Approaching another Christmas season, the verse in Isaiah is brought to the forefront in various ways. We hear it in the holiday music being played, we hear it spoken in our churches. It decorates greeting cards and family photos.
Pause with me a moment to actually absorb the message:
For unto us a child is born, a son is given. The government will rest upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NLT
There is the story in II Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat followed whole-heartedly after God, establishing righteous judges and adherence to the laws of God. He abolished idol worship throughout the kingdom though he failed to remove the pagan shrines.
Now, in chapter 20 some of the surrounding nations make an alliance to march against Judah. Jehoshaphat is understandably terrified and begs the Lord for guidance. He orders everyone in Judah to begin fasting. (fasting: an important and often overlooked cue!)
Jehoshaphat gathers the people at the Temple to make a public prayer.
Take note of how often Jehoshaphat reminds God that ‘the government rests on His shoulders’.
He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!
O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’
And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing! You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.
O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”
II Chronicles 20:6-12 NLT
The Spirit of the Lord came upon a random man in the crowd who spoke direction as to how Jehoshaphat should proceed.
The following day, after consulting the people, Jehoshaphat instructed the singers to lead the army. At the very moment they began singing, God caused the enemy to fall upon one another, resulting in a great slaughter without Judah even raising the sword. Instead of the anticipated battle, Jehoshaphat and his people were three days in plundering and collecting the spoil of the slain.
What if we prayed like Jehoshaphat did?
What if we lived like we believed the government rested upon His shoulders?
How would our lives change?
How would beliefs and thought patterns change?
How could this change the world?
For unto us a child is born, a son is given. The government rests upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NLT