Text: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
In Biblical times, the leaders and princes of the Assyrian army were renowned for their skills in warfare. They were warriors that used force to subdue their foes.
Against a backdrop of war, pillaging and strife, God’s people in our text get to hear of a different Prince:
A prince not born in an ornate palace, but One born in a lowly stable.
A prince not infamous for lording it over others; instead one Who came not to be served but to serve.
A Prince who did not sit on lofty earthly thrones but the only earthly throne he knew was the ‘throne’ of the cross.
The only princely crown He wore, was a crown of thorns.
A prince whose message and life would be that of peace.
What good news – mankind Who is at enmity with God, now can be reconciled to God because of the peace effected by the Prince of peace.
That wall of separation between an awesome Holy God, and us, sinful, undeserving human beings, has come crashing down because of the One who is born, Prince of peace.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” Ephesians 2:14.
Prayer
Prince of peace, I thank you
For removing the dividing wall,
Humbly, yet boldly I come for grace
Heeding a Holy God’s call