HomeChapter 6
The Children (Part Two) The stories of the first two children that we covered were relatively straightforward.
The third
child's story (which is actually the second of the four stories encountered in Isaiah) is found in chapter seven. I initially skipped
over it because it is a little different and more complex. In Isaiah seven,
starting with verse 10, we read: When it says that the LORD spoke to
Ahaz, it probably means that he spoke to him through the prophet
Isaiah. After prompting,
King Ahaz refuses to ask a sign from God. He professes reverence for
God in doing so. But it is almost certainly only an outward
reverence. On the one hand he talks about not tempting God, but on
the other hand he is ransacking the Temple of its silver and gold in
order to pay off the king of Assyria. He had already made his
decision. It was the king of Assyria in whom Ahaz was trusting, not
God. He had put his confidence in Tiglath-Pileser, not in Jehovah. Ahaz doesn't. So God gives a
sign: "Pretty soon Syria and Israel aren't going to
bother you anymore, because Assyria is going to take care of them." That's it? That's all? I
mean, don't get me wrong. That would be amazing and wonderful
news to King Ahaz. And only God can with certainty predict the
future. But that is a fairly "run of the mill" prophecy
as far as Old Testament prophecies go. It doesn't quite match
the buildup of being as "deep as Sheol or high as heaven". As mentioned before, Isaiah is a
wonderfully peculiar prophet. Like other Old Testament prophets, he
speaks to the people of his day and time; but his prophecies almost
always end up making reference to something in the more distant
future...something greater and more wonderful. And that is the case that we have here. There have been many books written
about this prophecy, often wrangling about controversies that I don't
think need to exist, such as whether it refers to Isaiah's day
or to Jesus' day or to both; or what about the translation of
the Hebrew word "almah" in verse fourteen? Should it be
"young maiden" or should it be translated "virgin"?
Dealing with all of these issues in detail is beyond the scope of
this book, so I will just present it briefly as I understand it. First of all, I believe that the
prophecy points to both Isaiah's day and to the time of Christ.
The commentator Albert Barnes said, ...nothing is more common in Isaiah
than for him to commence a prophecy with reference to some
remarkable deliverance which was soon to occur, and terminate it by a
statement of events connected with a higher deliverance under the
Messiah. Some contend that it only points to the
time of Christ, but that view seems to ignore the context and the
literal words of the prophecy. Isaiah says that Ahaz is in dread of
two kings. Those two kings, the king of Syria and the king of
Israel, are mentioned by name in verse one, and again in verse four,
and again in verses eight and nine. Isaiah further says that Ahaz
need not worry about these two kings. Before this child grows old
enough to know right from wrong (or possibly before he is even
weaned), the king of Assyria will vanquish both Syria and Israel.
That seems pretty straightforward. That seems to be the obvious
meaning. But it isn't the only meaning.
Isaiah almost always looks also to a more distant future. And as
great a prophecy as this would be to King Ahaz, it just doesn't
seem to fit the prelude of God's challenge, which out of all
the pages of the Old Testament, is found only here: "let it be
deep as Sheol or high as heaven." With regard to the question of the
translation of the Hebrew word "almah" and the
controversy associated with it, I also think that that is a
controversy that shouldn't exist, because the use of the word
seems to fit Isaiah's prophetic style perfectly. Some say that
the word should be translated to indicate a young woman who has never
had sexual relations (i.e., "virgin"). Others say that
it merely indicates a young woman who, due to her age, would be
assumed to have never had sex (i.e., "young woman").
But, either way, in this case it is the context and the intent of the
prophecy that clarifies things. The young woman in Isaiah's
day would be someone who had never had sexual relations, but who,
before she becomes pregnant, would have sexual relations, become
pregnant in the normal manner, and have a child. She was a virgin at
the time that the prophecy was given, but she would marry, have
sexual relations and become pregnant. She was a virgin at the time
of the prophecy, but was not a virgin at the time that the child was
born. But that isn't as "deep as Sheol or high as
heaven". That happens all the time. But Isaiah also foretells
a time in the more distant future, when there would be a young maiden
who hadn't had sexual relations, but who would become pregnant
without any sexual relations. Is that as "deep as Sheol or
high as heaven?" Yes it is. But we're not done yet.
