on the part for his people acting on 0:19:14.840 --> 0:19:18.889 behalf of his people. I think that that's it's not. 0:19:18.920 --> 0:19:21.379 You know, I hate to say it, but I think 0:19:21.380 --> 0:19:24.170 that just reading wonderful counselor really misses the point. 0:19:24.200 --> 0:19:28.280 Oh, yes. Absolutely. Well, and he's wonderful and does wonderful 0:19:28.280 --> 0:19:32.209 things in verse 19, he did a wonderful thing. Yeah. 0:19:32.240 --> 0:19:35.720 Wondrous thing is how I would translate it. A wondrous thing. 0:19:36.260 --> 0:19:39.860 Why does that carry more weight? Yeah. Wondrous. Oh, okay. 0:19:39.859 --> 0:19:42.950 But wonderful, I think because we just use wonderful so casually. 0:19:42.980 --> 0:19:43.610 Exactly. 0:19:43.790 --> 0:19:45.440 That was awesome. I have wonderful. 0:19:45.470 --> 0:19:47.540 Yeah. Students say to me I have a wonderful schedule 0:19:47.540 --> 0:19:51.680 this semester. They would never say I have a wondrous schedule. No, no, no. 0:19:51.710 --> 0:19:52.010 They would. 0:19:52.010 --> 0:19:56.570 Not. And that's really it captures it that this is 0:19:56.570 --> 0:19:59.480 an act of God. And so when it says he's 0:19:59.480 --> 0:20:03.109 a wonder of a counselor, it's not just that he's 0:20:03.109 --> 0:20:08.090 any old. He's not a therapist, you know? Uh, it's, uh, 0:20:08.090 --> 0:20:12.080 someone want to read Isaiah 40, verse 13? Sure. 0:20:12.109 --> 0:20:13.550 Uh, I can read that. Yeah. 0:20:13.580 --> 0:20:19.040 And, uh, I'll give you another one. Isaiah 11, verse two. 0:20:19.070 --> 0:20:20.240 Which one do you want us to read first? 0:20:20.270 --> 0:20:23.840 You read Isaiah 40 verse 13. Mhm. And you can 0:20:23.840 --> 0:20:25.460 read Isaiah 11, verse two. 0:20:25.520 --> 0:20:28.639 4040. Verse 13. Yeah. Oh hang on, I was in 0:20:28.640 --> 0:20:29.330 the wrong chapter. 0:20:29.359 --> 0:20:31.250 Oh, no. Oh, no. Gotta be ready. 0:20:31.280 --> 0:20:34.500 Oh, gotta be ready. Gotta be ready. All right. Flipping 0:20:34.500 --> 0:20:35.850 over 40. 0:20:36.420 --> 0:20:37.980 I like hearing the pages turn. 0:20:38.220 --> 0:20:42.780 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord? Or as 0:20:42.780 --> 0:20:46.410 his counselor? Been informed of him who has directed the 0:20:46.410 --> 0:20:50.490 spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has informed him. 0:20:50.520 --> 0:20:53.310 See, what it's saying is, God needs no counselor. Do 0:20:53.310 --> 0:20:58.050 you know why? Because he's the Supreme counselor. He needs 0:20:58.050 --> 0:21:00.510 wisdom from no one else. He's got all the wisdom 0:21:00.510 --> 0:21:01.200 he needs. 0:21:01.260 --> 0:21:02.730 Mhm. Mhm. All right. 0:21:02.730 --> 0:21:05.190 And Isaiah 11 verse two. 0:21:05.220 --> 0:21:06.630 Speaking about the Messiah. 0:21:06.660 --> 0:21:09.540 The spirit of the Lord will rest on him a 0:21:09.540 --> 0:21:13.950 spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and strength, 0:21:13.980 --> 0:21:17.070 a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 0:21:17.100 --> 0:21:19.560 The spirit of counsel rests on him. The Spirit of 0:21:19.560 --> 0:21:23.850 God brings divine counsel upon the birth of the Messiah, 0:21:23.880 --> 0:21:28.650 that when the Messiah comes. So, uh. And then one 0:21:28.650 --> 0:21:31.320 last time, where this verse is used together in the 0:21:31.320 --> 0:21:34.869 book of these two words are used together in the 0:21:34.869 --> 0:21:41.109 book of Isaiah. Isaiah 2829, which is, I think it's 0:21:41.140 --> 0:21:43.149 it's the only place in the Bible that I'm aware 0:21:43.150 --> 0:21:46.570 of that these two words are used together. Here's what 0:21:46.570 --> 0:21:52.359 it says. Uh, this comes from the Lord of hosts. 0:21:52.359 --> 0:21:58.479 He gives wonderful counselor and wonderful counsel. He gives great wisdom. 0:21:58.480 --> 0:22:01.120 So when it talks about God being a wonder of 0:22:01.119 --> 0:22:04.000 a counselor, it is using it in the divine sense, 0:22:04.000 --> 0:22:06.370 the sense of divine counsel. 0:22:06.550 --> 0:22:09.070 It's interesting. In the new American Standard, it says, who 0:22:09.070 --> 0:22:12.940 has made his counsel wonderful and his wisdom great. Yeah. 0:22:13.180 --> 0:22:14.890 Yeah, it's. 0:22:14.920 --> 0:22:19.300 And so Proverbs two and wisdom and understanding. And there's 0:22:19.300 --> 0:22:26.469 also this aspect of wonder that is awe inspired and fearful. 0:22:26.470 --> 0:22:28.869 There is a certain aspect of fear here because I 0:22:28.869 --> 0:22:32.120 was reading in in Isaiah eight it says, do not 0:22:32.119 --> 0:22:34.340 fear what they fear. Do not be terrified. You are 0:22:34.340 --> 0:22:37.730 to regard only the Lord of hosts as holy. Only 0:22:37.760 --> 0:22:41.750 he should be feared only. He should be held in awe. Right? 