Government and Peace
December 20th, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church of Tucker
Isaiah 9:6-7
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.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
One recent President said that the 9 scariest words of the English language are, “Hello, I am from the government, and I am here to help.”
Washington solutions to our local challenges often miss the mark. When an outside strength comes to fix local problems self reliance is diminished. When Western dollars goes to third world countries to fix things, we often create new troubles like codependency. Pride in community is diminished. Local culture is often taken down a few notches when the social welfare must be propped up from outside resources.
This is also true when our own federal government solves our troubles in Tucker.
My point is that even when governments try and increase their size to bring peace to the world, they always decrease the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. This is axiomatic. Folks on the left in our country would cite the Patriot act in defense of this truth, folks on the right would cite pending healthcare legislation.
But there is one who will come up from amongst us, not an outsider, not outside solutions or resources. Within our hospital systems a local boy will make good and provide permanent solutions to our problems.
He will not be from the government to help, rather he will take over government and share that power with us as He brings peace to the world.
Yes, the world. Verse 7. His government will never cease to increase, expand, and grow.
You might say that Jesus doesn’t believe in limited government.
He’s a local, he grew up among us, we know Him, and one of us becomes governor, president, UN Chief, world leader, the leader of the universe!
And the book of Revelation says that he shares that power with His friends.
Jesus in the manger and straw is the Son of Man revealed to the world. No one will ever again resist His reign.
And if there is no resistance, then war is unnecessary for the establishment of peace. Why would anyone resist a blessed consultant who always gets things right. You would be a fool to only listen to His counsel and then resist His instructions. If your business consultant always steered you right, or your sports bookie could always predict which team would win, why would you resist his counsel? You wouldn’t.
Who would play the most foolish amongst us and resist Almighty God? Let me remind you that this leader is one of us who makes good. Jesus takes the reins of global and universal power while in real human tissue of blood and bones. Jesus lives within the limits of our own humanity yet is the full revelation of Father God.
This One shows us the Father and is equal to the Father. Jesus is Himself Almighty God. Who would play the fool to resist Him?
Jesus is the prince of peace. That Prince means that our collective welfare is dependent on the future leadership of the baby. Our collective peace, peace with each other, within our own hearts, within our family and society at large, even peace with God, is dependent on the future actions of this baby. He is the prince, we put all our future hopes in His leadership, He is the prince of peace. Who would work against that agenda!
- His government will not be limited, yet we will be thankful for the help His government provides.
- His power will solve our problems, yet we will never feel diminished for the solutions to all our problems come from our eldest brother, our new federal head standing as the Second Adam and winning our freedom from sin. Local solutions for local problems.
- And this baby’s government never makes us feel humiliated. Jesus fixes our condition and makes us beautiful by showing us the fullness of what it means to be human by becoming human Himself.
- Jesus condescends to us but He never treats us in a condescending way.
- Jesus humbles Himself to fix us but he never makes us feel humiliated.
- Jesus lowers Himself to our state to lift us up without making us feel worthless.
Only a divine, loving, perfect government could do all this. And this utopia of citizenship in His kingdom will never be diminished or end. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom
Jesus will establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Are you ready for His reign to begin? Are you ready for Emmanuel to Come?
My children are so ready for Christmas to come. They anticipate the opening of gifts, the joy and family excitement. God feels the same way about Christmas and has felt that way for many, many years. Back in Isaiah the prophet told us God was like a loving parent getting things ready for Christmas morning. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. That means God is excited about Christmas too.
May God bless us all with a heart of zeal for the coming of Christ. Amen.