Her child would also be the Creator of the Universe and everything in
it. Yes, that will definitely be as deep as Sheol or high as heaven. The child would be named "Immanuel",
which means "God with us." For Ahaz, the message would
be to not put your trust in the Assyrian ruler, but to put your trust
in God, because he will be with you. But the name takes on a
different light when we look at the later fulfillment at the time of
Christ. It's not just that God will be willing to support and
care for us, but that the Lord of All the Universe will literally
come to Earth and literally be with us in human form. If Ahaz had been bold enough or
faithful enough or honest enough to ask for a sign, he couldn't
have come up with anything that amazing. The word "Immanuel"
occurs twice in chapter eight, also. We see it first in verse eight.
Beginning with verse six, we read: "Because this people have
refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and melt in fear
before Rezin and the son of Remaliah; therefore, behold, the Lord is
bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many,
the king of Assyria and all his glory; and it will rise over all its
channels and go over all its banks; and it will sweep on into Judah,
it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck; and its
outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel." In spite of the
fact that "the spoil speeds; the prey hastens", and that
Assyria is coming and it will cover the land, the people of Judah are
to take heart because "Immanuel", "God is with us".
Assyria will not be the final victor. The word "Immanuel"
is also found in verse ten, although it isn't translated that way.
Isaiah addresses the enemies of God's people and says: Take counsel together, but it will
come to nothing; Similar thoughts
are also found elsewhere in the book of Isaiah: ...fear not, for I am with you; "Fear not, for I have redeemed
you; Immanuel. God is
with us. One of the lessons of chapters 7 and 8
of the book of Isaiah is the importance of faith and the tragedy of
faithlessness. King Ahaz would have probably made a different
decision if he really had believed that the God of All the Universe
was indeed with him and was going to help him. But he didn't
believe. Faithlessness eventually yields a fruit, not only of
immorality, but also of hopelessness. Robert Ingersoll was a noted agnostic
from the mid to late nineteenth century who frequently spoke out
against what he deemed to be the superstitious views of those who
professed a faith in God. At the funeral of his brother, Ebon
Ingersoll, Robert Ingersoll said this: Life is a narrow vale between the
cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look
beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of
our wailing cry. Faithlessness eventually yields a fruit
of hopelessness. At the Columbine, Colorado high school
shooting in 1999, one of the gunmen
confronted a fellow student and said: "Do you believe in God?" She answered, "Yes." The gunman said, "Why?" before continuing his deadly rampage. Faithlessness eventually yields a
fruit, not only of immorality, but also of hopelessness. It is tragic to see the hopelessness of
people who do not have God in their lives. Isaiah tells Ahaz, and he
tells us, that God is with us. In the well-known 23rd
Psalm, David begins by expressing his faith: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He goes on to say, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Having God with us gives us comfort and
peace. It also gives us hope. To
them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the
riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory. The
prophecy of Isaiah eventually culminates in the first century: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore
afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be
to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth. As
God's people, we need to understand that "Immanuel"--that God is with us. God
is With Us. Immanuel. The last of the four stories of
children is found in Isaiah chapter nine. The historical context is
apparently a few years later than that of chapters 7 and 8, with
Assyria having already conquered Syria and Israel, and Judah now
basically a vassal state to the Assyrian Empire. As mentioned before, it is somewhat
characteristic of Isaiah's prophecies to have both an
application to Isaiah's day, but also an application to a more
distant future. Although the entirety of a prophecy might have
reference to both Isaiah's day and to the future, oftentimes the
earlier part of the prophecy will be more weighted toward Isaiah's
day, and the latter part toward that distant future. Sometimes, in
the middle part of the prophecy, it is difficult to determine whether
it is referring primarily to Isaiah's day or to that distant
future; but by the end of the prophecy it becomes clear that the
future is primarily, or sometimes entirely, in mind. The transition from the present to the
future in Isaiah's prophecies is often smooth and gradual.
