Point of Inspiration: Devotionals for Personal and Corporate Worship
Robert D. Pace
In Isaiah 9, the prophet foresaw the Messiah as the “Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.” The first three titles suggest He would be infinite in counsel, omnipotent in strength, and eternal in provision. But Isaiah’s fourth designation, “Prince of Peace,” seems as an inadequate description of Christ. Why not call Him “Sovereign of Peace” or “King of Peace”? To liken the Messiah to a Prince seems less than He deserves. According to its definition, a prince is given authority over restricted boundaries. Is Isaiah suggesting Christ’s authority is limited? Perhaps bounded by the sphere of earth and no more? No, not at all! Consider man’s need for peace. If there is anything the world, with all its ill and evil, needs it is “Shalom” (peace). Each year people spend billions of dollars on pharmaceuticals as they seek relief from stress and pain. Nations make “Peace Pacts.” Scientists encourage people to live at harmony with the ecosystem. Families, broken by divorce or battered by brutality, need love to assuage the differences. Riots afflict cities. And astronomers note that even the constellations are troubled with meteors and falling stars. Not one dimension of the universe exists without the need for peace.
When we ponder the boundless scope in which peace is needed, we discover that Isaiah endowed Christ with no dim or depreciated title by crowning Him as “Prince of Peace.” In fact, the very next verse Isaiah writes that “of the increase of His government and of His reign of peace there shall be no end.” In other words, Isaiah perceives Christ’s kingdom eternally expanding! As the universe expands, Christ’s princely rule of peace will arise, chase it down, and even eliminate any chance of chaos or pain. No, Christ will have no boundaries to His princely rule. His shalom will overwhelm the cosmos! During this Christmas Season let us join with Isaiah in calling Him “the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,” and the [unbounded] Prince of Peace!