Isaiah 9:6,7 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Now comes in that blessed prophecy which hath refreshed the Church, and will, as long as time shall be, continue to refresh the Church, in all ages; and which, when compared with the accomplishment, as far as hath been completed in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, and which faith is looking forward to the full completion of, forms one of the most blessed of all subjects, to call up our love, and contemplation, and praise, during a whole life of grace, until faith be swallowed up in glory. Unto us, the Church; a child is born; Jesus, in assuming our nature, takes it up from infancy: for it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren. And he not only came of his own free voluntary will, at the call of God his Father; but He that called him to the service of Mediator, gave him as, his Son, unto the people. These are united views (and most blessed views they are, when seen together) blended in one, of Christ, the Redeemer of his people. His own free-will offering became essentially necessary, to give value and efficacy to all he wrought and suffered. And the authority of Jehovah, in the appointment became equally necessary for faith to act upon, when pleading the efficacy of his merits, and propitiation before God. The Prophet having thus introduced him, now gives some of his adorable names, which, like the beautiful constellation of the heavens, becomes a cluster of glories all in one, to point out the infinite loveliness and greatness of his person, and his transcendent excellencies in all his offices, characters, and relations. It would take a volume of itself, to set forth the Lord Jesus under the several names the prophet hath here distinguished him by; and these are but a few of the numberless precious names, in which the scriptures reveal Christ, by which his people know him, and make use of him as their daily necessities and his glory require. His name shall be called Wonderful, saith the Prophet. But who is able to show, to what extent it is so? The wonders of his person, as God and as man, and as both, forming, one Christ; the wonders of his essence, nature, and perfections; the wonders of his offices, characters, and relations; the wonders of his incarnation, birth, life, ministry, labours, death, resurrection, ascension, and all the great events he is carrying on now in glory: the wonders of the redemption he hath wrought, is now accomplishing, and will accomplish; the wonders of his love, grace, mercy, and fellowship, in all its heights, and depths, and breadths and lengths; the wonders of his saving grace, in the hearts of men, and in thy heart, my soul, to thee; the greatest wonder of any, that after so much grace, and mercy, and thy repeated rebellions, the spark is not extinguished, the smoking flax is not put out, nor the bruised reed broken; which all hell is forever trying to accomplish, and thine own unworthy and unbelieving heart too often joining in the confederacy to bring to pass! Is not his name wonderful? And doth not his grace to thee make thee a wonder to thyself, in consequence of it? Oh! thou wonderful Lord! thou unerring, faithful, kind, tender counsellor, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! Oh! thou mighty God! thou all-sufficient Jesus! to see the purchase of thy blood, and thy Father's gift completed and made effectual! Oh! thou everlasting Father! in all things everlasting, in love, in provision; in care, in security a blessed eternity of all relations in one art thou, to thy people. And surely thou art the Prince of peace, for thou hast made our peace by the blood of thy cross, and hast commanded peace forever Oh! for grace to know thy name, and by every name to put our trust in thee: in thy name to rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness to make our boast! Surely everything in thy kingdom must correspond to the greatness of thy name. It must be an increasing kingdom, a righteous kingdom, a peaceable kingdom, a glorious kingdom, yea, an everlasting kingdom, that shall have no end. Thy Father's zeal will take effectual care of this: for thou layest out all for thy Father's glory; and the whole purposes of salvation are that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Oh! for grace to bless a covenant God in Christ, for all these wonders of redemption, and now begin the song, which will never end in eternity: Salvation to God and the Lamb!