For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
The image in this verse reflects the custom of carrying long, heavy, frequently used keys over the shoulder. The symbolism is extensive. The very act says “authority”! The priest who exercised such authority had command of the royal chambers and a right to admit or refuse people to the royal presence. John, in Revelation 3:7, describes the risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus as our High Priest: “He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them.”
God invested all priestly authority in Jesus Christ, his Son. It is Jesus who has the keys! The government is upon his shoulders!
And what does all this mean to you and me? It means Jesus Christ has command of God’s royal chambers—and the right to admit us into God’s presence. That is why Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.”
The Scriptures say we have a high priest (Hebrews 4:14). You can know you have such a high priest if he “has” you! Has he forgiven your sin? If not, he has the right to refuse your entrance to the King’s chambers; but if so, then you can be assured that when you draw near to the throne, there will be grace to help.
For Further Study: Isaiah 9:1-7
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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