For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. ISAIAH 9:6-7
Peace, the English translation of the Hebrew word Shalom.
Shalom - completeness, soundness, well-being. Shalom implies a lack of conflict due to an absence of those things that cause conflict.
My mind recalls the time in Israel's history
when the people asked for a "king" because
when the people asked for a "king" because
they thought this would be the solution to their problems.
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” 1 SAMUEL 8:4-5
The Lord knew this was a rejection of Him as their king, so through Samuel, the Lord warned the people what an earthly king would be like:
“This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” 1 SAMUEL 8:11-18
The people refused to listen and insisted on a king like all the other nations who would lead them, and go before them to fight their battles.
So began Israel's history with kings, most bad, only some good.
What began as a united kingdom, soon became divided. It is during this era that Isaiah prophesied. The HOPE for the nations comes only from the PEACE, the SHALOM of the Lord, the one who is able to restore the nations from the mess. Imaging the hope they felt knowing that the Lord had not abandoned them; He was still at work in their behalf.
During this Advent season, we can recognize that
the Lord is still in the midst of the restoration process.
Although there is brokenness and all that comes with it, we can be assured that the Lord is making all things new! He is bringing SHALOM to individuals, families, neighborhoods, cities, countries, and the world through His people, the Church, as they live out mission, Jesus style!
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