What is the meaning of the names given to the Lord Jesus in Isaiah 9:6?

Isaiah 9:6 reads, "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." The names given here to the Lord Jesus describe to us some of the glories of His person. Let's look at each of them briefly.

Wonderful! This name given to our Lord Jesus Christ expresses for us the unfathomable mysteries of His Person. We read in the gospel of Matthew that "no man knoweth the Son, but the Father" (Matthew 11:27). Our Lord appeared as an angel to Manoah and when Manoah asked His name, the angel said to him, "Why askest thou thus after My Name seeing it is secret [wonderful]?" (Judges 13:15-18). The exact same Hebrew word is used here as in Isaiah 9:6. When we meditate upon His glories, we are compelled to say, "He is Wonderful!"

Counsellor! A synonym of this word is guide or advise. This beautiful name of the Lord encourages us to always seek His counsel or advice. The Lord is the true Counsellor who will never lead us in a wrong direction. The Lord can and does use others to counsel us in our decisions and we can thank Him for this counsel. However, we need to make sure it is coming from Him. His counsel will always be based upon His Word. The apostle Paul said, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). The Lord has promised to guide or counsel us with His eye (Psalm 32:8). Only as we keep near to the Lord can we experience the joy of His guidance.

The Mighty God! Our Saviour is the Mighty God. He is all powerful. This name especially declares His deity. He is "over all, God blessed for ever. Amen" (Romans 9:5). He is "the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).

The everlasting Father! This title can be translated, "The Father of Eternity." This name may suggest to us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who will bring the world into a glorious time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Sin shall be no more and righteousness shall dwell forever. Because He is the Father of Eternity this blessed time for the world will never change throughout all the endless ages of eternity.

The Prince of Peace! This name suggests to us that our Saviour will bring an everlasting peace to this world. We have peace with God today through His work on Calvary. Men have tried and will continue to try to bring peace to this world. Despite their well-meaning efforts, there will never be peace in this world until the Prince of Peace is on the throne, and righteousness is exalted. At His coming to set up this kingdom of peace, He will smite the nations with a sharp sword and rule them with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15). "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever" (Isaiah 32:17). We long for that glorious time that is coming to this world through the Prince of Peace.