0:22:41.780 --> 0:22:44.540 And that shows, you know, no matter what is going 0:22:44.540 --> 0:22:49.010 on in my life, that it feels like it's it's big. 0:22:49.040 --> 0:22:52.070 God's bigger than that. He's got he's he has that 0:22:52.070 --> 0:22:54.619 under control. And I got to remember that. Yeah. 0:22:54.619 --> 0:22:56.510 We all have to remember that. And and the very 0:22:56.510 --> 0:22:59.330 next title points us to it. We've got the wonder 0:22:59.330 --> 0:23:04.280 of a counselor. He's also in Hebrew algebra, the mighty God. 0:23:04.670 --> 0:23:06.770 It's a title that's used of some people say, oh, 0:23:06.770 --> 0:23:10.820 it just means a warrior. But, uh, in the very 0:23:10.820 --> 0:23:14.570 next chapter. And it doesn't just mean a warrior. It's 0:23:14.570 --> 0:23:19.640 used in 1021. Uh, and there in 1021, it says this. 0:23:19.640 --> 0:23:22.640 The remnant will return the remnant of Jacob to the 0:23:22.640 --> 0:23:26.359 mighty God. Uh, they're not returning to a warrior. The 0:23:26.359 --> 0:23:29.670 remnant of Israel returns to God himself, the powerful God 0:23:29.700 --> 0:23:32.879 who can do what? Whatever it is that needs to 0:23:32.880 --> 0:23:36.840 be done. He can act. And then the next phrase 0:23:36.840 --> 0:23:42.510 that's used is Father or Eternal Father. And, you know, 0:23:42.540 --> 0:23:45.360 I don't know if this bothers you because the God 0:23:45.359 --> 0:23:46.920 the Son is not God the Father. 0:23:46.950 --> 0:23:49.889 That really mixes people up, I think. Yes, yes, yes. 0:23:49.890 --> 0:23:51.030 It's confusing. Yeah. 0:23:51.060 --> 0:23:54.750 And we don't want to confuse that literally in Hebrew 0:23:54.780 --> 0:24:00.420 does not say Eternal Father. It says father of eternity 0:24:00.420 --> 0:24:04.109 or father of time. Now, when we use the term 0:24:04.109 --> 0:24:07.740 father of eternity, what's a different nuance? It doesn't refer 0:24:07.740 --> 0:24:11.190 to like a father and son. What's that referring to? 0:24:11.220 --> 0:24:15.149 Father of time. Who's the father of our country? 0:24:16.230 --> 0:24:18.450 Like the Founding fathers? Yeah, the founding father. 0:24:18.480 --> 0:24:21.270 Yeah, exactly. The father of our country, George Washington. He 0:24:21.270 --> 0:24:24.420 founded the United States, first president, and so forth. Okay, 0:24:24.420 --> 0:24:27.119 so the same thing when we talk about father of Time. 0:24:27.119 --> 0:24:28.410 What's it talking about. 0:24:29.400 --> 0:24:30.360 The creator, the. 0:24:30.359 --> 0:24:31.020 Creator, the. 0:24:31.020 --> 0:24:37.080 Creator of time. Yeah, think about that. The creator of time. Uh, 0:24:37.080 --> 0:24:40.500 doesn't that bring some or very thing? The very first 0:24:40.500 --> 0:24:44.310 thing that God created wasn't the heavens and the earth. 0:24:44.310 --> 0:24:48.660 The first thing God created was the beginning. Yeah. Before 0:24:49.109 --> 0:24:51.900 before God created time. There was no such thing as 0:24:51.900 --> 0:24:53.340 beginning or end. 0:24:54.119 --> 0:24:57.179 Which is why he lives above time. Yeah, he's above time. 0:24:57.180 --> 0:25:00.480 He is not part of time. Uh, he is transcendent. 0:25:00.480 --> 0:25:04.020 But he created. He's the father of time. He's the 0:25:04.020 --> 0:25:07.619 creator of time. And last of all, he's the Prince 0:25:07.619 --> 0:25:11.129 of Peace. The word prince, sometimes people think means, uh, 0:25:11.130 --> 0:25:15.600 the son of the king. But in Hebrew, sar just 0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:17.940 means ruler. He's the ruler of peace. He's the one 0:25:17.940 --> 0:25:23.970 that brings us peace. Now, that is just remarkable when 0:25:23.970 --> 0:25:26.910 we look at these titles. And I want to come 0:25:26.920 --> 0:25:28.720 back to this, even though we were supposed to move 0:25:28.720 --> 0:25:30.609 to Isaiah 11, in the next segment. But I want 0:25:30.640 --> 0:25:34.480 to come back to this. But here's the thing about this. 0:25:34.660 --> 0:25:41.020 What brings light and joy in gloomy and dark times? 0:25:41.230 --> 0:25:44.800 I'll tell you the birth of the king. That's he's 0:25:44.800 --> 0:25:47.800 the one, uh, the God man. When he comes for us, 0:25:47.800 --> 0:25:50.500 we're going to talk about what that means for us 0:25:50.530 --> 0:25:52.570 when we come back. So don't go away. This is 0:25:52.570 --> 0:26:01.420 open line with Michael Ray Dolnick and friends. We're so 0:26:01.420 --> 0:26:04.750 glad that Febc partners with Open Line with Doctor Michael 0:26:04.750 --> 0:26:08.980 Ray Dolnick bringing the Febc mailbag every week. Learn how 0:26:09.010 --> 0:26:12.220 far East Broadcasting Company is taking Christ to the world 0:26:12.220 --> 0:26:16.360 at febc. Org on their weekly podcast. Until all have 0:26:16.359 --> 0:26:19.570 heard with Ed Cannon, you'll hear stories of lives changed 0:26:19.570 --> 0:26:23.110 by Messiah all across the globe. Again, you can hear 0:26:23.109 --> 0:26:29.000 the podcast when you visit febc.org. That's febc.org. 0:26:34.609 --> 0:26:41.450 Mary, did you know that your baby boy would someday 0:26:41.480 --> 0:26:48.680 walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby 0:26:48.680 --> 0:26:53.869 boy would save our sons and daughters? 