How do we firmly establish abundant authority and peace without limit?

In justice and in equity now and evermore. (Isaiah 9:6 JSB).

How is this possible?

“The zeal of the LORD of Hosts shall bring this to pass” (Isaiah 9:6 JSB).

This passage in Isaiah is talking about “David’s throne and kingdom.” (Isaiah 9:6 JSB).

Traditional English Christian translations, therefore, say “the government will be on his shoulders” and “[of] the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

I prefer the more expansive terminology of The Jewish Study Bible (JSB). Instead of using the word “government”, the Jewish Study Bible uses the word “authority”. This passage in Isaiah is, therefore, translated:

“For a child has been born to us,

A son has been given us.

And authority has settled on his shoulders.

He has been named

‘The Mighty God is planning grace;

The Eternal Father, peaceable ruler’—

In token of abundant authority

And of peace without limit . . .”

     (Isaiah 9:5-6).

Of course, the government is one tool for exercising authority and for establishing peace.

But the government is only one of many tools for establishing peace. It is one reason I prefer to talk about a “civilization” that is good, rather than talking about a “government” that is good.

Talking about ways that the authority of the LORD God applies to “the government” encourages us to impose authority by coercing people.

It encourages governments to intrude on everything we think, say and do.

It encourages totalitarian theocracies to dictate everything we think, say and do.

It gives too small a role to other aspects of our civilizations—such as individuals, families, businesses, communities of faith, and communities of wisdom—that play (or at least should play) a much larger role than governments in making a civilization good. (“Communities of wisdom” include groups such as charities to help all hurting people; schools to train, educate, and discern the truth; and an independent press to spread the truth.)

It’s as if at the Thanksgiving Dinner, the entire meal was limited to turkey. Not even dressing and gravy to go with the turkey! No rolls. No salads. No mashed potatoes. No sweet potatoes. No pumpkin pies.

Giving roles to all these aspects of our civilizations (and all these aspects of a Thanksgiving Dinner) not only makes our civilizations (and our Thanksgiving Dinners) better “tasting” and more “nutritious”. It also reduces the possibility that the government (or any other group in the civilization) can impose its authority by coercion to intrude on what we think, say, or do.

Why?

By spreading power throughout the civilization, it becomes much harder for any single group in such a civilization—such as governments, businesses, nations, communities of faith, and communities of wisdom—to coerce the other groups of the civilization.

By spreading power throughout the civilization, it becomes much harder to coerce people by imposing power of the pharaohs, by the pharaohs, and for the pharaohs.

By spreading power throughout the civilization, each group is forced to use peaceful persuasion—and only peaceful persuasion—to build coalitions of the people, by the people, and for the people.

By spreading power throughout the civilization, the cooperation each group is needed to help establish peace without limit.

How?

Peace without limit can only be firmly established in justice and in equity. (Isaiah 9:6 JSB).

Peace without limit can only be established and upheld with justice and righteousness. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

Therefore, peaceful civilizations must secure freedom of religion and freedom of speech. These freedoms enable the civilization to discern justice, equity and righteousness by hearing and seeing ALL people and ALL perspectives. (See my blogs listed below in the READ MORE section.)

Peaceful civilizations with freedom of religion and freedom of speech empower people to proclaim and hear “the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27).

In everything, peaceful civilizations empower individuals, families, businesses, governments, nations, communities of faith, and communities of wisdom to do for others what they would want done for themselves “for this sums up the Law [of Moses] and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Furthermore, civilizations that maintain important roles for individuals, families, businesses, governments, nations, communities of faith, and communities of wisdom benefit from the gifts and interests of each person.

The same wisdom that makes a very good Thanksgiving Dinner also makes a very good civilization!

When making a Thanksgiving Dinner, some people are most gifted at preparing the turkey, dressing and gravy. When making a civilization, some people are most gifted at counseling, healing and motivating individuals.

When making a Thanksgiving Dinner, some people are most gifted at preparing the rolls. When making a civilization, some people are most gifted at creating and strengthening families.

When making a Thanksgiving Dinner, some people are most gifted at preparing the salads. When making a civilization, some people are most gifted at creating and strengthening businesses.

When making a Thanksgiving Dinner, some people are most gifted at preparing the potatoes. When making a civilization, some people are most gifted at creating and preserving a government of the people, by the people, and for the people that secures freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

When making a Thanksgiving Dinner, some people are most gifted at preparing the sweet potatoes. When making a civilization, some people are most gifted at creating and growing communities of faith.

When making a Thanksgiving Dinner, some people are most gifted at preparing the pumpkin pie. When making a civilization, some people are most gifted at creating and growing communities of wisdom such as charities to help all hurting people; schools to train, educate, and discern the truth; and an independent press to spread the truth.

Among followers of the Way of Jesus, it is essential that we discern and empower believers who are gifted in ways that make a very good civilization.

As the Apostle Paul explained, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Those who have different kinds of gifts should not think of themselves more highly than they should. Nor should anyone look down on other kinds of gifts. (Romans 12:3-8).

For example, Christians who are gifted at applying the gospel to redeem individuals should not think of themselves more highly than they think of Christians who are gifted at applying the gospel to redeem systems of injustice.

And Christians who are gifted at applying the gospel to disciple systems of justice should not look down on Christians who are gifted at applying the gospel to disciple individuals.

Paul illustrated this wisdom by examples taken from the human body:

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” (1 Corinthians 12:21).

“If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” (1 Corinthians 12:17).

Fortunately, the LORD God has abundant authority to establish peace without limit. (Isaiah 9:5-6).

