Wonderful Counseler, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9

The humiliation of the north, including "Galilee of the nations" in the Assyrian conquest, though dark, will be overcome by the coming of the Messiah, the bright light shining in the darkness:

Now he brings honor
to the way of the sea,
the region beyond the Jordan,
and Galilee of the nations.
The people walking in darkness
see a bright light;
light shines
on those who live in a land of deep darkness.
You have enlarged the nation;
you give them great joy.

 and then:

For a child has been born to us,
a son has been given to us.
He shoulders responsibility
and is called
Wonderful Adviser,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
His dominion will be vast,
and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.
He will rule on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom,
establishing it and strengthening it
by promoting justice and fairness,
from this time forward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this.

Today, we recognise this as the prophecy of Jesus the Messiah, but I wonder how the people of Isaiah's time would have seen this? 

It's not surprising that the Jews of Jesus' time thought the Messiah would throw out the Romans and re-establish an independent Jewish kingdom.

Then Isaiah goes on to point out that God was the one who allowed other nations to conquer Israel, because they did not repent when He judged them. 

The people did not return to the one who struck them, they did not seek reconciliation with the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 The Messiah has provided salvation. Our part is to repent and turn to Him and receive that salvation.