0:26:53.900 --> 0:27:00.770 Did you know that your baby boy has come to 0:27:00.800 --> 0:27:05.600 make you new? This child. 0:27:05.990 --> 0:27:08.990 Will do. What I love about this song is I 0:27:08.990 --> 0:27:13.639 think it's my new favorite Christmas song, is that it 0:27:13.640 --> 0:27:18.080 really emphasizes the deity and humanity of Jesus. I think 0:27:18.080 --> 0:27:21.649 that's what is so significant about it. And that's what 0:27:21.650 --> 0:27:24.300 we discovered when we were looking at Isaiah nine six. 96. 0:27:24.300 --> 0:27:28.500 All four couplets, all four royal titles. And that's what 0:27:28.500 --> 0:27:31.440 they are. They're not names. Their royal titles of this 0:27:31.440 --> 0:27:35.909 king indicate that he's born so he's fully human, and 0:27:35.910 --> 0:27:39.960 the titles indicate his deity. And Tricia, you just, uh, 0:27:39.960 --> 0:27:43.320 had a little insight into the Father of Eternity. Well, you. 0:27:43.320 --> 0:27:46.680 Were talking about the father of eternity. The father of time, 0:27:46.680 --> 0:27:48.750 that he's the creator of time. And it made me 0:27:48.750 --> 0:27:51.900 think of John one where it says, in the beginning 0:27:51.900 --> 0:27:54.150 was the word, and the word was with God, and 0:27:54.150 --> 0:27:57.659 the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. 0:27:57.660 --> 0:28:00.420 All things were created through him, and apart from him 0:28:00.420 --> 0:28:03.540 not one thing was created that has been created. Life 0:28:03.540 --> 0:28:06.810 was in him and that life was the light of men. 0:28:06.840 --> 0:28:09.930 We were talking about how gloomy this is and the 0:28:09.930 --> 0:28:12.149 good news. The hope is that this child will be 0:28:12.150 --> 0:28:16.109 born into that darkness. And John one five says that 0:28:16.109 --> 0:28:18.990 light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not 0:28:18.990 --> 0:28:19.980 overcome it. 0:28:20.160 --> 0:28:22.260 Can I just say I was thinking of that too? 0:28:23.230 --> 0:28:27.250 Great minds think alike. Yeah. I mean, isn't that. 0:28:27.250 --> 0:28:33.310 Phenomenal? Sometimes when we read in the New Testament that 0:28:33.310 --> 0:28:37.090 the Hebrew Scriptures foretold the Messiah and we think, oh, 0:28:37.090 --> 0:28:39.070 I'm not sure where I see that. And then you 0:28:39.100 --> 0:28:41.260 kind of start digging in in a passage like Isaiah 0:28:41.290 --> 0:28:44.110 nine six. And I could just see the little light 0:28:44.140 --> 0:28:47.410 bulbs going on over your head. Tricia. I just love that. 0:28:47.410 --> 0:28:50.560 I think that that's so great when we see that happen, 0:28:50.590 --> 0:28:53.350 you know that this is what's going on. Now, I 0:28:53.350 --> 0:28:57.340 heard Joe Stoll, former president of Moody and dear Friend 0:28:57.370 --> 0:29:01.240 still representing Moody. We love him so much. He was 0:29:01.240 --> 0:29:05.560 talking the other day and he said, the significance of 0:29:05.560 --> 0:29:08.980 Isaiah nine six is often missed because it says, for 0:29:08.980 --> 0:29:14.350 unto us a son is born, unto us a son 0:29:14.350 --> 0:29:17.980 is given, that this isn't just for them back then. 0:29:18.700 --> 0:29:23.000 It's for us. And I was wondering what you think when. 0:29:23.000 --> 0:29:27.050 When you look at this passage. In what sense is 0:29:27.050 --> 0:29:30.620 this significant for each of us? 0:29:30.920 --> 0:29:34.100 I think because it's it's true for us today. It 0:29:34.100 --> 0:29:39.680 applies for the the fact that we are serving a 0:29:39.680 --> 0:29:43.520 mighty God, that we are serving this Messiah who is 0:29:43.520 --> 0:29:46.280 all of these things. It's not just for then, it's 0:29:46.280 --> 0:29:47.930 for right now. It's for in the morning when you 0:29:47.930 --> 0:29:50.510 get up and you have a flat tire, or your 0:29:50.510 --> 0:29:53.270 kid comes home from school and says, I'm dropping out 0:29:53.510 --> 0:29:56.870 or anything that's happening, that he is still the same. 0:29:56.900 --> 0:29:57.860 He is still the same. 0:29:57.890 --> 0:30:00.680 Yeah, I was thinking about I talked, I preached a 0:30:00.680 --> 0:30:03.920 couple of weeks ago at a big congregation. It was 0:30:03.920 --> 0:30:06.410 really nice that they had me. They and I talked 0:30:06.410 --> 0:30:09.920 about how times are so dark and people think that 0:30:09.920 --> 0:30:13.610 their hope is in the election, you know, this one 0:30:13.610 --> 0:30:19.910 or that one, and our hope isn't in a Gentile president. 