However, in a few prophecies, he will have a stark break,
what I like to refer to as an unscalable wall. At least it is not
scalable or climbable unless one leaves all the baggage of unbelief
behind. There is an unscalable wall in Isaiah's prophecy in
chapter 35, and there is such an unscalable wall in this
prophecy in chapter nine as well. Although the beginning of the prophecy
has some recognizable application to the more distant future, its
primary reference is probably to events that are likely the result of
the Assyrian invasion. At this time the kingship of Judah would have
changed from evil king Ahaz to his godly son Hezekiah. And as Isaiah
gives this prophecy, the people of his day would likely have Hezekiah
in mind as the words of the prophecy unfold. It might be more
difficult to see Hezekiah and his day in this prophecy than it is in
some of Isaiah's prophecies, but Hezekiah and his day and time
are likely a legitimate part of the prophecy...at least up to a
point...at least up to that unscalable wall. Let's look at verse one: But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt
the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way
of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
During the Assyrian invasion at the
time of the Syro-Ephraimitic War, certain parts of the northern
kingdom of Israel had been captured and the people had been taken
captive into Assyria. Chief among those areas were Zebulun and
Naphtali. In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon,
Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali,
and he took the people as captives to Assyria. [Note: The towns mentioned are various
towns in Naphtali.] The "way of the sea" in
verse one of Isaiah chapter nine refers to the Sea of Galilee. The general region known as
Galilee would later also be the name of the Roman province of that
general region. Naphtali was located in Upper (or northern) Galilee.
Zebulon was located in Lower (or southern) Galilee. Not mentioned
here or anywhere else in the Old Testament, but among the towns in the area of Zebulun, would be the town of
Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. Its reputation can be seen in
John chapter one, where Nathanael asks, "Can anything good come
out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46a) The general disdain for Galilee
can be seen when Nicodemus tried to defend Jesus before other
Pharisees in John chapter seven: Some semblance of normality was
restored to the areas of Zebulon and Naphtali during the reign of Hezekiah, after the
eventual departure of the Assyrian forces. And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.
He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city. But it would be much later that full
glory would be restored to the region. Galilee would be made
glorious "in the latter time" as it says in verse one. Verses two through five may have
reference to the events surrounding the Assyrian invasion of Judah,
in which all the cities except Jerusalem were captured. Jerusalem
itself was encircled, and its surrender demanded by a representative
of the Assyrian monarch. Hezekiah's response to the demands of
the Assyrian representative was a heartfelt prayer to God. The result
was that the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night,
and the remainder of the Assyrian army went home and left Jerusalem
intact. The reference to Midian is referring to the time when 300 men "armed", so to speak, with only torches and trumpets routed the Midianite army. It was a victory that wasn't due to human power and might. Likewise the deliverance by the angel of the Lord against the Assyrian army in response to Hezekiah's prayer wasn't something that the people of Judah could claim credit for. It came from God. It was an incredible, supernatural deliverance. But it foreshadows an even greater deliverance when Christ will rescue mankind from an even more powerful and deadly enemy. And it foreshadows a time when we will be a part of a kingdom in which the warrior's gear will no longer play a part. The prophecy transitions from the present to the future. For every boot of the tramping
warrior in battle tumult So Isaiah once more talks about the present, but also sees into the distant future. There comes a point,...there comes an unscalable wall, in which the tremendous blessings of the present have to yield into the unimaginable blessings of the future. There are at least two songs that are derived from verse six: "His Name Is Wonderful"The first of these is occasionally sung in churches today, although it perhaps doesn't do justice to the passage. The same can be said of one version of the second one, the one that is most often sung in churches. A better known version of the latter song does a much better job, although it is not really adapted for congregational singing. It comes from the musical composition by Handel known as the "Messiah", which includes the famous "Hallelujah Chorus". Much of the first part of the "Messiah" is based on the book of Isaiah, and many of its songs come directly from the book. "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" from Handel's "Messiah" is a magnificent song and well worth listening to. Let's go back and look at the passage in chapter nine again, this time a little more closely:
