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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9

2. Measurement by God’s standard 9:8-10:4This section of the book focuses on the Northern Kingdom, and it ties in with the section immediately preceding concerning the Messiah (Isaiah 9:2-7). It explains why Ephraim’s plans against Judah would fail. They would not fail because of Ahaz’s alliance with Assyria but because God would frustrate them. Ephraim would not go into captivity because she lacked sufficient military strength but because she failed to measure up to the standard God had set... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:1

In contrast to the gloom of the false counselors, the residents of Galilee in Israel, who would experience the Lord’s chastening, would enjoy glory. God would bring light when His people had lost all hope. Galilee, in northern Israel, was the first region in Israel to feel the lash of the Assyrian invaders. It was a melting pot and home to many Gentiles, as well as Jews, because the international highway between Mesopotamia and Egypt passed through it. Glory came to this region later when Jesus... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:1-7

1. Signs of God’s presence 7:1-9:7A unifying theme in this subsection is children. The children were understandably a major concern of the Israelites, threatened as they were with invasion. However, the children also embodied qualities that the adult Israelites needed to adopt to survive, such as innocence, trust, and acknowledged weakness (cf. Matthew 18:1-7). Indeed, a child promised in this passage, who turned out to be Jesus, would eventually save them. As Jesus appealed for an attitude of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:2

Light would come to those walking in darkness-the Israelites-as they lived in a dark land (Isaiah 9:1). Many prophetic perfects in this section assure the certainty of the things predicted. In Hebrew, a writer sometimes described as past what was really in the future. He used this verb tense to emphasize that what was future was as sure to happen as if it had happened already. God would enlighten those in darkness by bringing new light to them, even though they did not deserve it (cf. Matthew... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:2-7

The faithful king to come 9:2-7In contrast to Ahaz, who refused to listen to and obey God, the Lord would raise up a faithful king who would be born and reign in the future (the Millennium). This pericope climaxes the present section (Isaiah 7:1 to Isaiah 9:7) dealing with the signs of God’s presence. Again a child is the centerpiece of the prophecy and provides a sign and hope for the future. Isaiah 9:2 begins chapter 9 in the Hebrew text. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:3

God would reveal His presence to His people, and the results would be national growth (cf. Isaiah 7:20-23; Isaiah 49:19-23) and abundance (cf. Isaiah 5:10; Isaiah 33:23; Isaiah 35:1-2), really every type of joy. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:4

God would deliver them from their enemies, primarily physical but also spiritual enemies. The Assyrians would impose a yoke on the Israelites, but God would break that yoke off (cf. Exodus 1:11; Exodus 2:11; Exodus 3:7-8; Exodus 5:4-7; Exodus 5:10-14; Exodus 6:6-7; Leviticus 26:13; Matthew 11:29-30). This deliverance would be entirely of God and against overwhelming odds, as when God broke the yoke of Midian (Judges 6-7, cf. especially Judges 6:35; Isaiah 7:2-14; Isaiah 7:20). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:5

God would not just give victory to Israel, but He would cause wars to cease (cf. Psalms 46:9-10). His people would enter into the fruits of a past victory, namely, the victory of their Messiah. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:6

The end of war depends on the coming of a person-a royal person-yet one never explicitly called a "king" here (cf. Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18; John 5:22). He would appear as a child (emphatic in the Hebrew text); He would not only be God come to earth, but God born on earth, i.e., both human and divine. The "child born" points to His humanity and the "son given" to His deity. Moslems deny that God could ever have a son. [Note: Koran, Sura 112.] God would not defeat Israel’s enemies by using... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:7

He would be the final king whose reign would result in increasing peace forever. Most governments increase through war, but this one would grow through peace. He would be an eschatological figure, yet He would be a Davidic king-the perfect Davidic descendant who would accomplish for Israel all God intended in justice and righteousness (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-17). This would happen because Yahweh of armies Himself would bring it to pass for the welfare of His people (cf. Isaiah 37:32). It is,... read more

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