Peace

This Advent week we begin worship with:

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 word used for “government” (miśrâ) only occurs here.  Elsewhere memšālâ is used, which speaks of one’s dominance and authority.  But our verses instead speak of the effort and ongoing burden to bring about order and peace.

For a period of 200 years Rome’s power produced an era of peace. They called it “Pax Romana” (The peace of Rome).  The peace brought by our Messiah will, however, not end.  For we are His eternal zeal (qin'â).  We see it demonstrated when Jesus entered Jerusalem:

Luke 19:41-42
And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.