have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Isaiah 9:1-2) These verses are referred to in the book of Matthew: Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles -- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." (Matthew 4:12-16 [RSV]) This part of the passage doesn't really seem to be a classic prophecy, as we see elsewhere in Isaiah and among the other prophets. It more closely resembles a type/antitype sort of prophecy, although perhaps not exactly. In some of Isaiah's prophecies, he speaks to his day, but the bigger message (the antitype) lies under the covers, so to speak--hidden, but to be revealed during the latter days. The times were dark in Judah during the days of Assyrian domination, and even during the oppression by the Philistines, the Syrians, and the northern kingdom of Israel. But the days grew brighter when Hezekiah would reclaim lost territory. An even greater brightness appears with the coming of Christ, who would drive away darkness by his life, and would even drive away the darkness of death with his rising from the grave. In him was life, and the life was
the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
hasn't overcome it. Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life." (John 12:35-36,46 [WEB]) But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the
wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. Isaiah's oracle continues: Isaiah 9:3-4You have multiplied the nation; God delivered his people from the Midianites under the judgeship of Gideon. It was a deliverance by God, not by man, because all that God's people had were 300 men armed with torches and trumpets. God promises that he will also deliver his people from the Assyrians just like he did from the Midianites. Elsewhere in Isaiah, we read, Therefore thus says the Lord, the
LORD of hosts: "O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of
the Assyrians when they smite with the rod and lift up their staff
against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my
indignation will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to
their destruction. And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a
scourge, as when he smote Midian at the rock of Oreb; and his rod
will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. And in
that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke will
be destroyed from your neck." God promises the overthrow of Assyria: The LORD of hosts has sworn: But, in the latter days, there will be a greater yoke that will be broken and a greater burden lifted. Satan will be defeated and his power splintered. Although he still fights, his fate has now been sealed, and his doom is now inevitable. We have been freed, and we have a brighter future sealed. Satan's heavy yoke of death and destruction will be replaced with a loving yoke of guidance that will lead us to rest and peace. "Come to me, all who labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Isaiah's depiction of victory continues: Isaiah 9:5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult When the war is over, the people of Judah will go out onto the battlefield and collect the boots and bloody garments of the Assyrians and use them for fuel. That which was part of their oppression will be made into fuel for their benefit. Isaiah 9:6aFor to us a child is born, For those in Isaiah's day, the child born would have been the good king Hezekiah. But Isaiah also sees into the future to a greater son to be born. "To us a son is given": "For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life." ...for unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him,
and he would have given you living water.” Paul will aptly write, Thanks be to God for his
inexpressible gift. The Gift. The Greatest Gift. God always gives of his best. Isaiah 9:6b...and the government shall be
upon his shoulder,... Hezekiah was king over a kingdom. Jesus is also king over a kingdom--a different type of kingdom. And in the days of those kings the
God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed,
nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break
in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall
stand for ever... there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13b-14) And Jesus came and said to them,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Then the seventh angel blew his
trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The
kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his
Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Isaiah 9:6c ...and his name shall be called... The longest name in the Bible is usually considered to be Mahershalalhashbaz, one of the names that we looked at previously. But if these names in chapter nine are considered to be one name, then it is definitely the longest. Most people, though, usually consider them as separate names. Isaiah 9:6d..."Wonderful Counselor,... That this name is associated with divinity can be seen from elsewhere in the book of Isaiah. For example, This also comes from the LORD of
hosts; Although the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Counselor" in the New Testament, this doesn't appear to be specifically talking about the Holy Spirit, but rather about the wonderful counsel that comes from God, who knows all things and gives the greatest advice and counsel. In the latter days, we do see a Divine Counselor promised by name: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you....(John 14:16-17,26 [RSV]) But
when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear
