Isaiah 9:2-7 (New International Version)

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death [a] a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 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, [b] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase 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.

God wishes for you... peace

What will we name the baby? I read about a man named Ronald whose mother said she took the name from a novel she was reading at the time he was born. The hero’s name was Ronald. The fellow confessed to being glad she wasn’t reading a “Sherlock Holmes” mystery at the time.
Names seem to have less significance in our day than they once did. Having said that I made an interesting discovery this past summer when helping to clean out my mother’s home. For 58 years I had been told I was named after my two grandfathers, William and George. This summer I found something that had belonged to my mother’s brother George whose second name was William. I was struck by the fact this had never been mentioned to me. Uncle George, you see, was the relative who was always on the outs with our side of the family. I asked my mom about our names and she told me it had been made clear to Uncle George that my names had nothing to do with him! And, of course, when Carter Liam was named I admit it did cheer me to be told that Liam was the Celtic version of William.
In Old Testament times it was believed your name told the world something about your character or the particular experiences of your birth. Isaac is so named because his mother Sarah laughed when she was first given the promise of a child. We are told Pharaoh’s daughter named a found child Moses because she drew him out of the water.
In our text from Isaiah, we are told about the names given to a new king, names that people hoped described the character and accomplishments of this ruler. Christians have taken these words as pointing to the promised Messiah and fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus. In other words we believe that in Jesus God has given us the Christmas gift of peace.
But if this gift has been given, where is the evidence? Today, according to the National Defense web site, more than 2,900 Canadian soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel are deployed overseas. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Forces members—⅓ of the
deployable force—are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.
This, of course, includes three operations as part of the Afghanistan joint task force. But it also includes such missions as the one completed this fall by HMCS Ville de Quebec escorting ships carrying World Food Programme assitance to people in Somalia.

 

 

Although pirates have launched more than 70 attacks on vessels in Somali waters this year, no ship carrying WFP food assistance has been attacked while under Canadian escort.
Most, if not all us, would praise the efforts of the Canadian forces, but we also shake our heads at a world where food for those who will die without it must be protected from pirates. In case any of us have forgotten, Canadians are still standing between the combatants in Cyprus, where we have been for 61 years. Where is our gift of Christmas peace?
There was no peace when the words of Isaiah were first heard. The beginning of our text is a study in contrasts—darkness and light, joy at the harvest and the yoke of their burden, the means of war and a fire of victory. These verses reflect both the current situation and what God holds out for the people if they will only turn to him. The boot in verse five no doubt refers to the heel of the Assyrian army which seeks to crush any and all resistance in Israel.
What then would those who lived with Isaiah have heard when they listened to these words? The insightful Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann tells us this text is a decree
from the palace, likely a birth announcement of a new heir to the throne of David. He says it is “an announcement of God’s faithful gift of newness through a new ruler, in response to sore need in the community. The newness mediated by the oracle is that the realm has come under new governance” (Texts for Preaching—Year A, 38).
Brueggemann goes on to say the angels in the Bethlehem story have the same role. “They are making an announcement on behalf of the court. A new heir has been designated, who will faithfully inaugurate a new creation (Ibid.).
But where is the gift of peace? The promise is glorious, but what about the fulfillment? The Assyrians carried off thousands upon thousands of Jews into exile. These were people who heard the words of God through Isaiah and hoped there would indeed be a ruler who was Prince of Peace.
Again, where is the gift of peace? As Christians we have listened to these words of Isaiah and heard them as a description of Jesus. Those of you familiar with Handel’s magnificent oratorio, Messiah, will know that verse six of our text was set to music in that great chorus sung by the choir, For unto us. Yet still I can talk this morning about where our Canadian troops are stationed, where they are sailing and flying in places of conflict all over the world. Where is the gift of peace?
Let’s answer that question then. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The gift of God to us is a person whose pursuit is peace. Quickly let’s take a look at each part of this gift. The first thing is the necessity of a relationship. What do you enjoy about Christmas morning? For as long as I can remember my attention has been divided between opening the gifts for me and watching others open their gifts. I take delight in watching the reaction of someone else.
These, of course, are the same people who often caused me to lose my temper later in the
day when Chris and I were involved in the nearly impossible task of getting the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the stuffing, the gravy and the brussell sprouts to the table while all of it was still hot…or at least warm…or maybe we’ll keep the gravy just on the edge of boiling and that will warm up everything else! Delight one minute and frustration mere hours later—and what relationship doesn’t have at least a bit of that.
Peace is not something static; its not a box or a bauble. It comes with a person and this person, this Jesus has a pursuit. God gives to us the prince of peace. What are the images that come to mind when we hear the word prince? There is that pop singer with that as his one-word name. There is a English chap named Charles who attends parties and opens hospitals and makes disparaging comments about modern architecture. But when Isaiah spoke about the prince of peace, this is the title of someone who rules.
He has a pursuit. He will do what is necessary to make for peace. For this peace that is promised is not passive. This peace is not the mere absence of conflict. What is promised is the shalom of God.
“Shalom…has expansive connotations. It means harmony, wholeness, and right relationship with God, others, self and earth. Isaiah offers prophetic pictures of shalom: the wolf lying with the lamb, weapons turned into farming tools, deserts blooming” (“Our Shalom Vocation,” Christianity Today, November 2008, 69).
Where is our gift of Christmas peace? I read recently a story about a 19th century Russian priest named Father John Kronstadt. Most of his fellow clergymen refused to visit the villages that surrounded their cathedrals—chronic poverty had fostered a debauched despair that made the rural areas treacherous. But Father John would enter the slums and get down in the gutters. He would find some fellow sleeping off whatever he had done the night before; he would cup his chin, look him in the eyes, and say, “This is beneath your dignity. You were created to house the fullness of God.”
Friends, in that true story is a parable of peace. Father John did not expect the gift of peace to be a lifeless object wrapped and boxed. Peace came with a person named Jesus who invited Father John to join him in the pursuit of God’s shalom, not merely the absence of conflict but also completeness, wholeness, harmony  and restored righteousness.
A couple of years ago at the beginning of December a grade one child at the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago was asked by her Sunday School teacher the name of the season that comes before Christmas. “Advil,” said the girl. Perhaps things had been a little tense in the lead up to Christmas at her house.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,” said the angels, “and on earth peace among those whom he favours” (Luke 2:14). The echoes of that chorus can still be heard wherever you and I welcome the ruler who brings peace and join him in sharing harmony, wholeness and the righteousness of heaven.
Will you be reaching for the Advil later today or tomorrow? Reach out also to God who wishes for you the shalom of the Saviour.

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