0:30:19.910 --> 0:30:23.490 Our hope is in a Jewish king that was born here. 0:30:23.490 --> 0:30:26.280 That and he still comes and brings light and joy 0:30:26.280 --> 0:30:30.390 in our lives. Uh, he's for us. You have. 0:30:30.600 --> 0:30:33.300 But we have to choose that. You know, we have to. 0:30:33.570 --> 0:30:36.240 Because in the middle of, you know, as I mentioned earlier, 0:30:36.240 --> 0:30:39.930 the Psalms talk about this, the real struggle of life 0:30:39.930 --> 0:30:42.690 and where why are you silent, God? And where are you? 0:30:42.720 --> 0:30:48.450 And Psalm 22, which even Jesus cries out on the cross. Um, 0:30:48.450 --> 0:30:52.800 he felt that pain and that that that struggle with 0:30:52.800 --> 0:30:55.830 the darkness, you know, as a as a human being. 0:30:55.830 --> 0:30:58.350 And we do too. And it's okay to feel that. 0:30:58.380 --> 0:31:02.250 It's what I'm saying is a the fact that Jesus 0:31:02.250 --> 0:31:07.500 came and is available to us doesn't take away all 0:31:07.500 --> 0:31:11.910 of our suffering or struggle, but it gives us the 0:31:11.910 --> 0:31:15.090 ability to walk through it as he did, you know, 0:31:15.210 --> 0:31:19.959 before us and to to choose that joy, and to 0:31:19.990 --> 0:31:22.390 choose to see the suffering that I'm going through is 0:31:22.390 --> 0:31:25.090 something that God has at least allowed in my life 0:31:25.090 --> 0:31:27.790 to do something in me that is going to make 0:31:27.820 --> 0:31:31.750 perfect my faith. You know, make me more complete in 0:31:31.750 --> 0:31:35.260 him and mature in him. And that's hard to do. 0:31:35.290 --> 0:31:37.450 Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. 0:31:37.570 --> 0:31:40.120 Would you. Which makes me go ahead. Go ahead. Tricia. 0:31:40.150 --> 0:31:40.660 I was going to. 0:31:40.660 --> 0:31:44.020 Say it's that. And I think for me the thing is, 0:31:44.050 --> 0:31:47.410 is where I live like in my house, if I 0:31:47.410 --> 0:31:51.310 have all of the lights out, it's very dark. And sometimes, um, 0:31:51.310 --> 0:31:54.250 things get left on the floor and you just trip over. 0:31:54.250 --> 0:31:55.750 Them with all those kids. 0:31:55.780 --> 0:32:00.730 Or, or the dark can be very scary. And if 0:32:00.730 --> 0:32:04.750 you have even just a small little candle or the 0:32:04.750 --> 0:32:07.600 light on the flashlight on your phone, or even a 0:32:07.600 --> 0:32:14.230 regular flashlight, um, it gives you peace. It gives you hope. Like, oh, well, 0:32:14.230 --> 0:32:16.930 I can walk through this. Sure. No problem. You can 0:32:16.930 --> 0:32:21.260 see what's out there. And this is a great light. Yeah. 0:32:21.290 --> 0:32:23.960 And the light has dawned, which means it's just going 0:32:23.990 --> 0:32:27.080 to get brighter if it's just dawning, it's going to 0:32:27.110 --> 0:32:30.200 continue to get brighter. And I think the hope that 0:32:30.200 --> 0:32:35.960 that that's what Jesus does is he can shed light 0:32:35.990 --> 0:32:40.340 on the darkness, I think inside our hearts as well 0:32:40.340 --> 0:32:43.670 as the darkness all around us, that then we when 0:32:43.670 --> 0:32:47.240 he fills us with his light, then we can be 0:32:47.240 --> 0:32:49.489 those lights to other people and bring that hope of 0:32:49.490 --> 0:32:51.650 the gospel to other people as well. 0:32:51.680 --> 0:32:55.040 John. John is John 812. I believe it is as 0:32:55.040 --> 0:32:57.860 Jesus said, I am the light of the world. I 0:32:57.860 --> 0:33:03.440 think that's also related to this. And it's really true 0:33:03.470 --> 0:33:05.990 that that in the darkest of times he'll shine the 0:33:05.990 --> 0:33:11.420 light to brightest. And by the way, I think you're 100% correct, Chris, 0:33:11.420 --> 0:33:14.930 that it's something we have to choose the very next 0:33:14.930 --> 0:33:19.220 verse here, Isaiah nine seven, which talks about what will 0:33:19.220 --> 0:33:22.010 happen when he returns, that he will reign on the 0:33:22.010 --> 0:33:25.040 throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it 0:33:25.040 --> 0:33:28.100 and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on 0:33:28.100 --> 0:33:32.180 and forever. Well, that's when it won't be a tough 0:33:32.180 --> 0:33:35.900 choice that we have to make. But till then, till 0:33:35.900 --> 0:33:39.200 he returns and establishes his kingdom and the reign on earth, 0:33:39.200 --> 0:33:41.840 that's something that in this dark world, we're going to 0:33:41.840 --> 0:33:44.000 have to choose on a daily basis. 