THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM
Isaiah 11:1-10
Introduction:
"The Peaceable Kingdom" is the title early 19th-century painter, Edward Hicks, gave to this benign menagerie of animals - wild and domesticated. He based his work on this Isaiah 11 passage that speaks of such animals as the wolf, lamb, leopard, lion, kid and calf - all sharing the same pasture, grazing and resting together. Hicks’ vision, like that of Isaiah, is of a world of peace, and of love and tranquility. Since September 11th , however, peace once again seems elusive. Why were we so optimistic? To what or to Whom can we look for a lasting and enduring peace?
As we read this passage from Isaiah this morning it is important to understand that Isaiah describes not only the birth of Christ, but also His millennial reign ( one thousand year ) of Christ. Only then will the wolf live with the lamb, the leopard lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling dwell together. How many of you believe that Christ is coming back for His Church? Its amazing to realize that a prophecy that was written 3500 years ago still waits to be fulfilled in our future.
Proposition:
Although Isaiah’s prophecy may seem antiquated to some, its message is relevant to us today. Isaiah declares to us the coming of the Prince of Peace who is the source of everlasting peace which is needed by every human heart so desperately.
Interrogative:
In a world so torn by war and terrorism this Advent Season, how can we find the kind of peace that Isaiah predicts can be ours?
Transition:
1. By Knowing the Prince of Peace
2. By Understanding the Source of Peace
3. By Experiencing the Restoration of Peace
I. By Knowing the Prince of Peace
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit”. v.1
A. Israel Needed to Know the Prince of Peace
1. The prophet Isaiah lived about 721 B.C. which is a significant date because it marks the time of the fall of the 10 Northern tribes of Israel to the Assyrian Empire, the world’s only superpower of the time.
2. We find in the first ten chapters of Isaiah that Israel is facing the judgment of God because of her unfaithfulness in serving the gods of the nations around her. Isaiah prophesies that Israel will be invaded by the Assyrians and carried into exile.
3. In chapter 11:1 Isaiah calls the lineage of the Davidic dynasty the “stump of Jesse”. This is the only time in the Old Testament that David’s line is called by His father’s name. Isaiah predicts that the Davidic dynasty will be completely cut off, so that all that remains is the stump of its family tree.
4. However, in chapter 11 the prophet also predicts
the future restoration of the Kingdom through the
re-establishment of a Davidic Messiah. Isaiah states that out of the stump of Jesse’s family tree a “shoot” or a fresh stem will sprout and that the sprout will grow into full bloom until it becomes the Branch of the Lord.
5. When I was a boy we had a Dutch Elm tree that
grew between our driveway and our neighbor’s. No
matter how many times we cut that tree down to a
stump, fresh shoots would grow until it once again
towered over our property line. That is the same
picture that Isaiah uses here that regardless of the
destruction of David’s family tree, Messiah will
come as a small shoot that will grow into a mighty
Branch the planting of the Lord.
6. You will note in your Bibles that the word “Branch”
is capitalized because it is referring to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ “the Prince of Peace.” Isa. 9:6
7. The message that Isaiah portrays to the people of Israel is a message of hope. That what God has cut off is also that which God restores. That the One who judges His people for their sins, is also the One who forgives them and restores Peace. Isaiah’s message to Israel is their need to know this coming Prince of Peace.
B. We Need to Know the Prince of Peace.
1. Missionary Don Richardson who served for many years among the primitive tribes in Papua New Guinea wrote a book entitled “The Peace Child.” He writes how in translating the Scriptures into the native tribesmen language, he could find no words to express how Jesus Christ came to give His life that we might have peace with God. In his book he relates how he finally found the answer in the culture of the native people themselves.
He tells the story of two tribes in Papua New Guinea who maintained a blood feud between themselves for several generations. Each generation fought and nursed their wounds only to fight again killing and maiming more and more people. Finally after years of struggle the two tribes realized that they must stop fighting or nothing would be left of their peoples. But what could they do to end years of warring between the two tribes? Don Richardson goes on to tell that the chiefs of the two tribes came together and brought with them a child they called “the Peace Child”. This child was the son of one of the opposing chiefs which was then adopted into the family of the opposing chief. As long as that child lived the two chiefs promised to cease their fighting so that all could lived. Don Richardson had finally found a perfect picture of God’s love for us in sending the His Son, the Prince of Peace to die for us.
