His Government and Peace
And he will be called … Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign … with justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Thank God for Christmas! And we are looking forward: It is always a time of great rejoicing and refreshment, a time of celebration and renewal. The Christian’s prayer is that this Jesus Christ will be at the center of the feast, and it will not end at mere human enjoyment. Every successful birth of a child brings great joy after a time of anxiety and expectation; but for baby John, the events around Zechariah astounded everyone, and they asked “What then is this child going to be?” (Luke 1:66) This question would be even more proper for baby Jesus – the circumstances were more provoking. The answers would consume countless volumes of books… but let us visit just one name that Isaiah called him – Prince of Peace. The name depicts the child as a ruler in the making, and one of unique excellence.
Governments of different kinds exist today and have existed in many places among different peoples; they are praised and criticized, hated and loved, ushered in and ousted, built and destroyed; they benefit some and oppress others – governments come and go. The great prophets Isaiah, Hosea and Micah exercised their ministries in the days of kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Jotham's character is represented in a moderately favorable light; the wisdom and vigor of his administration, and of his policy for the defense of the country, are recognized. It was owing to his completion of his father's plans for the protection of Jerusalem, and of the building of country fortresses, that Hezekiah, a few years afterward, was able to show so stout a resistance to the attacking King Sennacherib of Assyria. But within the state itself corruption and oppression were rife. In the pages of the prophets we have graphic picture of the moral condition of the time.
But it was to King Ahaz that the most comforting words of the prophet were directed. As he faced threats from stronger neighbouring kingdoms, chief of whom was Syria, Ahaz sought favourable alliances to fortify his stand; these are the common warfare and power tactics common in our own days. But the prophet points these rulers to God Almighty who demands both justice and righteousness – good rule and good morals. The demands are backed up by the promise of a coming Prince of Peace whose government will be the expression of these virtues. As Uganda struggles to keep a credible democracy and deal with resistances both peaceful and violent – questions linger, and comments are made; other nations elsewhere do the same for their governments. May this Advent season brings a loud reminder that the Prince of Peace is here, and his government will be of perfect peace and justice, and the better news is that it will be an everlasting one.
God bless you all.