witness to me... ...Mighty God... The deity of Jesus is intrinsic to the New Testament story. In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Gospel of John repeatedly presents Jesus as the great "I Am". One of the book's primary climaxes is with Thomas' confession: "My Lord and my God!" The book of Colossians says that in Jesus all the fullness of deity dwelt bodily. The book of Revelation presents him as "the first and the last", "the Alpha and the Omega", "the beginning and the end". Isaiah prophesies that the child to be born will called Immanuel ("God with us"). The child to be born will be the "Mighty God". Isaiah 9:6f ...Everlasting Father,... This doesn't seem to appear to be specifically referring to God the Father, but to a characteristic of the One who is to come. He will be like a father, because he cares about his people. He is like a shepherd looking after his sheep...and more than a shepherd. He is like a father looking after his children. Being described, not just as a father, but as an "Everlasting Father" would be another indicator of deity. He will always and forever be looking after his people. Isaiah 9:6g_...Prince of Peace." The One who is coming will not just be someone who talks about peace, or who sometimes engages in peaceful activity. He will be the Prince of Peace. We see that theme in Hebrews chapter seven when talking about Melchizedek. Christ is said in Psalms 110:4 to be a "priest forever after the order of Melchizedek"--not after the order of Levi, but after Melchizedek, the king of Salem who appears suddenly in Scripture without any genealogy, without any beginning days or ending days noted. Of Melchizedek it is said, He is first, by translation of his
name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that
is, king of peace. To his disciples, Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.
But take courage; I have overcome the world!" Regarding tensions between Jews and Gentiles, it is said, For he is our peace, who has made us
both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by
abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that
he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making
peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. Isaiah also prophesied about him, But he was pierced for our transgressions; Of the increase of his government and of peace Zechariah prophesied about the coming Messiah and his kingdom. It will be not only different than, but also greater than any other kingdom known to man. Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! ...on
the throne of David and over his kingdom... King David was a ruler over God's people. His descendant, Jesus, the Son of God, would also be a ruler over God's people. There are people today, especially among those of a premillennialist persuasion, who contend that, when Jesus returns to earth, it will be to set up a physical kingdom centered in Jerusalem over the nation of Israel with Jesus physically reigning on the throne of David. But that wasn't the intent of the prophecy. In Acts chapter two, on the Day of Pentecost, when Peter is preaching, he references this category of prophecy: “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried,
and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to
him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ..." He concludes this line of argument by saying, "Let all the house of Israel
therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified." In other words, Jesus is now reigning on David's throne. As one of David's descendants, Jesus is also reigning today over God's people, the church, who are referred to in the book of Galatians as "the Israel of God". He is reigning over God's people today as David had reigned over God's people in ages past. In the first chapter of Luke, an angel speaks to Mary and says, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."(Luke 1:31-33) We are currently a part of that eternal kingdom. We are today the Israel of God, the remnant of God's people. Our ruler is the greater descendant of David, Jesus Christ, who, even in a greater way than his forefather David, is a ruler over God's people. So don't be looking for a physical throne in Jerusalem. Look at his eternal throne in Heaven. Don't be looking for a coming kingdom. We are part of the kingdom that has already come and which will last for all eternity. Isaiah 9:7c...to establish it and to uphold it "Justice and righteousness" is one of the major themes of the Bible. In Old Testament times, the poor and oppressed would look to a righteous judge to deliver them. I could take chapters writing about the topic, but that's not the primary realm of this book. I'll be brief and just mention a few passages: He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, "When the oppressor is no more, Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, Isaiah even uses a word play regarding justice and righteousness. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts The word play is not evident in English, but it is in Hebrew: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts Isaiah 9:7d ...from this time forth and forevermore. His kingdom will be forever. "Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— The prophet Daniel also speaks explicitly about a coming eternal kingdom (vid. Daniel 2:44; 7:14). Isaiah 9:7eThe zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. His will shall be accomplished. The culmination of all things will be in accord with his desires. His enemies will be destroyed. Goodness will prevail. Evil will be eradicated. Death will be no more. His kingdom will be eternal. It is wonderful beyond description and will be even more so as it triumphs forevermore. And God lovingly invites us, each one of us, to be a joyful and extravagantly blessed member of it. |