For example, in the human body “God has placed the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Similarly, when preparing a Thanksgiving Dinner, it is essential that one—and only one—person has abundant authority to persuade everyone which parts of the dinner they will prepare and at what time their part of the dinner must be ready. Otherwise, “too many cooks in the kitchen will spoil the broth!”

Similarly, when making a civilization that is good, that is very good, there is one—and only one—authority.

Who?

The LORD God whose Spirit counsels everyone to perform the tasks for which they are best gifted. (1 Corinthians 12:4,7,11; Deuteronomy 6:4-6,24-25; Numbers 1-4).

This Holy Spirit does not impose on people and coerce people. This Holy Spirit counsels people, families, businesses, nations, communities of faith, communities of wisdom, and civilizations to speak and act in ways that generate “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

This Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth [who] lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17). This “Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13).

One of these truths is that the authority of the Mighty God, the Eternal Father, extends not merely to the literal government.

Rather, the authority of the LORD God extends to each individual’s life, each family, each business, each government, each nation, each community of faith, each community of wisdom, and each civilization.

As Jesus proclaimed: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18).

To be sure, the Way of Jesus—the Way of the Power of the Holy Spirit—exercises authority in ways that are absolutely opposed to the ways that authority is imposed with coercion and oppression by the Way of the Power of Money, by the Way of the Power of Religion, and by the Way of the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

The Way of the Power of the Holy Spirit guides us to the Truth that sets us free and keeps us free. (John 8:31-32).

The Way of Jesus rejects the authority of the Power of Money, by following the Word of the LORD: “[Humans] shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3).

The Way of Jesus rejects the authority of the Power of Religion, by following the Word of the LORD: “Do not put the LORD your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16).

The Way of Jesus rejects the authority of the Power of the Kingdoms of the World, by following  the Word of the LORD: “Worship the LORD your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13-14).

As Jesus taught his disciples: “You know that the rulers of [nations] lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.” (Matthew 20:25-26).

Not so in our families, in our businesses, in our nations, in our communities of faith, in our communities of wisdom, and in our civilizations.

Instead, just as each government is “under God” (as citizens of the United States affirm in the Pledge of Allegiance), each person, family, business, nation, community of faith, community of wisdom, and civilization is under God.

And so, those who exercise authority in the Way of God—in the Way of Jesus—must be servants to all: “just as [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28).

When Jesus proclaimed that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”, he did not command us to go and make richer, more powerful disciples. He did not command us to go and make bigger militaries, bigger businesses, or bigger tools to lie to people, to manipulate people, to exploit people, to spy on people, and to oppress people.

Instead, Jesus taught us how to have life and how to enjoy life to the full. (John 10:10).

Instead, Jesus taught us how to fulfill the Law of Moses and the Prophets in the Way of Jesus by putting the words of Jesus into practice. (Matthew 5:17-20; 7:24-29).

Instead, Jesus commanded us: “[G]o and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

I like an additional insight from the translation of Isaiah Chapter 9 in The Jewish Study Bible.

Not only does its use of the word “authority” instead of “government” apply to every role in a civilization instead of applying solely to the role of governments.

The Jewish Study Bible’s translation offers an additional insight into the “names” for the child who has been born to us, for the son who has been given to us.

In the King James Version of the Bible, these names are translated as “Wonderful,  Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV) It’s enough to get me singing Handel’s Messiah!

In the New International Version of the Bible, these names are translated as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:8 NIV).

In contrast, The Jewish Study Bible translates these names as:

     “The Mighty God is planning grace,

     The Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler” (Isaiah 9:5 JSB)

Grace and Peace!

This emphasis on Grace and Peace immediately caught my eye. Why?

I recently wrote a series of 10 blogs describing how the Apostle Paul always greeted the recipients of his letters by wishing them grace and peace in the name of God our Father and of Jesus Christ. (See my blogs listed below in the READ MORE section.)

And so, I wish you Grace and Peace, the very “names” Isaiah perceived would fit the child, the son, who would have abundant authority, bringing peace without limit, firmly established in justice, in equity, and in righteousness, now and forevermore.

How shall Grace and Peace overcome the darkness and gloom in our lives, our families, our businesses, our governments, our nations, our communities of faith, our communities of wisdom, and our civilizations?

“The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall bring this to pass.” (Isaiah 9:6 JSB).

READ MORE

To read more about Isaiah’s message of hope in Isaiah 9:1-7, please read my blogs “The Baby Jesus ‘Vaccine’ Is Coming” and “The Nativity Scene: Baby Jesus”.

To learn more about grace and peace, please read my blogs “Grace and Peace—Galatians”, “Grace and Peace—Thessalonians”, “Grace and Peace—Corinthians”, “Grace and Peace—Romans”, “Grace and Peace—Ephesians”, “Grace and Peace—Philippians”, “Grace and Peace—Colossians”, “Grace and Peace—Philemon”, “Grace and Peace—Titus”, “Grace, Mercy and Peace—First Timothy”, and “Grace, Mercy and Peace—Second Timothy”.

To read more about why we must oppose governments that coerce us and intrude on what we think, say and do, please read my blogs “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”, “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, and “Steak or Salad”.

To read more about why we need to hear and see ALL people and ALL perspectives, please read my blogs “Pandemic Wisdom: Hear and See, Understand and Perceive”, “Deceptive-Drawings-Designed-To-Deceive-And-Divide”, “Intensive Care Units Or Health Clubs”, “The 500-Year Marathon To Overcome Racism”, “Racism Is America Gone Astray”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Multiple Choice Exams & No-Win-Scenarios”, “Bearing the Cost”, and “The Genius of the Common Law”.

For a number of blogs related to issues raised by this blog, please see the list of blogs set forth in my blog titled “Election Blogs”.