Reading With the People of God #8 PeaceSýnishorn

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The prophet Isaiah manages to squeeze into two verses the immeasurable hope of the world. The hope of peace? Yes. The hope of conquering fear? Yes. The hope of justice and righteousness? Yes. This hope of all people, of all times, everywhere is riding on the shoulders of a single man. This is not about a movement or institution. We are not banking on a revolutionary cause or governmental program. All eyes are on a child, a Son, who is born for us and given the name Jesus.

He is a Wonderful Counselor who, even as a twelve-year-old, amazed the teachers of the law with this understanding (Luke 2:47) and, as an adult, was the walking incarnation of wisdom. He is the Mighty God, fully divine with his Father, who “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7). He is the Everlasting Father in that he, with paternal love, beckons us to come to him, to receive from him compassion, forgiveness, and a place in the family of God. He is the Prince of Peace, who gives us peace “not as the world gives” (John 14:27), but a peace that “surpasses all understanding,” which guards our hearts and minds against all assaults from forces of evil (Phil. 4:7).

Isaiah says this regal child will sit “on the throne of David,” a fact confirmed when the angel Gabriel said to Mary that her child “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” (Luke 1:32-33). Gabriel adds, “Of his kingdom there will be no end” (1:33), echoing what Isaiah had already said, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end” (Isa. 9:7).

In Christ, we are made part of this kingdom, baptized into its heavenly citizenry. He reigns over us in love. His throne is one of grace. All our hopes are in him, and in him, all our hopes are sure and certain.

O Prince of Peace and Mighty God, the hope of all the ends of the earth, place over us your shield of love, shelter us from every danger, and keep us ever faithful as citizens of your kingdom of mercy. Amen.