Sermon Quotes: "To Us a Child Is Born"

“Judah was hardly the China of the ancient world; it was tiny in comparison to Egypt to its south and Assyria to its north-east. But together with its sister kingdom Israel it occupied a strategic place astride the land routes linking Africa with Central Asia and the Far East. It lay at the centre of the known world and made the astounding claim that its God, the LORD, was creator and effective ruler of everything…Judah lived with the conviction that the LORD was the true king, and looked forward to the day when all the world would know it. This creed had not been difficult to believe during Uzziah’s long reign.” Barry Webb

“Isaiah has a radical alternative plan to propose from the Lord: trust no one but God, and God will protect Jerusalem and Judah.” Don Carson

“The contrasting spheres express every sort of joy ever known.” Alec Motyer

“The people enter into the fruits of a victory they did not win, it was the Lord who acted.” Alec Motyer

“This passage sets the stage for the most astounding event in history.” John Oswalt

“God’s answer to everything that has ever terrorized us is a child. The power of God is so far superior to the Assyrias and all the big shots of the world that he can defeat them by coming as a mere child. His answer to the bullies swaggering through history is not to become an even bigger bully. His answer is Jesus.” Ray Ortlund Jr.