Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men

Isaiah 26:1–4 ESV

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Troy Holiness School is grateful for your faithful support without which we would be unable to fulfill our mission. We are asking for your help in providing a Christmas bonus for our teachers as a token of our appreciation for their service. Please send your offering to Board Chairman, Michael Schaper, before December 12.

December 12, 6:00 p.m. - Annual Christmas Program at Troy Holiness School

December 14 - Just us as we go out of town for caroling at Autumn View Gradens and Twin Oaks. We will plan to leave at 4:15 p.m. and return approximately at 7:00 p.m.

December 21 - Join us as we celebrate Christmas with a program and Communion during the morning service, a carry-in dinner afterwards, and then caroling in-town in the evening!

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is one of the most beautiful and well-loved of our Christmas carols. You know the story of how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, living through the Civil War and experiencing numerous heartaches, was in despair at Christmastime.

He heard the bells on Christmas day, but thought, “There is no peace on earth. For hate is strong and mocks the song.” But as the bells continued to ring more loud and deep, he took heart for “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

Longfellow’s song is beautiful and encouraging, but if we are honest, we often still despair. We look around to a world at war, full of chaos and conflict. And we wonder, is there true hope for God’s peace in our world today?

(pause)

Last week, as we begin our Advent season, we looked at Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus’ birth in Isaiah 7:14. Our text for today - the events surrounding the prophet’s declaration - are vitally connected to what we read in Isaiah 7.

As you may recall, Tiglath-Pilesser III of Assyria was on the march. The northern kingdom of Israel and her neighbor Syria created an alliance in an attempt to withstand the conquest of Assyria.

These nations wanted Judah to join them, but King Ahaz refused to do so, determined to ally with Assyria instead. As a result, Syria and Israel were planning to beseige Jerusalem, conquer the city, and install a king who would join them in their efforts against Assyria.

God told Isaiah to tell Ahaz that Syria and Israel’s planned attack would fail. Indeed, Israel would soon be conquered by Assyria. Then, God told King Ahaz to ask for a sign to prove God would keep his word.

The king refused, but God gave him a sign anyway: a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son, Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

This sign has caused a lot of debate among Bible scholars. While we recognize that this sign’s fulfillment was ultimately realized in the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary, was there another child born in Isaiah’s time also?

Of course, such a child could not be born of a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit as was by Mary. But some have noted that the Hebrew word here for virgin could mean “a young woman.”

There are those who do not want to believe that the Christ child was fully God and fully man. They take this possible rendering of the word and try to discredit the divinity of Jesus.

Others suggest that there may have been a woman who was a virgin when Isaiah spoke these words who then married and had a child.

In Isaiah 8, we read of the prophet going to the prophetess (apparently his wife) who gave birth to a son named Maher-Shalal-hash-baz.

But Isaiah’s wife already had another son - Shear-Jashub.

(pause)

And yes, if you’re thinking, those poor kids with such terrible names! … Their names had very significant meanings. Shear-jashub meant “a remnant will return.” And, we’ll talk more about Maher-shalal-hash-baz’s name in a little bit.

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Anyway, Isaiah’s wife truly couldn’t be the immediate fulfillment of Isaiah 7 as a “virgin.” Maybe she could have been considered the fulfillment as “a young woman”?

Regardless whether there was an immediate fulfillment to Isaiah 7:14, we recognize that in the fullness God sent forth His Son to become flesh - Jesus was born by the virgin Mary.

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While this debate over Isaiah 7 may seem like the stuff for academics, I think it helps us to connect the various dots between Isaiah 7 and Isaiah 9.

In Isaiah 8, God told the prophet that he should name his new baby boy Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which means “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens.”

Before this little baby could say, “Daddy” or “Mommy”, the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria would be taken away by the king of Assyria. Maher was a baby prophesying God’s judgment upon the people.

The time of that prophecy was around 735 B.C.

When Assyria came west in 733 to punish the northern kingdom of Israel for its participation in anti-Assyrian activities, one of the results was the reduction of their territory.

All but the Ephraim hills was annexed as Assyrian territory. This territory was set up in three administrative districts referred to in the Assyrian records as Du’ru, Magiddu and Gal’aza. These are reflected in the three regions mentioned by Isaiah.

Galilee of the Gentiles is the Magiddu (Megiddo) province (from the Valley of Jezreel north to the Litani River); the way of the sea is the Du’ru (Dor) province (the coastal plains from Joppa to Haifa); and along the Jordan is the Gal’aza (Gilead) province (Transjordan from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee).

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Is 9:1). InterVarsity Press.

Yes, it was a time of great darkness for Israel, but also for Judah. One of the main natural features of the land of Assyria was the Euphrates River.

Isaiah 8:5–7 ESV

The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks,

(pause)

Can you imagine the fear and turmoil of the people during this time? Israel was being cut off. Would a remnant truly remain? But Judah, even though she intially rejoiced at Israel’s demise, found herself in the crosshairs of this dreaded enemy also.

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What happens in such times of fear and chaos, trouble and turmoil? God spoke of some of those results in Isaiah 8:11-22. God told Isaiah not to call a conspiracy what the people called a conspiracy or to fear what they feared.

God also condemned the people for consulting mediums - witches - and necromancers - those who sought to talk to the spirit of dead people.

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I find it fascinating how our world today mirrors that ancient time. Today as then, there are all sorts of conspiracies, fake news, and conflicting reports about a whole range of issues - from the food you eat, the vaccines you take, the fuel you use in your car and more. There are all kinds of fears: AI will take your job, and so many more.

Furthermore, while many in our scientific age have rejected the God of the Bible, many at the same time embrace all sorts of made-up spirituality just like the people in that time sought after mediums and necromancers.

(pause)

Isaiah 8 ends ominously.

Isaiah 8:22 ESV

And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

(pause)

Is there hope for God’s peace? In a land torn by war and strife, will there ever be peace, true peace?

(pause)

Against this dark, ugly canvas of sin, rebellion, and judgment, Isaiah 9:1-7 paints a beautiful picture. Upon those who walk and live in deep darkness, a light has dawned. A child is born.

(pause)

Looking ahead hundreds of years in time, the prophet sees the Messiah born, and then even further in time, he sees the eternal reign of the Christ-child.

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I use that term “Christ child” on purpose, in part because various Christmas carols use that term to speak of Jesus. But I use the term “Christ child” because of its meaning.

We speak of the Jews awaiting a Messiah, who was Jesus. The Greek word for the Jewish word “Messiah” is Christ.

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Big Idea: The Christ-child is God's answer to our longing for peace.

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How is the Christ child God’s answer to our longing for peace?

1. The Christ-child gives light to a world in darkness, vv. 1-2.

Isaiah 9:1–2 ESV

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

The darkness that had settled upon the people was one of mood. They were under threat of a terrible enemy. Most likely, the economy was experiencing difficulty also, due to the uncertainty that war, or possible war, brings.

As you may recall, between this time and when Jesus was born, Galilee area was heavily influenced and populated by pagan peoples. Eventually, some time after the return of the exiles from Babylon, the Jews began to take interest in the area again, but the pagan influence of the world remained.

Remember how Nathanael asked if anything good could come from Nazareth, a town of Galilee? Remember the protest of the Jews in John 7 who argued that no prophet came from Galilee?

To the people of Jesus’ day, Galilee was suspect spiritually. May we suggest it was considered a place of spiritual darkness?

More importantly, Galilee was a place of darkness due to the people’s sin. But quite frankly, the whole world was wrapped in darkness due to sin.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death…

(pause)

There is a story told by a man flew combat choppers in Viet Nam. He was radioed to a secret mission one night which required him to fly in total darkness, totally by instruments.

Hovering above a jungle under heavy cloud cover, he said that it seemed you could cut the darkness with a knife. He radioed to his man on the ground and said “what can you give me?”

The guy did not even have a flashlight. The landing had to be so precise, in a small “postage” stamp in the middle of the jungle-an error of five feet could crash the chopper and kill them all.

Finally the man on the ground said “I have a zippo!” He said “Light it and hold it up.” So in the middle of the jungles of Southeast Asia, on a top secret warfare mission, a combat chopper pilot landed by the light of a zippo lighter that pierced the darkness.

(From a sermon by John Jones, "The Light of Life, The Life is Light" 2/23/2009)

To a world shrouded in the darkness of sin and death, God sent forth His Son. A glimmer of light shone in the darkness, becoming brighter and brighter until in the light of His glory, darkness was no more.

(pause)

Today as then, the Christ-child is God’s answer to our longing for peace; he gives us light in the midst of our sin-darkened world!

(pause)

Yes, sometimes it seems like the darkness is getting thicker. Sin and wickedness seem to prevail. God’s people seem scattered, few and ineffective.

(pause)

But the Christ-child is still King. And he can and will bring light even into our sin-darkened patch of the world!

How is the Christ child God’s answer to our longing for peace?

2. The Christ-child provides liberation to a people oppressed, vv. 3-5.

Isaiah 9:3–5 ESV

You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary makes numerous connections between Isaiah’s prophecy and the culture of that time. Verse 4 speaks of the yoke of their oppressors being broken.

Prophetic speech often refers to the burden of political domination as a yoke. In the Amarna letters the rulers of the Canaanite city-states speak to Pharaoh of how they willingly placed themselves in the yoke to serve Egypt faithfully.

Akkadian wisdom literature indicates that bearing a god’s yoke is desirable because of the fringe benefits. In the Atrahasis Epic the gods find the yoke of Enlil unbearable and rebel.

Assyrian inscriptions describe their conquest of other lands as imposing the yoke of the god Ashur on the people, and rebellion was portrayed as throwing off the yoke. Needless to say, the prophet is using an image familiar throughout the ancient Near East.

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Is 9:4). InterVarsity Press.

The mental picture of verse five is somewhat gory, describing warrior’s boots and clothes rolled in blood.

In Assyria it was common rhetoric to speak of cities and countrysides dyed red with the blood of enemies and of the army marching through the blood of their enemies.

In Ugaritic literature the war goddess Anat is described in battle as plunging her knees into the blood of the guards and her skirts in the gore of warriors. Paintings at Til-Barsip show Assyrians in red uniforms, and classical sources describe soldiers of this period as wearing red or purple tunics.

Though there is no parallel to rolling garments in blood, there is one Assyrian text that speaks of dipping weapons in blood.

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Is 9:5). InterVarsity Press.

But the promise of God is that “every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.”

In other words, the Christ-child will liberate his people from their oppressors. This scripture reminds us of other scriptures where it speaks of swords being beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3).

In Christ, we experience freedom from sin and Satan. We no longer serve evil; we serve the LORD God.

Yet our scripture also contains apocalyptic imagery. So we look forward to that final day when Jesus vanquishes all his foes and establishes his reign of peace on earth. Truly, that will be a wonderful day of freedom, peace, and joy in Jesus!

How is the Christ child God’s answer to our longing for peace?

3. The Christ-child establishes life in a kingdom of righteousness and justice, vv. 6-7.

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

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.

Someone has written:

Some scholars claim that Isaiah borrowed these titles from Egyptian tombs where pharaohs were honored with Godly attributes of wisdom, power, eternal being, and peace. What empty words! The very fact that they are found in the tombs of dead pharaohs is its own witness against their validity.

McKenna, D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1993). Isaiah 1–39 (Vol. 17, pp. 137–138). Thomas Nelson Inc.

The IVP Background Commentary makes the following fascinating notes:

It was common in the ancient world for the king ascending to the throne to take a throne name for himself. We should not imagine that the name Sargon, which means “The King Is Legitimate,” just happened to be the given name of an individual who became king.

But beyond that was the matter of titulary, titles that accredited the king with various qualities and accomplishments. In Egypt it was a formal, time-honored practice to bestow a titulary of five names on a pharaoh ascending to the throne as part of the accession ceremony.

These were an expression of the Egyptian beliefs in the deity of the pharaoh. Perhaps even more intriguing is the titulary of Niqmepa, king of Ugarit (mid-second millennium) which includes titles such as Lord of Justice, Master of the Royal House, King Who Protects and King Who Builds.

… Most names in the ancient world make statements. That is, they are self-contained sentences. Many of the statements are about a deity. One can easily recognize the deity name in names such as Ashurbanipal, Nebuchadnezzar, or Rameses.

Anyone even casually familiar with the Bible has noticed how many Israelite names end in -iah or -el, or start with Jeho- or El-. All of these represent Israel’s God.

This type of name is called a theophoric name, and it affirms the nature of the deity, proclaims the attributes of the deity or requests the blessing of the deity.

One way to interpret the titulary of this verse is to understand it as reflecting important theophoric affirmations: The Divine Warrior Is a Supernatural Planner, The Sovereign of Time Is a Prince of Peace (note: the word “is” is not used in such constructions, as all names demonstrate).

