In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah predicted a Messiah who would come, a king who would rule his people.

What Isaiah is saying here about this king who is to come is that he will be a counselor par excellence.

He will be a counselor whose wisdom will amaze and astonish.

Welcome to renewing your mind at this Thursday, I'm Lee Wap.

This week we're featuring our C-Sprull series Coming of the Messiah.

It's an amazing journey through a number of Old Testament prophecies regarding our Savior, the Promised Messiah.

And today we'll learn that the success of our king isn't based on a piece of land or anything else in creation, but on the king himself.

We continue now preparing for the coming of Christ and the celebration of Advent.

By looking once more at another Old Testament prophecy that centuries before the birth of Christ looked down the corridors of time and announced his future Advent.

This passage that we're going to look at today is one that is frequently found on Christmas cards and as the subject of many Christmas sermons.

It's found in the book of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 9 beginning in verse 6.

Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 reads as follows.

For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God ever lasting father, prince of peace.

And of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

And upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Now this text that is so rich and familiar to us because of its frequent reference in the Christmas season announces the birth of a baby.

And this baby is identified in the context of the prophecy of Isaiah as the birth of a king.

And not just any kind of king but a king who will follow in the line of King David.

And remember that in ancient Israel the golden age of Israel was ushered in through the monarchy of her second king king David.

And sometimes we forget what a tiny little country about the state of Rhode Island Palestine was and is in the ancient world. I'm going to draw a picture of sort of semi circle here on my blackboard that you can't see but you can hear as I scratch on it.

And you can try to imagine it in your eyes sort of a horseshoe looking figure and this represents what is called the boundaries of the fertile crescent.

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