Waiting For The Consolation Of Israel, Part 3

When we looked at the context of this passage in verses 1 – 5, we saw the despair that was overwhelming God's covenant people. The promise of a Savior had been made many years before, and yet the promise had yet to be fulfilled. The days of glory in the times of David and Solomon had faded into weakness, injustice and a dead formality in religion (if there was any religious inclination at all). The prophet, in the midst of the promise of judgment, pointed God's people once again to the promise. The promise would be fulfilled in the future virgin conception (7:14) and the birth of the promised child. Looking back now, we know that the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem was the beginning of the last days in which all the promises would be fulfilled. In our text, the prophet tells you who the child is and the nature of His reign.