Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6
[6] 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.
Peace –
- The absence of war or other hostilities.
- An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
- Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations.
Webster says –
1: a state of tranquility or quiet: such as
a
: freedom from civil disturbance
b
: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
a breach of the peace
2
: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3
: harmony in personal relations
4
a
: a state or period of mutual concord between governments
b
: a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
*According to journalist Chris Hedges after review of the last 3,400 years there is a total of only 268 war free years (war meaning active conflict that claimed at least 1,000 lives). Or maybe easier….92% of modern history is marked by wartime.
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Last week we learned about the Mighty God from Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 9:6
[6] 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.
This week we will look at Prince of Peace and what that means. Again, like last week I ask you to lay aside for these few moments your concerns for all that’s going on. I know they are always in our thoughts (the concerns of the world, the need to make a living, those who are sick, those who are troubled). What I think we are being prescribed here is the solution to all of that. It’s a large dose of Jesus and what He does and Who He is.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s look at:
Isaiah 42:1-4
The LORD’s Chosen Servant
[1] Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
[2] He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
[3] a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
[4] He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Before we dive in, let’s look at what Peace means in the Bible (in this context)
The Hebrew word for peace here is Shalom. But it’s more than what I read to you above (in short…the absence of war) it is for peace. Shalom encompasses a broad picture of how God makes everything wrong with the world right. This shalom of God is a peace that brings order out of chaos and justice in place of injustice. “Completeness or wholeness, harmony and health”
Isn’t that what we want? Yes, absence of fighting and fussing and war, but more…we want fulfillment and joy and justice and rightness.
Did you know that’s the way it is supposed to be?
Here in Isaiah
Yahweh called on the nations to see (give attention to) His Servant, in contrast to the idols (cf. 41:29).
Yahweh would uphold, or grip firmly, this Servant; He would sustain Him with deep affection. He would be one in whom the Lord delighted wholeheartedly, not just one He would use. The Lord would place His Spirit on this Servant blessing Him with His presence and empowering Him for service. This Servant would bring forth justice to the nations of the world . Justice notes order as well as equity. The Gentiles would not find this justice on their own, but the Servant would bring it to them. Jesus Christ will do this at His second coming.
This is the first of Isaiah’s four Servant Songs, fulfilled in Christ. He is the servant of the Lord. He is God’s alternative to our idols. He is not an abomination; he is a delight. But he also stands in contrast with Cyrus the conqueror at the time of Isaiah and world leaders we face now.
When Matthew quotes this text in the New Testament, he says it was fulfilled when Jesus was healing sick people, and Jesus was quiet about it (Matthew 12:15-21). He gave suffering people their lives back, and he didn’t use his success with them to take advantage of them or promote himself. No destructive swagger. No brutal grasping. A gentle servant brings forth justice to the nations.
Matthew 12:15-21
[15] Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all [16] and ordered them not to make him known. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
[18] “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
[19] He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
[20] a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
[21] and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
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Matthew 12:20
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
References our passage:
Isaiah 42:3
[3] a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
The Lord’s Servant would be gracious and patient. He would not discard what seemed to others useless, and He would not extinguish what seemed to others too spent. His calling was to save, not destroy. He would be faithful to His calling to bring forth justice to the nations. The servant brings the good news of the arrival of the kingdom but also pronounces judgment on the rulers of this world who reject him.
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Practically:
I’m not trying to convince you today or any day to follow Jesus as some form of escapism. That is…we are going to turn a blind eye to everything bad and just hold our breath until Jesus returns. That’s not logical, practical, nor is it biblical. I don’t know what framework you have in your mind for how Christianity works, but a good Christian worldview includes our understanding that the world is hard and that life is extremely difficult, but that Jesus knows, cares and understands and one day He will set everything right. For the NOW He has made a way for us to heal, to grow, to flourish and…….. yes, we will have some scars. I’m talking about real peace.
Phil. 4:6-7
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I will again walk a fine line on this subject with you and hope I can help.
When we think of our troubles do we think they are someone or something’s fault other than our own? Sometimes they are other’s fault, right? If you were abandoned or abused as a child then it wasn’t your fault. However; if you carry that forward and abuse someone else then it is your fault, right?
Our definition of sins and struggles all overlap many times and we can use things as an excuse not to confess and repent and to seek God’s healing. As I’ve said many times before…there are times we need professional help just like we would if we had a knee problem today. If you have a knee problem I want to pray with you and I do believe there is opportunity there for God to work and heal. I also believe that He gave us good doctors to help us with knee surgery when needed. Right?
Same thing for your soul. What peace are you looking for? Is it an escape from the troubles? Escape from your past? Escape from responsibility? Escape from brokenness and broken dreams? I ask you….have you looked deeply inward and asked Jesus to help? I fully realize that I don’t know everything in your history and how you’ve been hurt or for how long or how badly. I certainly don’t know your exact situation. There are many factors in the issues that surround us that others don’t know….that’s why the Bible warns us against judging others to puff ourselves up……HOWEVER………If it’s your own sin. You need to stop because it won’t end well.
Genesis 4:6-7
[6] The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
I think many times it’s dissatisfaction. Is it something you want or don’t have that will make everything good? Or fix your troubles? Or make bad memories or experiences just vanish? I’m going to tell you that there is only one thing that will fill that void, that emptiness, that “loss’’, that restless soul.
You are only going to get shalom………peace, fulfillment and completeness from the Prince of Peace.
Shalom or peace in Isaiah 35 is described as
- Strength for our fearful hearts
- Gladness and joy overtaking our sorrows and sighing
- The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap like a deer
- Even creation itself will be healed as water rushes forth in the wilderness
Or how about this…everlasting joy! I am looking forward to that peace. In the meantime……
Matthew 11:28-30
[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] 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. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Who said that?
The Prince of Peace – Jesus
