Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) 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.
If you are like me, I can’t help but hear the music of Handel’s “Messiah” whenever I read this verse!
I think it is so fitting that Handel used this music, arguably his greatest composition, as a work of charity. He offered to perform it at a benefit concert for the Foundling Hospital in London England as a means to garner finances for this new orphanage for the abandoned children in England. The concert was so successful that it became an annual event. Upon Handel’s death, it was found that he made provisions in his will to give the Foundling Hospital a complete copy of the composition, including everything needed for all the parts, so that they could continue the performances after his death.
I wonder if the children of the orphanage ever heard the music performed themselves? And if so, what words do you think may have resonated with them the most? For those without a father, perhaps hearing that God was their Everlasting Father would be words strikingly comforting.
So many adults I know struggle with this concept of God as their Father. Perhaps their earthly father was aloof or missing-in-action. Or worse, perhaps he was abusive. The name “father” can come with much baggage for some people.
Thankfully, God has provided us with examples in Scripture of what it means to be a good father. Not coincidentally, many of the attributes of a good father correspond with the names given in Isaiah’s passage above.
An early mention of God as Father is found in Deuteronomy 1:29-31. Here, Moses is reminding the People of Israel of what he told them when they were afraid to enter the land of Canaan because of the giants and warriors who lived there. They must have looked like little children in their own eyes compared to those large giants.
Deuteronomy 1:29-31(WEB)
Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. Yahweh your God, who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you have seen how that Yahweh your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place.”
Here, God was PROTECTING them just like a good father protects and cares for his son. When children are little, there are a lot of times that their little legs just can’t keep up with our longer and stronger legs. So what do we do? We pick them up and carry them. Sometimes we put them on our shoulders. In these verses, God is saying, “I know this enemy is too big for you. You just trust me. I am the Mighty God and I will fight for you. I will carry you through this battle or trial that you are facing. You just trust me and obey me through this trial.” Aren’t we glad when God protects us like a good father would!
But a good father is also going to TRAIN his children, so that they will become stronger and more mature.
Hebrews 12:7-11 (NIV)
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Notice that the Lord’s training is not out of anger or because He had a bad day. No, a good father trains his child to produce good character and maturity. But because God is a Wonderful Counselor, His training is not harmful. It is wise. He directs us and helps us grow into children that reflect God’s attributes and character.
Psalm 19:7 (NIV) The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT) The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
A good father also has COMPASSION for his children and COMFORTS them.
Psalm 103:13 (NIV) As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him… 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
This is one of the ways that God our Father is the Prince of Peace. His comfort brings us peace, just like a good father’s comfort brings peace to his child. We know the picture of a good father holding his crying child to his chest, gently patting their back and telling them that it will be all right. Just like Jesus in the boat with the disciples during a raging storm, He does not leave us alone in the trials of life, but walks with us or carries us through them, speaking peace until the storm has passed.
A good father also PROVIDES for his children.
Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV) Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Philippians 4:19 (WEB) My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes, if we are honest, we don’t always appreciate what God has given us. Like children wanting candy instead of their vegetables, we pout when we are not given what we wanted. But God is a wise and caring Father and will give us what we need when we follow Him. Then we can share with others, too.
And of course, most of all, a good father LOVES his children.
1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
In Christ’s death and resurrection we see all of God’s attributes. As a Wonderful Counselor, He guides and leads us to the truth. As the Everlasting Father, He loves us enough to provide a way for our salvation. As Prince of Peace, He gives His life to pay the debt for our sins, that we might be at peace with God. Only a Mighty God can accomplish this, bearing the weight of the sins of the world on himself, defeating death and emerging Victorious over sin and death!
John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Praise God for such a good Father! During this Christmas season, when you hear the beautiful music of Handel’s “Messiah”, thank Him for being such a good Father. He has not left us orphans!
John 14:18 (NIV)
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
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Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Love this message. I love Handel’s Messiah and have sung it many times, but never knew the back story. Thank you for sharing the wonderful story behind that masterful piece of music.
I never learned about this story, either, until reading about it in our homeschool history book. Some say the “Messiah” never became famous at all until he used it at the benefit concerts for the children. So glad he did use it to benefit them!