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Is 9:6). InterVarsity Press.

(pause)

Consider the meaning of these names of the Christ-child.

Wonderful Counselor - As a counselor, the Christ-child is indicated as a person with wisdom, wisdom beyond what can be gained by study or intuition, wisdom given to him by God, possessed by him because He is God.

Furthermore, he is Wonderful Counselor. This too speaks of his deity. Truly, as that one commentary suggests, He is a Supernatural Planner. Simply, Jesus, the Christ-child, is all-knowing, omniscient, for He is God!

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Mighty God - Divine Warrior, or as another has sugged “Hero God.” This title affirms that the Christ-child born and placed in a manger, seemingly so fragile and delicate is truly the almighty, omnipotent God of the Universe!

Even the littlest of boys will often compare their strength and height. Arm-wrestling will never go out of style. As we get older, we compare strength and power in different ways. Whose car has the most powerful engine? Whose motorcycle has the most CCs?

We compare power in other ways, even as organizations. We talk about influence, political sway and more. Nations compare the power of their armies, navies, and air forces.

In the Christ-child born on Christmas day was contained all power in Heaven and earth. As that one song says, “He could have called ten thousand angels.”

Jesus is almighty God. While he lived on earth, he willingly put aside his glory but we should not mistake it: the Christ-child is omnipotent!

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The Christ-child would be called the Everlasting Father. This term is a little confusing to us because we know that Jesus is the Son of God. In the Trinity, there is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But the Messiah is the Son of God, not the Father!

This title for the Messiah makes sense, however, when we learn that the Hebrew word here can also refer to the source of all things.

Therefore, the title “Everlasting Father” refers to the fact that the Christ-child has always existed and always will. Indeed, Paul affirmed in Colossians 1:15-17

Colossians 1:15–17 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Theologically, we say that the Christ-child is omnipresent - always, everywhere present. He is everywhere present in time and space. He has always been and always will be.

(pause)

The Christ-child is the Prince of Peace. This title tells us that not only is the Christ-child all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present, He is … ALL GOOD!

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 31:19 ESV

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Psalm 145:9 ESV

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

James 1:17 ESV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

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When we realize that Jesus, the Christ-child, is truly God come to earth because he loves us and desires to save us from sin, then we truly can experience peace.

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He gives us peace with God. He gives us peace within our hearts. He enables us to live at peace with others. Even when others don’t want to live at peace, we can experience peace.

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Today, his kingdom reigns within the hearts and lives of all who have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior. But as Isaiah prophesied Isaiah 9:7

Isaiah 9:7 ESV

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.

One day, Christ will return to earth to reign a thousand years. All knees will bow to the King of kings and Lord of lords. And he will reign in peace!

Revelation speaks of one final rebellion led by the master of deceit and hatred. But Christ will emerge victorious. He will create a new heavens and a new earth. And we will live with him eternally - in perfect peace.

(pause)

What a wonderful hope we have of peace on earth and good will to men!

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Big Idea: The Christ-child is God's answer to our longing for peace.

In a world dark with sin, Jesus has brought light. In a world chained by sin, guilt, and death, Jesus brought liberation. In a world where various nations proclaim peace but never deliver on their promise, Christ will reutn with a true reign of peace, establishing his kingdom of justice and righteousness. Truly, in Christ we can have peace!

There is a poem titled “Peace on Earth” that says…

Peace on earth, with a world at war?

O what were the angels singing for

That far-away night when the Star shown down

With a glorious light on Bethlehem’s town?

Peace on earth! They were singing of Him

Who was born that night to redeem from sin;

Who still has the power to cleanse and to heal

The contrite heart who is willing to kneel.

Peace on earth, amid sorrow and loss?

Yes, peace indeed, at the foot of the cross!

Peace in a world that is troubled and torn,

Peace in each heart where the Savior is born.

Peace on earth, while the nations rage?

And history is making its darkest page?

Yes, peace on earth, for its steadfast light

Is burning in thousands of hearts tonight!

---------A.H.M.

This Advent season as you anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth and look forward to His soon return, I challege you to worship, to pray, and to testify of Jesus, the Christ-child who is our all-wise, all-powerful, always present, all-good God, the One who brings true and lasting peace to earth!