The Context Of Isaiah 9:6

INTRO: Over the past 20 some years I have spoken at the Christmas season on Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. And this year I wondered what I should share since I don’t know how many more Christmas messages I will do, if any. I have been very enriched in dealing quite thoroughly with the biblical seasonal days of the year, including the non-biblical days of Epiphany and New Years Day.
I had the thought of taking some OT prophecy to the birth of Christ. And after seeing the verse for the second time that the decorating committee had put up I decided to study this verse for a message. Every year still, in various places, George Fredrik Handel’s Messiah is performed, as it is in our own city of Edmonton. One of the great moments of that performance is when they come to the Hallelujah chorus and everyone in the audience rises to their feet. That is done because King George, when he heard this part of the performance rose to his feet. When the king stands all stand. Somehow I cannot picture heaven being without music and singing by the saints. Revelation 15:3 speaks about singing in heaven, and I’m wondering what it will be like.
Well, Isaiah 9:6, the verse on the wall behind me is in Handle’s song. References to the book of Isaiah are mentioned 8 times in Handle’s Messiah. The book of Isaiah is an incredible book. As I began to look at this, I thought I must outline my message, the Context and the Content of Isaiah 9:6. It was too much for a message and the context is so important to an understanding of this great prophecy that we will just look at that this Christmas day.