0:33:44.180 --> 0:33:47.960 All of this reminds me of your favorite promise from Jesus. Michael. Yeah. 0:33:47.990 --> 0:33:50.420 My favorite. The least. Not my favorite, but. 0:33:50.420 --> 0:33:51.770 My the the. 0:33:51.770 --> 0:33:53.840 Least quoted promise of the Bible. 0:33:53.870 --> 0:33:55.670 Or at least the one we don't want to claim. 0:33:55.700 --> 0:33:56.000 Yeah. 0:33:56.330 --> 0:34:01.040 Claim. Yeah. John 16, verse 33 Jesus says, these things 0:34:01.040 --> 0:34:03.380 I have spoken to you so that you may have peace. Well, 0:34:03.380 --> 0:34:05.959 that's what we're talking about, right? Wonderful, counselor. Prince of peace. 0:34:05.960 --> 0:34:11.330 You may have peace in this world. You will have tribulation. 0:34:11.330 --> 0:34:14.990 But take courage. I have overcome the world. And I 0:34:15.000 --> 0:34:17.790 think the way he's in it, that's that puts it right. 0:34:17.850 --> 0:34:19.200 There with the Prince of Peace. Right. 0:34:19.230 --> 0:34:21.390 And also it says to take courage. It's not just 0:34:21.390 --> 0:34:23.399 going to automatically happen to you. You have to make 0:34:23.400 --> 0:34:27.480 the decision to trust as in the midst of everything. Yeah. 0:34:27.510 --> 0:34:29.700 Can I quote Don Cole here, too? Because this is 0:34:29.700 --> 0:34:32.070 the thing that I remember him, radio pastor for a 0:34:32.070 --> 0:34:35.640 long time who said struggle is not a sign of failure. 0:34:35.640 --> 0:34:38.010 Struggle is a sign of life. Oh, good. So if 0:34:38.010 --> 0:34:40.799 you're struggling today and if you have a hard time 0:34:40.800 --> 0:34:44.490 seeing that light, you know, and choosing the joy, it's okay. 0:34:44.520 --> 0:34:47.580 God is doing something in you. Even as you listen 0:34:47.580 --> 0:34:50.910 to this and you and you hear these verses and 0:34:50.910 --> 0:34:54.180 it's like, that makes a difference. That makes a difference 0:34:54.180 --> 0:34:56.399 in my life, I'm going to trust him. 0:34:56.850 --> 0:35:00.480 That's exactly right. I, I love Isaiah nine six. It's 0:35:00.480 --> 0:35:02.879 one of my favorite verses. And it really convinced me 0:35:02.880 --> 0:35:05.820 to believe that Jesus is God. Even before I believed 0:35:05.820 --> 0:35:10.020 in Jesus. That was a transformational, transformational verse for me. 0:35:10.110 --> 0:35:11.939 We're going to come back and talk about his reign, 0:35:11.940 --> 0:35:13.740 just like we did about verse seven in just a 0:35:13.739 --> 0:35:17.020 moment from Isaiah 11, that was Tricia McMillan, Chris Fabry, 0:35:17.050 --> 0:35:20.110 Eva Radonich and me, Michael Radonich. Stay with us. We'll 0:35:20.110 --> 0:35:25.509 be right back. People frequently think of Christmas as a 0:35:25.510 --> 0:35:28.989 Christian holiday and Hanukkah as a Jewish celebration. But if 0:35:28.989 --> 0:35:32.530 we really understood Christmas, we see that it's deeply connected 0:35:32.530 --> 0:35:35.590 to the Jewish people. I mean, we even sing born 0:35:35.590 --> 0:35:38.860 as the King of Israel, now Chosen People Ministries, one 0:35:38.860 --> 0:35:41.680 of open lines underwriters and a ministry that brings the 0:35:41.680 --> 0:35:44.200 good news to Jewish people around the world, is offering 0:35:44.200 --> 0:35:47.770 Christmas through Jewish eyes. This free booklet will show just 0:35:47.770 --> 0:35:51.310 how Jewish Christmas really is. For your free copy of 0:35:51.310 --> 0:35:54.310 Christmas Through Jewish Eyes, just go to the Open Line website. 0:35:54.340 --> 0:35:58.030 Open Line radio.org. Scroll down. You'll see a link that 0:35:58.030 --> 0:36:01.480 says A free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that. 0:36:01.510 --> 0:36:03.160 You'll be taken to a page where you can sign 0:36:03.160 --> 0:36:06.670 up for your own copy of Christmas Through Jewish Eyes. 0:36:07.750 --> 0:36:12.980 In the first light of a new day, No one 0:36:12.980 --> 0:36:20.450 knew he had arrived. Things continue as they had. 0:36:20.480 --> 0:36:28.910 Been, while a newborn softly cried. But the heavens, wrapped 0:36:28.910 --> 0:36:37.640 in wonder, knew the meaning of his birth. In the weakness. 0:36:37.640 --> 0:36:44.600 Of a baby they knew God had come to earth. 