Yes, 'unto us a son is given' means God gave the Son to the nation of Israel, not to the Gentiles, as part of His covenant promises.
In Isaiah 9:6, the pronoun 'us' refers to the nation of Israel, as Isaiah was writing to Israel, not to Gentiles. Les Feldick emphasizes that this gift was God's action for Israel, fulfilling His covenant promises. The Son given is Christ, the Messiah, as affirmed by the titles that follow.
Isaiah 9:6 — This verse directly contains the phrase 'unto us a son is given' and identifies the recipient as the nation of Israel.
Isaiah 9:6 says, "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." This verse is part of a prophetic utterance given to the nation of Israel, as the context shows the prophet addressing Israel, not the Gentiles. The verse promises that a child is born and a son is given, with titles that indicate deity, such as "Mighty God" and "Everlasting Father."
Les Feldick teaches that 'unto us' in Isaiah 9:6 refers specifically to the nation of Israel, as the Old Testament prophets wrote to Israel, not to Gentiles. He connects this verse with John 3:16, noting that God gave His only begotten Son, but initially to Israel. He emphasizes that this giving was part of God's covenant promises, and the Son given is Christ, the Messiah, who will rule on His throne in Jerusalem during the kingdom. Les also stresses that the titles in Isaiah 9:6 affirm Christ's deity, countering claims that He is not God.
Les Feldick explains that the pronouns in Isaiah are directed to the nation of Israel, as Isaiah was writing to Israel, not to Egyptians or Babylonians. Therefore, 'us' refers to Israel, indicating that the Son was given to Israel first.
Les ties Isaiah 9:6 with John 3:16, noting that both speak of God giving His Son. In John, God gave His only begotten Son to the world, but in Isaiah, the Son is given to Israel. He emphasizes that this aligns with Jesus coming to His own and being rejected.
Les points out that the titles—Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father—are capitalized and are terms associated with the coming King, the Messiah, and affirm His deity.
Les explains that the verse points to a future time when the government will be upon His shoulder, which will be fulfilled when Christ is on His throne in Jerusalem during the Kingdom. He references this in the context of Christ's 1,000-year reign.
Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts
the prophetic program, which of course we now know that Israel rejected. But I want all my students to understand that everything is moving along through time according to the prophetic program. Now I just see it on the board. We've got to make a correction before we go any further. I made a glaring mistake in my fourth -grade arithmetic, and we caught it as soon as we got off the air.
Israel as the Recipient
Les explains that 'us' in Isaiah 9:6 refers to the nation of Israel, not to Gentiles, and connects it to John 3:16.
Connection to John 3:16
Les ties Isaiah 9:6 with John 3:16, noting that the Son was given to Israel first, then to the world.
Government on His Shoulder
Les points out that the government will be on His shoulder, indicating future reign.
Titles of Deity
Les emphasizes that the capitalized titles in Isaiah 9:6 are terms of deity for the Messiah.
Addressed to Israel
Les stresses that Isaiah's prophecy is addressed to the nation of Israel, determining the audience.
Why Did Jesus Only Go to Israel? Matthew 10:5-6 Explained
Now we can jump in at verse 6, and remember what we read in Exodus, that if they are obedient to the Law, the covenant that God is now giving them at Mount Sinai, then they would be a God then sometime down the road to funnel salvation into the Gentile world.
Future Kingdom Rule
Les links the government upon His shoulder to the 1,000-year reign of Christ.
Isaiah 9:6: 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.
This verse is the primary text, giving the promise of a son to Israel.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Les connects this verse with Isaiah 9:6 to show the giving of the Son.
John 1:11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Les uses this verse to show that the Son came to Israel but was rejected.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that the child born and Son given in Isaiah 9:6 is Christ, the Messiah, as indicated by the titles of deity and the connection to John 3:16.
According to Les, the Son was given initially to the nation of Israel, as the prophecy is addressed to them, but later extended to the world (as in John 3:16).
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts