Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:1-7)
If I had to choose one book in the Old Testament to really master, it would have to be the book of Isaiah. To me, this book is like an elephant. It is so complex in structure and rich in detail that, sometimes, I am humbled by what I really do not know about this book. Around the times of Christmas and the Easter, I turn to the pages of Isaiah for inspiration, especially examining the prophecies he gave some 800 years before the coming of Jesus Christ. Some say that there are at least sixty references to the book of Isaiah that the New Testament writers made. So, you know that this book is really important.

This morning, I want to expound from Isaiah 9:1-7. But my approach will be different. Instead of mostly talking about the passage, I want to talk about its background and look for the overall message this passage is trying to give us today. One of the cardinal rules in Bible interpretation is paying respect to the context. Often we are tempted to lift a passage out of the context and try to treat it as though it was given to us directly. It is tempting to do just that with Isa 9:1-7 because it seems like a complete message on its own without a need for context. But, the truth is that Isa 9:1-7 belongs to a bigger unit, chapter 7 through 12, and that if we are going to give justice to the meaning of the passage, we really need to understand the context.

Distressful Call: the Context of Isaiah 7-12
So, what is going on here? Isaiah 7 to 12 have one thing in common: the threat of war. Imagine you are living in Bagdad today. You hear it on radio and read about it in the newspaper that there is going to be another war. You are not sure what to do about your future. You worry and consult mediums.

In a similar way, the people of Judah heard a news that Aram and Israel formed alliance in order to fight Judah. They did not know when there would be a war. They lived in fear. King Ahaz of Judah was in deep distress, as were his people. Like a tree before a strong wind, the king's heart was shaken up by the news that 'Aram has allied itself with Ephraim' (7:2). He tried to signal SOS to Egypt and seek political alliance against Aram and Israel. But Isaiah told him that such effort was futile, for God would not allow them to invade Judah. The Lord had a different plan:

In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River — the king of Assyria — to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. (7:20).

Judah would soon be humiliated soon. But it would not be at the hands of Aram and Israel, but by Assyria. Not much of relief, was it? God had one important lesson for Judah:

Do not fear what they fear and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary. (Isa 8:12-13)

In the midst of the threat of war, the LORD wanted Judah to learn one important lesson: put your trust in the LORD alone and do not fear anybody else. That is so true at all times! I challenge you to look for any passage in the Bible where it says we are to fear people or any object. I know you will not find it. No where in the Bible, are God's people ever encouraged or commanded to fear anything else than God!

In 9:1, there is a message of hope for 'the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali' known as 'the Galilee of the Gentiles.' Those who put hope in the LORD, lived in gloom and despair in this land of the Gentiles. These places were just north and west of the Sea of Galille, the first parts to become the provinces of Assyria when the invaders took over and forced the residents to be replaced by foreigners. The area quickly became the place of the nations (Gentiles). And the people (God's people) living in that area walked in darkness, instead of light. But wait! Help was to be on the way.

The great reversal (vv. 2-5)
Here the prophet Isaiah states the future in past tenses, as though they have already happened.

• There will be light, for the shadow of death will be no more.
• There will be joy, for the nation (the remnant) has enlarged.
• They will rejoice, for there is a victory song to be sung.

It was a message of hope and promise. Oppression will be no more, as was in the days of Egypt when God brought His people out of slavery. Defeat will be no more as was in the days of Gideon when God single-handedly defeated the Midianites. Most importantly, there will be no more need for battle boots and garments. To a group of people living in the shadow of an impending war, this must have been a great news and a relief. But it was not going to be fulfilled in their generation. Isaiah looked to, yet, another time when this would be fulfilled.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty (vv. 6-7)
When, then, was this time for peace going to come? This was what Isaiah said:

The peace on earth would not be possible until our Savior, fully human (child) and fully divine (Son), came in flesh! Isaiah sees here both the first coming and the second coming of Jesus Christ: the first time as the Savior and the second time as the Judge of the world. For him, the difference between the two comings was not that clear. But when he looked to the future, he saw two mountain peaks as one. Though it is unclear to him, it is very clear to us, for we live between the two peaks! We know that when Jesus came two thousand years ago, he gave us peace. Jesus is our peace.

When we look around, sometimes, peace and justice seem so far away. Some of us might ask, 'Peace? Is it really possible for us to enjoy God's peace?' We can be easily discouraged about God's plan for the world. It seems like no matter what we do, there is little we can do to change this world into a more peaceful place to live in. But we must not give up our daily concern for peace and justice, thinking 'what is the use?' God alone is in charge of history. God uses us to fulfill his plan. We are part of God's means to bring forth peace in the world. God uses us to declare 'shalom' to people around us. We are God's extension of peace because God has given us the privilege of experiencing his Son Jesus.

Isaiah describes him as:

His complete function will not be fulfilled until he comes back the second time as King and Judge. However, we have an increasing appreciation for the Prince of Peace. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this! God is in control. He is in charge.

For the immediate audience of Isaiah in the 8th century BC, this prophesy concerning the birth of our Savior did not give them an immediate relief from their troubles. It was rather a call to accept their situation as it was, for the LORD was in charge and he knew what he was doing. Judah did not need to play smart by enlisting the help of Egyptians in order to fight Aram and Israel. The real danger was going to come from the Assyrians, whom God had ordained before. The real lesson was that, whether the threat came from Israel or Assyria, Judah were to fear the LORD and Him alone.

Sometimes in my counseling sessions I come across people having difficulty making decisions like whom to marry or what to do with their lives. But what I find out about them is that they need to decide for themselves, once and for all, who they are going to fear the most in their life. In our context, the lesson was clear: accept God's plan as it is and learn to fear him only.

During this time of Christmas, therefore, we need to extend this Peace with others. But we know that this peace cannot be enjoyed fully until people learn to fear the LORD. So how are we going to extend the message of peace and fear? We do so in the spirit of conviction and compassion, not in the spirit of arrogance and pity. We want to share the message of Jesus Christ with conviction (that this IS the truth) and compassion (that God CARES). We do not want to come across to people as arrogant or pitiful of those who do not know Christ.

Our ultimate goal is to help people come to obedience in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (1 Pet 1:2; Rom 1:1-5). Jesus alone is the Prince of Peace. May the LORD bless you.