Prince of Peace
Past, present and future.
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)
The Old Testament word in Hebrew for peace is “shalom” At the most basic level, the meaning of this word is “whole” or “complete.”
• Shalom refers to something that is complex with a lot of pieces, like a house or an assembly line, that is in a state of completeness and wholeness.
1. The essential idea is that life is complex, full of moving parts, relationships, and situations, and when any of these are out of alignment or missing, shalom breaks down. Life is no longer whole; it needs to be restored.
• Shalom, when it’s used as a verb, brings out this kind of a meaning.
2. You can shalom an unfinished project (like Solomon does the Temple, 1 Kings 9:25), bringing it to completion and wholeness. The same goes for a broken relationship, you shalom the relationship by bringing healing and reconciliation to it.
The prophet Isaiah looked forward to a future king of Israel in the lineage of David who would finally deliver on what kings and nations had all failed to deliver on: shalom.
We celebrate Advent because we are living with different hopes than the unbelieving culture around us.
Hope: a proper perspective of the future that creates a positive attitude in the present
Isaiah a promise that this king would make a covenant of shalom from God with his people that would have no end, that all wrongs be made right, and all that is broken in us and all that is broken in the world would be healed.
This is what makes the coming of Christ such a powerful event. The Gospels claim that the coming of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all of these promises in the present.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 (NKJV)
For the believer peace isn’t the absence of Problems it’s the PRESENCE OF THE PROBLEM SOLVER.
Our proper perspective of the future is the return of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who will set the world right at His return
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)
God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Titus 2:11-14 (MSG)
So we see that our peace was brought to us in the past at Jesus birth, is available to us in the present by his indwelling presence, and is our eternal future upon his return.