Joy in Affliction

Joy in the midst of affliction
[Isa. 9:2-7] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. We need to remember the birth, person, office, and kingdom of Messiah, during times of affliction. We sometimes may walk in darkness before we see the great light. During that time we look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and much affliction. When we keep our eyes upward the glom will not be upon us who may be distressed.
We will rejoice according to the time of harvest, the time when the hard work has paid off and the bounty comes off. And the victory is complete. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. The reference to every warrior's sandal . . . garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire means that the battle is over. This is what you did when the battle was finished and you had won!
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Each of these promises - the reference to great joy, the breaking of the yoke of our burden and the rod of our oppressor, and the complete victory over all enemies has spiritual application to Y’Shua' work in our lives. These things are ours in Y’Shua!
When is Y’Shua sad or worried or afraid? When does Y’Shua groan under the yoke of His burden? When does Y’Shua feel the sting of the rod of His oppressor? When is Y’Shua' victory incomplete? The risen, glorified, ascended Y’Shua experiences none of these things, and He has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Y’Shua (Ephesians 2:6). As we are in Y’Shua, we share in His victory! We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
At the same time, we recognize the hand of the Holy Spirit in the specific wording.
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, Counseller, The mighty G-d, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.This glorious prophecy of the birth of the Messiah reminds Israel that the victory-bringing the Messiah would be a man.
What amazing mystery! There is nothing weaker, more helpless, and more dependent than a child. Theoretically, the Messiah could have come as a fully grown man, created as an adult even as Adam was created. But for Y’Shua to fully identify with humanity, and to display in His life the servant nature that is in G-d, made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).
What glorious truth! We needed a perfect, infinite Being to offer a perfect, infinite atonement for our sins. We needed Immanuel, G-d is with us (Isaiah 7:14).
The Son had to be given, because the Second Person of the Trinity is eternal, and existed forever as the Son, even before adding humanity to His deity. We rejoice in the Holy Spirit's guidance in every word! Y’Shua, the Messiah, is fully G-d and fully man. There was a time when the eternal Son of G-d, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, added humanity to His deity. He never became less G-d, but He added a human nature to His divine nature, and so became one person with two distinct natures, functioning together in perfect harmony.
That Y’Shua is both G-d and man tells us that man really is made in the image of G-d (Genesis 1:26) and that perfect humanity is more compatible with deity than we imagine. It says that our problems is not our humanity, but our fallenness. To say "I'm only human" is wrong, because Y’Shua was fully human yet perfect. It is more accurate to say, "I'm only fallen." But remember that the humanity that Y’Shua added to His Divine nature is not the sinful humanity we commonly know, but the perfect humanity of Adam and Eve before the fall.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
And the government will be upon His shoulder: Ultimately, this will be fulfilled in the Millennium, when Y’Shua Christ will rule the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 20:4-6, Psalm 72, Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 65:17-25, Zechariah 14:6-21).
This ultimate fulfillment of this promise is still waiting. But we can still see the government, upon His shoulder in many ways.
Leaders of this day surround themselves with servants. Y’Shua surrounds us with His servant hood.
Leaders of this day use their power to build their empire. Y’Shua uses his power to wash our feet and make us clean and comfortable.
Leaders of this day trade their influence for money. G-d so loved that He gave His Son.
Generals of this day need regular wars to keep their weapons and skills up to date and insure their own advancement. Y’Shua brings peace and rest to hearts.
The higher the plane of importance one reaches in this world, the more inaccessible he becomes. Y’Shua was Emanuel, "G-d with us."
Leaders of this day are desperate to be seen and heard. Y’Shua sought anonymity so He could be useful.
The Father’s government is alive and working often silently, mostly unseen. We can be and are, by choice, governed by G-d. Hope and joy and peace and rest cover its subjects. Justice, mercy and grace, amazingly coexist.
Y’Shua is the One fit to guide our lives, and should be the Beliversn's immediate resource as a counselor. Y’Shua can help you with your problems. He may use the presence and the words of another Believers to do it, but Y’Shua is our Counselor.
The High Counsel of the G-dhead guides our lives. "Remember, there is nothing that happens in your daily life, but what was first of all devised in eternity, and counseled by Y’Shua the Messiah for your good and in your behalf, that all things might work together for your lasting benefit and profit.
Beliver, do you know what sweet counsel is? You have gone to your Master in the day of trouble, and in the secret of your chamber you have poured out your heart before Him. You have laid your case before Him, with all its difficulties remember that the Messiah is The Prince of Peace, and that it is easy for Him quickly to allay all our uneasy feelings. These titles confirm us more and more in the faith of the Messiah, and fortify us against Satan and against hell itself!"