Unto Us a Child Is Born

Dear Weekly Readers!

God’s Peace!

I want to first thank you for all the prayers for our recent trip to Kenya, Africa.   The trip was most blessed!  I pray that the Lord would allow His Word to continue to work there in Kenya and wherever His Word is proclaimed!

 

This week we have an article by John Newton.   Please enjoy!     May God Bless your week!  John R

Unto Us a Child is Born!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Such was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded

upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations of the faithful unchangeable God as already accomplished, though the actual performance respected a period, as yet, future and distant. Believers under that dispensation already felt the influence of the redemption which MESSIAH was to consummate in the fullness of time.

It was the knowledge of His engagement on the behalf of sinners that gave life and significance to all the institutions of the ceremonial law which otherwise, though of divine appointment, would have been a heavy and burdensome yoke (Acts 15:10). Isaiah therefore prepares his joyful song for the true servants of God who lived in his time; and though it was a day of trial and rebuke, they were provided with sufficient compensation for all their sufferings, being warranted to say, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder…

This ancient song is still new. It has been, and will be, taken up from age to age by the New Testament Church, with superior advantage. I trust many of you understand it well, and rejoice in it daily. Men naturally look for something wherein to rejoice and glory. Little reason have the wise to glory in their supposed wisdom, or the strong in their fading strength, or the rich in their transitory wealth (Jeremiah 9:23); but this is a just and unfailing ground of glory to true Christians, that,

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...

John Newton

Heralds of creation, cry!

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, the Lord most high!

Heaven and earth! obey the call,

Praise the Lord, the Lord of all.

For He spake, and forth from night

Sprang the universe to light:

He commanded, nature heard,

And stood fast upon His Word.

Praise Him, all ye hosts above,

Spirits perfected in love;

Sun and moon! your voices raise,

Sing, ye stars! your Maker's praise.

Kings! your Sovereign serve with awe;

Judges! own His righteous law;

Princes! worship Him with fear;

Bow the knee, all people! here.

High above all height His throne,

Excellent His name alone;

Him let all His works confess,

Him let every being bless.

James Montgomery