2. This morning, you may feel like the people of Israel. Perhaps something in your life have been suddenly “cut off”. Your, dreams, your hopes, your aspirations seem to have disappeared like so much smoke. All that is left is the stump of unrealized expectations. Folks the Good News of the gospel today is that God wants you to know that he is the Restorer of dreams, He is the Restorer of hope and He is the Restorer of your aspirations.
3. Folks, Jesus is still the “Peace Child”, the “Prince of Peace” who longs to come afresh into your life this Advent Season and work the miracle of his peace in your heart.
Transition: Not only did Israel Need to Know the Prince of Peace, they Needed to Know
II. Understand the Source of Peace.
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him. . . and he will judge
the needy with righteousness, with justice he will make decisions for the poor and faithfulness will be the sash about his waist.” vv.2-5
A. Israel Needed to Understand the Source of Peace.
1. Israel was a nation which stood on the brink of war and devastation. They lived in the shadow of a cruel and repressive world superpower which was poised for a land grab, Yet the people continued to lived in debauchery, all the while wondering why they had no lasting sense of peace.
2. Isaiah cries out to Israel that the source of peace of
lasting peace is none other than the Branch of the
Lord. He enumerates His qualifications in v. 2:
the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him.
And He will be filled with:
· The spirit of wisdom producing wisdom, and making him wise.
· And understanding or that He would make decisions on the basis of their character not on what was expedient.
· The spirit of counsel That he alone is qualified to "give" counsel or advice they so desperately needed.
· And might That He will have the strength of heart and purpose which will enable Him to carry out His decisions.
· Of knowledge or that He will have knowledge of the plans and will of God.
· And of the fear of the LORD that He would have reverence for God’s commands.
Isaiah implores Israel, follow Him for He is the Source of peace.
4. In verses 4 & 5 Isaiah indicates the 4 characteristics of Messiah’s rule:
· v. 4, “He will judge the needy with righteousness” or rightness of decision, deciding rightly on their behalf. No longer will they suffer the oppression of the rich.
· v. 4, Isaiah says “with justice he will give decisions for the poor.” Or equity and fairness will characterize His reign.
· v. 4, “with the rod of his mouth he will slay the wicked” The “rod of His mouth” is better translated “the scepter of His mouth” Or that by the words of His mouth He will pass sentence on the wicked.
· Fourth, in v.5, “faithfulness will be the sash around His waist.” Firmness and stability will characterize His rule.
The manner of the Davidic Messiah’s rule is completely contrary to the way business is being conducted in Israel. Justice has been perverted, God’s blessing has been revoked and the result is the people live in constant fear of the neighboring nations and they have no sense of peace. Isaiah assures them that there is a way to find peace and he calls them to repentance.
B. We Need to Understand the Source of Peace.
1. Our world longs for peace. We live in a society where injustice,
unfaithfulness and unrighteousness abounds. Each of us has been victimized by it in one form or another. Also, if we admit it, we too are sinners and not only have we been sinned against, but we have also sinned against others. We need to repent so that we may find peace. This is why we pray each Sunday, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Peace, all of us long for it, yet for some reason stubbornly we refuse to yield to Him whom “whom the Spirit of the Lord Rests upon.”
· We long for wisdom yet we fail to ask for it.
· We lack understanding yet don’t go to Him who possesses it.
· We need counsel and advice but choose not to listen.
· We beg to know God’s will for our lives yet fall short of asking Him who knows it in detail.
2. Peace is easy to spot; you can find it. When Quakers broke the food blockade on Germany and Austria after World War I they were not motivated by emotional love toward individual Germans, but were motivated by a higher call, the call to peace. And in fact, they seem to have been correct. Because thirty years later, Quaker relief groups, and they only, were allowed to rescue Jews inside Germany, even at the height of the war. Because their commitment to peace made an impression on the mindset of people as dehumanized as the followers of Hitler.
