Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would have the government on His shoulders (Isa. 9: 6). While the Jews thought that would be a military leader, I think today some believe that is just a line in a book. This daily devotional looks at what the prophecy was and when it might be fulfilled.
Nuggets
- In Revelation 12, John prophesied about a woman giving birth to a child.
- The church as the wife would love Jesus and His kingdom.
- The church through eternity will be how disciples live in harmony after Jesus returns as opposed to how we live in the worldly pursuit of self-love.
- The Jews were right, though, that Jesus did immediately begin ruling.
- We are working on what will happen after Jesus’ second coming.
Devotions in the Prophecy of the Christ Child series
I always wondered if Isaiah 9: 6 was where the Jews got that Jesus would be a military Messiah. I, like them, have always equated the government being on His shoulders as He would be the ruler of the world. I just saw it in a different time period than they did.
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Let’s jump in and see what was actually meant.
Let's Put It into Context
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines prophecy as “reception and declaration of a word from the Lord through a direct prompting of the Holy Spirit and the human instrument thereof.”
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Prophecy is a divine revelation to mankind through the Holy Spirit of a future event. This was God telling us that we would be delivered.
Back to the Child is Born
“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9: 6 CSB)
In the last devotion, we talked about the first part of this verse — “For unto us …” (Isa. 9: 6 KJV). We talked about Isaiah’s prophesy and the birth of Jesus.
What we didn’t talk about was John’s prophecy regarding the end times. In Revelation 12, he prophesied about a woman giving birth to a child.
I am not sure I ever truly understood this. Bear with me as I plow through this.
I always got that the woman represented the church. I am a little confused as to who the baby represents. I was thinking it was Jesus, representing His struggles with Satan and how Satan was after Jesus to destroy His mission.
What is it really? None of the sermons I read said the baby represented Jesus. (Okay, wrong there.)
Seiss felt that the baby represented the work of the church. Our job description indicates that we are to preach the gospel and make disciples.
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I can see that — helping others to be reborn. Our job as disciples is to expand God’s kingdom.
Glossary
Bannerman described the government as being Jesus’ kingdom. He called it Christ’s office.
The Israelites in Isaiah’s day would see that as a statement that the Christ Child would be the Light that enlightens those in darkness. Bannerman said that He was “… was to exercise a supreme and unlimited authority, and to employ this authority for accomplishing the great purpose for which He was born as a Child and given as a Son.”
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How Does Governing Fit in with the Christ Child?
“… and the government will be on his shoulders …” (Isa. 9: 6 CSB)
According to Bailey, the church as the wife would love Jesus and His kingdom. That would include the laws governing the kingdom as well as His other subjects. Remember, loving God and others are the two greatest commandments.
Glossary
Bailey takes that a step further. He wrote that the child “… represents the new system of doctrine and order and society, which she desired to initiate.” In Elaine-speak, I read this represents the church through eternity. It will be how disciples live in harmony after Jesus returns as opposed to how we live in the worldly pursuit of self-love.
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Thomas reminded us how John prophesied how those who had remained faithful to God would reign with Jesus before the final judgement. “Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand year (Rev. 20: 4-5 CSB).
But Isn’t Jesus Ruling Now?
The Jews were right, though, that Jesus did immediately begin ruling. He just wasn’t going to overthrow the Roman Empire.
Ross said there would be phases to Jesus’ kingdom. His kingdom on earth would be “… the kingdom of grace, the administration of mercy, the government of which in a peculiar manner is intrusted (sic) to Him.”
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We know a phase began immediately after Jesus’ resurrection. Right before the ascension, He said, “… All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28: 18 CSB).
Has been. Past tense. Not will be.
Philips interpreted that to mean that part of that current power is to establish and build the church. He also noted that Jesus currently has authority over Satan and his demons.
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I know. I am trying to justify that with the influence Satan current has over this world. John 12: 31 says, “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out” (NLT).
If Satan is the ruler of this world, how can Jesus? More importantly, if Jesus is the ruler of this world, how can Satan????
In my opinion, I think Jesus has ultimate control over this world right now. Nothing happens that He doesn’t allow.
But right now, Satan is calling the shots. Once Adam and Eve bit, Satan took the reigns of this world.
Since he is not all-knowing, Satan doesn’t know he will be defeated in the end. I can see him feeling kind of smug right now with the condition of this world.
Ooo, baby. Is Satan in for a disappointment, or what!
Jesus Will be Our Governor
“For the Lord declares, ‘I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain’” (Ps. 2: 6 NLT).
Well, we have to acknowledge that we are working on hindsight. It is obvious that Jesus didn’t set up an earthly kingdom the first time around. We, too, might have felt the same way as the Jews if we were working on foresight.
But we are working on foresight right now. We are working on what will happen after Jesus’ second coming.
The problem is that some have flipped the expectation. They don’t believe Jesus will rule at all.
Ooo, baby. Are they going to be wrong!
Jesus will rule throughout eternity. Revelation 2: 27 says, “… he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father” (ESV).
Payson cautioned us that even those who will not ABCD will also bow to Jesus. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2: 9-11 ESV).
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Making the Connections
Boston wrote that we are in need of a governor. Managing our own affairs can be a burden at times. That is especially true when Satan is buffeting us from all sides.
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Ruling has been called a burden. In the Thor movie, Loki told Thor that the burden of the throne has fallen to him after Thor’s banishment and Odin’s death (which was a lie). In Thor: The Dark World, Thor told Odin that, even though Loki had the mind of a bag of cats, he understood the sacrifice and brutality of ruling.
Boston listed what some of those burdens are.
- The cost incurred for paying the penalty of sin.
- The spiritual warfare engaged in with Satan.
- The difficulties encountered in convincing sinners to repent.
- The difficulties encountered in regenerating disciples.
- Safeguarding disciples.
- Providing for disciples’ needs.
- Helping disciples to navigate the Sanctification Road
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Glossary
Jesus understands ruling. He stands ready to ease our burdens.
We said in The Prophecy of Deliverance of Sin that He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt. 11: 28-30 ESV).
How Do We Apply This?
- We have to ABCD.
- We have to follow God’s laws and commandments.
- We have to learn to live in His joy and peace.
- We have to grow to imitate Him.
- We have to walk in the Spirit.
- We have to study His Word.
- We have to be content with the life to which God has called us.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Glossary
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Jesus as the Head of the church is also its Governor. What I got out of here is Jesus is our hope — today and tomorrow. We know He is because all the prophecies have come true.
Father God. You have made Jesus the ruler of all creation — including us. We submit to His rule because He is a loving Ruler. Thank You for showing us the depth of His love for us. Amen.
What do you think?
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