0:36:45.350 --> 0:36:48.049 What a great acapella piece! It's really one of my 0:36:48.050 --> 0:36:50.569 favorite Christmas songs, you guys. Do you know why. 0:36:51.080 --> 0:36:52.279 I. 0:36:52.280 --> 0:36:54.830 Love this song? Not only because it talks about the 0:36:54.830 --> 0:36:58.490 weakness of a baby, how the Messiah had come, and 0:36:58.489 --> 0:37:01.100 that's so. I remember when my firstborn was born and 0:37:01.100 --> 0:37:03.410 I held him. He was a two month old at 0:37:03.410 --> 0:37:07.370 the very first Christmas, and I couldn't. The incarnation just 0:37:07.400 --> 0:37:12.089 flabbergasted me as I held that little baby. And then 0:37:12.090 --> 0:37:14.280 the rest of the song talks about how he's going 0:37:14.280 --> 0:37:17.669 to come and he'll come again, not as a baby, 0:37:17.969 --> 0:37:21.390 and he'll come and establish his kingdom. And that's exactly 0:37:21.390 --> 0:37:26.009 what happens here in Isaiah 11. You know, Isaiah goes 0:37:26.010 --> 0:37:28.590 from the virgin birth to the birth of the of 0:37:28.590 --> 0:37:33.239 the God-Man in Isaiah. Isaiah seven to Isaiah nine, and 0:37:33.239 --> 0:37:37.950 then Isaiah 11. It's only really about the king coming 0:37:37.950 --> 0:37:41.880 and reigning, uh, not as a baby, but as a king, 0:37:41.910 --> 0:37:44.069 a righteous king. And that's what we want to talk 0:37:44.070 --> 0:37:47.220 about in this last segment is Isaiah 11, which talks 0:37:47.219 --> 0:37:51.060 about the righteous king. But there is sort of a hint, 0:37:51.300 --> 0:37:55.440 you know, just like in impossible situations, it's the birth 0:37:55.440 --> 0:37:57.270 of the messianic king that gives us hope. That's what 0:37:57.300 --> 0:38:01.290 Isaiah seven says in gloomy, dark times. It's the birth 0:38:01.290 --> 0:38:04.529 of the messianic king that brings joy and light. But 0:38:04.530 --> 0:38:12.460 here in some, uh, the times that are insignificant. Times 0:38:12.460 --> 0:38:18.460 that are weakness. Times of weakness and fragility. It's the 0:38:18.460 --> 0:38:21.730 birth of the King that gives us strength. And that's 0:38:21.730 --> 0:38:25.450 what Isaiah 11 is about. I wanted Eva. You had 0:38:25.450 --> 0:38:28.330 talked about this. It says the shoot will grow from 0:38:28.330 --> 0:38:31.120 the stump of Jesse. The idea there is the house 0:38:31.120 --> 0:38:35.140 of David seems to have been cut off. That big 0:38:35.140 --> 0:38:37.480 tree has been cut off. There's only a stump remaining. 0:38:37.510 --> 0:38:40.720 Only Jesse. Jesse is the father of David, and a 0:38:40.719 --> 0:38:45.009 branch from his roots will bear fruit. So the picture 0:38:45.010 --> 0:38:48.370 there is just a stump remains. And then out of 0:38:48.400 --> 0:38:51.400 that will come a shoot. What's that talking about? 0:38:51.430 --> 0:38:54.430 Even you know, the thing that strikes me with this 0:38:54.430 --> 0:38:57.460 is the very end of the book of Ruth. People 0:38:57.460 --> 0:39:00.580 forget why Ruth was written. They get all wrapped up 0:39:00.580 --> 0:39:02.920 in the love story part of it. But I think 0:39:02.920 --> 0:39:04.750 that the real point of the book of Ruth is 0:39:04.750 --> 0:39:08.170 that very last verse, when it talks about this baby 0:39:08.170 --> 0:39:12.920 that's born to Ruth with Grandma Naomi. And it goes 0:39:12.920 --> 0:39:16.940 through a series of genealogy. And it says to Obed 0:39:16.940 --> 0:39:20.600 was born Jesse and to Jesse was born David. And 0:39:20.600 --> 0:39:24.530 it sets up the Davidic line right there, way back 0:39:24.560 --> 0:39:26.419 in the book of Ruth. And they happen to live 0:39:26.420 --> 0:39:28.940 in Bethlehem, oh, little town of Bethlehem. 0:39:29.239 --> 0:39:31.310 And so they're setting up the fact that there's going 0:39:31.340 --> 0:39:33.230 to be this important line of David. And here in 0:39:33.230 --> 0:39:36.350 Isaiah 11, that important line seems to have been cut off. 0:39:36.890 --> 0:39:40.460 And and that's it needs to be restored. And there 0:39:40.460 --> 0:39:44.750 will be a shoot that will spring up from that 0:39:44.750 --> 0:39:48.080 line of Jesse and restore the house of David, and 0:39:48.080 --> 0:39:50.990 he'll do it with spirit and power and leadership. The 0:39:50.989 --> 0:39:53.810 spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. That's what 0:39:53.840 --> 0:39:59.090 verse two is about. And it just starts describing what 0:39:59.090 --> 0:40:02.000 his kingdom will be like. That's why, though, it's a 0:40:02.000 --> 0:40:04.609 fragile time for the line of David, though it's a 0:40:04.610 --> 0:40:08.790 insecure time. Uh, time of weakness. This one will come. 0:40:08.790 --> 0:40:11.250 And what will he do? Look at verse four. He 0:40:11.250 --> 0:40:15.330 will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the 0:40:15.330 --> 0:40:19.469 oppressed in the land. And look at verse five, righteousness 0:40:19.469 --> 0:40:22.620 will be his belt and faithfulness will be a belt 0:40:22.620 --> 0:40:25.710 around his waist. And then verse six, the wolf will 0:40:25.920 --> 0:40:28.080 live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down 0:40:28.080 --> 0:40:32.580 with the goat. Uh, when I start looking at this stuff, uh, 0:40:32.580 --> 0:40:35.609 what's it saying? He's going to bring justice. He's going 0:40:35.640 --> 0:40:39.180 to be righteous. He's going to bring peace as the 0:40:39.180 --> 0:40:43.439 Prince of Peace. Uh, infinite will play besides a cobra's pit. 0:40:43.440 --> 0:40:45.360 And a toddler will put his hand in a snake's den. 0:40:45.390 --> 0:40:49.980 None will harm or destroy another. On my entire holy mountain. 