3. Do you need peace this Advent Season? Then come to the
manger, come to Christ; He is the Prince of Peace. Have you been victimized by unrighteousness, have injustice and unfaithfulness cut a swath across your path. Then come to Christ. He will vindicate you, he will make the wrong right, He will be faithful to you even when others are not.
Transition: Not only did Israel Need to know the Prince of Peace and the Source of Peace:
III. They needed to Experience the Restoration of Peace.
“ The wolf will live with the lamb ,the leopard will lie down with the goat ,the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6-10
A. Israel Needed to Experience the Restoration of Peace.
1. In verses 6-10 Isaiah’s prophecy goes far beyond the
immediate context of Israel’s time and even beyond the birth of Christ. In these verses, Isaiah looks far into the future and predicts the establishment of Christ’s millennial Kingdom and the restoration of Universal peace. Isaiah predicts three ways in which Messiah’s peace will be experienced:
· vv. 6-8 There is the restoration of peace in Nature.
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the lion will eat straw like the ox, an infant will play near the hole of the cobra.”
· v. 9 There is also the restoration of peace over the
Earth and natural elements. “For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
· v.10 There is the restoration of peace over the
Nations. “In that day the Root of Jesse will
stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations
will rally to Him”.
2. In painting this picture of the Messiah’s kingdom Isaiah
looks beyond the scope of Israel’s sin and her coming judgment. The people learn that even when God speaks of judgment he also offers hope to His people. Israel isn’t just to be destroyed and forgotten. No. The day is coming when sin will cease to prevail, when judgment gives way to forgiveness and restoration gives way to peace and instead of violence, peace will cover the earth.
B. We Need to Experience the Restoration of Peace
1. Isaiah predicts a beautiful vision, but each of us who reads
it know that it probably won’t take full shape until Jesus
comes again in all his glory. There’s just not enough
righteousness and faithfulness available in this world, and
not enough people who are committed to practicing peace
instead of violence. But in the meantime, in this Advent
season of preparation and in the days beyond, we can graft
our lives to the shoot that has emerged from the stump of
Jesse, and pray for his peace to fill us and transform us.
2. A wonderful illustration of how our lives can be transformed by God’s peace is found in the life of Archbishop of the Chicago diocese, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin’s. In his little book, The Gift of Peace, which he was working hard to complete just a year ago, there is a gripping and moving account of his meeting with Steven Cook, the young man who had accused Cardinal Bernardin of sexual abuse. It is an event best forgotten except for the extraordinary way it concluded. In 1993, the accusation became public, and Cardinal Bernardin had to live in the blare of public curiosity, constant media attention and the deep pain of experiencing his credibility and integrity questioned by many people who simply assume that an accusation is the equivalent of guilt. And then, over time, Mr. Cook acknowledged that the charges were false, and the case was dropped. The Cardinal plunged back into his busy schedule but he kept thinking about Steven Cook, his accuser, now critically ill with AIDS, living alone.
So Cardinal Bernardin did the most remarkable thing. He located Mr. Cook and invited him to meet at a seminary outside Philadelphia. Cardinal Bernardin explained that his only reason for wanting to see Mr. Cook was to tell him that he, Cardinal Bernardin, harbored no ill feelings. He wanted to pray with Mr. Cook.
Steven Cook accepted that invitation and said that he wanted to apologize for the hurt and embarrassment he had caused. When the meeting happened, Mr. Cook told his story, including his alienation from the church. They talked for awhile. The cardinal said what he had come to say, and he gave Mr. Cook an inscribed Bible and offered to celebrate Mass. Mr. Cook hesitated at first. Cardinal Bernardin took a 100-year-old chalice out of his case. Steven, this is a gift from a man I don’t even know. He asked me to use it to say Mass for you some day. Please, Steven responded tearfully, let’s celebrate Mass now.
Afterward, Steven Cook said, A big burden has been lifted from me today. I feel healed and very much at peace.
3. People, today a big burden can be lifted from your shoulders. The burden of unforgiveness, the burden of despair, the burden of anxiety and the burden of guilt. Come to the manger this morning. Come to Christ. Let the Prince of Peace finally give you the peace you long for.
