The promise of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament began in Gen. 3:15 and up to this point, the Spirit of God had revealed progressively that the Messiah would come from the seed of Jacob, the tribe of Judah. At this juncture, Is. 9:7 provides the lineage and position of the Messiah when He comes to this earth. Is. 9:7 says, “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.” The Messiah will be heir to the throne of David.
In the history of the kingdom of Judah, king David was known to be the best king and was recognised by the Lord as a man after His own heart. King David was the model to all kings that arose after him. He was the greatest king of Judah although the kingdom of David did not last long. However, despite the shortness of his reign, the Lord during David’s reign had given numerous Davidic promises and prophecies which were not fulfilled during his reign or kings after him. Such promises and prophecies can be seen as following, "Thy throne shall be established for ever” (II Sam 7:16). “The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne” (Ps. 132:11). “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David” (Amos 9:11). “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David” (Is 9:7). “Thou Bethlehem [city of David]…out of thee shall he come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel….For now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:2, 4). “I will raise unto David…a King” (Jer 23:5). “In that day…the house of David shall be as God” (Zech 12:8; cf. 13:1). Over a period of 500 years, the prophecy of an eternal King, to arise from David is repeated over and over-by David himself, especially in his Psalms; by his son Solomon; and by several of the prophets."
The manner of reign of the heir to the throne of David that is described in Is. 9:7, has no precedent. For this reason the fulfilment of this prophecy can be seen only in the reign of the King Messiah when He establishes His Kingdom. The Lord had promised David that the kingdom of the Messiah would stand forever as will be fulfilled during the millennial kingdom. Walvoord rightly remarks, “this kingdom will be distinguished as one of justice and righteousness (cf. 11:3-5). The kingdom will be realised by the power of God–‘The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this’ (9:7).”
In addition, Is. 9:6 provides the names which are worthy to be given only to the Messiah, the everlasting King. Prophet Isaiah said that the name of the Messiah would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty god, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In the gospel of Luke, the angel who appeared to Mary said that Jesus who would be born would be called the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32). Furthermore the angel said, “The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32b-3). In the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, this promise was not fulfilled. However, what the Lord had promised would surely come to pass when Jesus Christ comes again. He will rule from the throne of David (cf. 2 Sam. 7:13, 16). In fact every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ will rule together with Him in the millennial kingdom.
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