0:40:49.980 --> 0:40:52.560 There will be safety, for the land will be as 0:40:52.560 --> 0:40:55.110 full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea 0:40:55.140 --> 0:40:58.410 is filled with water. What's that saying? Everyone in the 0:40:58.410 --> 0:41:01.469 messianic kingdom, when Jesus reigns, will come in and they 0:41:01.469 --> 0:41:05.640 will come to know the king. That's great hope in 0:41:05.640 --> 0:41:08.980 a time of weakness and fragility, that we can be 0:41:08.980 --> 0:41:12.189 strengthened and know that God's going to keep his promises. 0:41:12.190 --> 0:41:15.670 So this is, uh, my class has asked me and 0:41:15.670 --> 0:41:17.770 I'm going to ask you the same question. Why do 0:41:17.770 --> 0:41:21.130 we study the book of revelation? I mean, you say 0:41:21.130 --> 0:41:23.319 it's all about the future, and yet there's a suffering 0:41:23.320 --> 0:41:26.530 church here that gets the book. Why give the book 0:41:26.530 --> 0:41:30.430 of revelation, which ends with Jesus on the throne forever 0:41:30.430 --> 0:41:35.859 and ever? Why give that to a suffering church in 0:41:35.860 --> 0:41:37.900 in the first century? What do you think? 0:41:38.650 --> 0:41:42.370 Well, great. Hope it's not always going to be like this. Yeah. 0:41:42.850 --> 0:41:45.760 Uh, it gives you that. Yes. Like you're saying that 0:41:45.760 --> 0:41:49.270 that hope of something good to look forward to, like that. 0:41:49.300 --> 0:41:52.660 That what you're going through isn't the end of the story. 0:41:52.690 --> 0:41:53.379 We know. 0:41:53.380 --> 0:41:54.130 Something better. 0:41:54.130 --> 0:41:54.700 Coming. 0:41:54.700 --> 0:41:56.650 We know how it ends. 0:41:57.010 --> 0:41:57.460 Yeah. 0:41:57.489 --> 0:42:02.680 That's it. Uh, you know, I, Jerry Seinfeld once said 0:42:02.680 --> 0:42:04.799 that he. He doesn't read a book unless he reads 0:42:04.800 --> 0:42:05.820 the end first. 0:42:08.910 --> 0:42:10.470 He's not going to waste his time unless he has 0:42:10.469 --> 0:42:10.950 a good ending. 0:42:10.980 --> 0:42:11.250 Yeah. 0:42:11.280 --> 0:42:13.350 So he starts at the back of the book. Yeah. 0:42:13.350 --> 0:42:16.620 That's okay. I'll read the book. And I think that 0:42:16.620 --> 0:42:18.270 that would be a good thing for each of us 0:42:18.270 --> 0:42:21.359 when we're in this life. Let's read revelation first because 0:42:21.360 --> 0:42:24.029 we know how it ends. And that's what Isaiah 11 0:42:24.030 --> 0:42:25.830 is doing here. We know how it ends. What were 0:42:25.830 --> 0:42:27.120 you going to say, Chris? 0:42:27.150 --> 0:42:32.250 Well, the one who reads this, revelation one three is blessed. 0:42:32.280 --> 0:42:34.830 And those who hear the words of this prophecy and 0:42:34.830 --> 0:42:37.140 keep what is written in it, are blessed because the 0:42:37.140 --> 0:42:41.370 time is near. So there's a blessing in revelation, as hard, 0:42:41.400 --> 0:42:44.340 you know, as a slog as it is, it's bloody 0:42:44.340 --> 0:42:47.609 and there's a war and there's the enemy. You know, 0:42:47.640 --> 0:42:51.090 there's great conflict here, but we know who is the 0:42:51.090 --> 0:42:51.960 victor in the end. 0:42:51.989 --> 0:42:54.360 Yeah. I think that's so important to remember who's on 0:42:54.360 --> 0:42:56.280 the throne and who will be on the throne right 0:42:56.280 --> 0:42:57.660 here on earth. 0:42:57.690 --> 0:43:01.620 And I love, I love verse nine and 11 nine. 0:43:01.650 --> 0:43:04.969 Isaiah 11 nine. It's in this at the end. When 0:43:04.969 --> 0:43:08.600 everything's wrapped up, they will not hurt or destroy. In 0:43:08.600 --> 0:43:11.660 all my holy mountain. For the earth will be full 0:43:11.660 --> 0:43:14.060 of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover 0:43:14.060 --> 0:43:16.160 the sea. I just love that. Yeah. 0:43:16.190 --> 0:43:20.210 And, uh, the thing that I want to just encourage 0:43:20.210 --> 0:43:23.840 our listeners to do, look at verse ten. On that day, 0:43:23.870 --> 0:43:26.690 the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for 0:43:26.690 --> 0:43:29.840 the peoples. Think of a victorious king standing on a 0:43:29.870 --> 0:43:34.610 hill with his banner raised high. The nations will seek him, 0:43:34.610 --> 0:43:39.380 and his resting place will be glorious. Listen, wherever you're 0:43:39.380 --> 0:43:42.890 at today, if you feel gloomy and dark, and this 0:43:42.890 --> 0:43:44.930 is going to be a lonely Christmas for you, and 0:43:44.930 --> 0:43:48.200 you feel like it's just not turned out as as 0:43:48.200 --> 0:43:52.250 hopeful as you were wanting it to be. The root 0:43:52.250 --> 0:43:55.670 of Jesse is still standing, and he will come and 0:43:55.670 --> 0:43:59.390 stand on that mountain. But he's available today, and the 0:43:59.390 --> 0:44:03.450 nation still need to seek him And individuals in those 0:44:03.450 --> 0:44:06.239 nations need to seek him. If we want to really 0:44:06.239 --> 0:44:11.130 experience Christmas, it's not chocolate covered cherries and candy canes 0:44:11.130 --> 0:44:15.120 and overeating and and all that. Do you know what 0:44:15.120 --> 0:44:17.880 it is? It's getting to know him in a deeper way. 0:44:17.880 --> 0:44:21.060 It's getting to. And listen, if you're listening and you think, well, 0:44:21.060 --> 0:44:24.360 I like Christmas. And I picked up this radio show, 0:44:24.360 --> 0:44:28.739 but I've never put my trust in Jesus. The best way, 0:44:28.739 --> 0:44:31.710 the best experience of this Christmas to experience the gift 0:44:31.710 --> 0:44:34.560 that God has. The Bible says, thanks be to God 0:44:34.560 --> 0:44:40.140 for his indescribable gift. That indescribable gift is the Lord Jesus. 0:44:40.170 --> 0:44:43.410 We've all kind of walked further and further away from him, 0:44:43.620 --> 0:44:46.529 and what he has done is God sent the Messiah, 0:44:46.560 --> 0:44:49.860 the God-Man. He died for us. Take the punishment that 0:44:49.860 --> 0:44:53.730 we deserved and was raised again. That proves he's really God. 0:44:53.940 --> 0:44:55.620 And all we have to do is put our trust 0:44:55.620 --> 0:44:57.690 in him, believe in him. And I just want to 0:44:57.840 --> 0:45:02.650 encourage you for the best Christmas you can have. The 0:45:02.650 --> 0:45:05.740 best Christmas you can have is to turn to the 0:45:05.739 --> 0:45:08.980 Lord Jesus, the one who's going to. He came once 0:45:08.980 --> 0:45:13.540 as the God man. He will return as the God King, 0:45:13.570 --> 0:45:16.450 the one that will reign over all the earth on 0:45:16.450 --> 0:45:20.560 the throne of David. And he will set everything aright 0:45:20.560 --> 0:45:23.770 when the king is on his throne. I just want 0:45:23.800 --> 0:45:27.580 to challenge you make have the best Christmas ever by 0:45:27.580 --> 0:45:30.190 putting your trust in Jesus. Any last words? Anyone? 0:45:30.219 --> 0:45:32.350 I was just thinking maybe you put your trust in 0:45:32.350 --> 0:45:34.600 Jesus a long time ago and have kind of wandered away, 0:45:34.600 --> 0:45:36.850 and all of a sudden, you know, it's just all 0:45:36.850 --> 0:45:40.480 about like you say, candy canes and plum and plum 0:45:40.510 --> 0:45:43.300 pudding and and Christmas trees. And maybe you need to 0:45:43.300 --> 0:45:45.730 go back and think again about what you thought about 0:45:45.730 --> 0:45:48.520 Jesus when you made that decision. Come back. Come back? 0:45:48.550 --> 0:45:48.880 Yeah. 0:45:48.910 --> 0:45:52.630 It's always the time. I want to wish everyone here 0:45:52.630 --> 0:45:55.750 a wonderful Christmas. And you know, when we talk about 0:45:55.750 --> 0:45:59.630 putting Christ back in Christmas, we talk about Having a 0:45:59.630 --> 0:46:03.980 joy filled Christmas. I think that's so crucial. The center 0:46:03.980 --> 0:46:06.710 of our Christmas celebration has to be the one that 0:46:06.710 --> 0:46:10.760 was revealed in Isaiah seven nine and 11 and all 0:46:10.760 --> 0:46:15.350 other all the other passages in Scripture. Thanks for joining me, Tricia. 0:46:15.380 --> 0:46:16.340 Thanks for having me. 0:46:16.370 --> 0:46:18.469 Yeah. And Chris, thanks for joining us from the far 0:46:18.469 --> 0:46:19.490 south there. And. 0:46:19.700 --> 0:46:21.830 Great pleasure Michael. Merry Christmas. 0:46:21.860 --> 0:46:22.100 Yeah. 0:46:22.130 --> 0:46:24.799 And merry Christmas Eve. I'll be celebrating with you. 0:46:24.830 --> 0:46:26.300 Merry Christmas everybody. 0:46:26.330 --> 0:46:26.779 Yeah. 0:46:26.840 --> 0:46:28.700 Uh, my name is Michael Ray. Donald. I'm so glad 0:46:28.700 --> 0:46:31.069 you're with us. And thanks, Omar, for all you did 0:46:31.100 --> 0:46:34.640 to engineer this program today. Uh, we're going to come 0:46:34.640 --> 0:46:38.660 back next week with more of your Bible questions, so 0:46:38.660 --> 0:46:41.720 don't lose hope. We're still going to take care of that. 0:46:41.719 --> 0:46:46.070 Check out our web page Openline radio.org. That'll have everything 0:46:46.070 --> 0:46:49.340 you're looking for. The Bible study across America will continue 0:46:49.340 --> 0:46:52.580 next week. Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick is a 0:46:52.580 --> 0:46:56.450 production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. 0:46:56.450 --> 0:46:57.620 Merry Christmas.