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  • Slide 10 Intro – Everything rises and falls on leadership
    • Historical Background
      • Time in Israel’s history
        • Around 730 BC
        • Israel and Judah separated into two nations in 930 BC
      • Slide 11 Northern Kingdom – Zebulun and Naphtali
        • The northern Kingdom of Israel had lived for about 200 years as a separate nation.  All of their Kings were evil and the nation as a whole lived in rebellion against God.  Judah had both good and evil kings.
      • Assyria
        • At this time in history, the major world power in the area was the nation of Assyria.  Isaiah prophecies that God will use Assyria as an instrument of judgment against the Northern Kingdom of Israel and to a degree to bring limited judgement against Judah.
        • In the year 722 BC Assyria besieged Samaria and ended the Northern kingdom.
      • Slide 12 The references to Zebulun and Naphtali in verse 1 are references to the Northern Kingdom in general, but specifically to the most northern part of Israel, which is where Jesus grew up and carried out much of His ministry.
        • The way of the sea describes a major international highway running through this region. This is the only place where the Bible used this phrase, but it appears often in Assyrian and Egyptian records. The invading Assyrian soldiers took that route when they invaded the Northern Kingdom. From that area the Messiah will arise and will wipe away the gloom and darkness brought on by Gentile domination.
        • These three provinces were called Magiddu (Galilee), Du’ru (the way of the sea), and Gal’aza (the land east of the Jordan). Tremper Longman III.
      • The invasion of Assyria will be a judgment on Israel and Judah… why?
  • Slide 13 Judah’s problem – Bad Leadership
    • Kings and Chronicles – Right or Evil in the eyes of the Lord.
    • Judged according to their leadership
      • Isa. 3:14-15 – The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.  What did you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
    • Unfaithfulness –
      • Judah is worshipping idols along with worshipping God.
    • Injustice and Unrighteousness –
      • Verses
        • Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 1:17
        • Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts.  They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. 1:23
        • And He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. 5:7
        • Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 5:20
      • Slide 14 Righteousness
        • ṣedeq, then, refers to (conformity to) an ethical, moral standard and of course in the OT that standard is the nature and will of God. Stigers, H. G. (1999). 1879 צָדֵק. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 752). Chicago: Moody Press.
          • The laws, ways and principles we are going to live by
          • It is live in a way as to fulfill the agreed upon requirements
          • In the Bible, righteousness is determined by God’s ways and His word.
      • Slide 15 Justice
        • ִשְׁפָּט (mišpāṭ). n. masc. judgment, justice. The term is often used to express both the attribute of justice as well as the execution of judgment in litigation.
        • Derived from the root שׁפט (špṭ), this term can be used to describe the characteristic that governing authorities, kings, or judges should exhibit (Isa 32:1; Mic 3:1). Earthly authorities must conduct themselves with integrity and ensure that justice is carried out in accordance with Yahweh’s standards. (Psa 1:5; Eccl 12:14; Isa 34:5).  Aernie, M. (2014). Judgment, Final. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.Together
        • Justice looks at the standard (righteousness) and then renders judgment in accordance with that standard.
          • Special emphasis on ensuring that the marginalized are not ignored.
      • Israel and Judah as nations, and their leaders and elders in particular, were guilty of changing the standard of righteousness and of issuing justice on the basis of bribes and rewards.
  • Danger for our own society
    • Change the standard of righteousness so that justice is being dispensed on a false righteousness.
      • Sometimes we change the laws and move in the direction of righteousness and sometimes we change the laws and move in the direction of unrighteousness or lawlessness.
    • Act with injustice regardless of the standard of righteousness.
      • The wealthy can afford better legal representation.
  • Peace – Where there is a lack of righteousness and justice there will be a lack of peace.
    • Slide 16 Isa. 32:16 The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. 17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. (NIV)
    • Prov. 14:34 – Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
    • Ps. 85:10 – Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other
  • Slide 17 Israel’s solution – Good leadership
    • Child/Son – A new generation will arise
      • Divine Characteristics (5 names)
        • Wonderful (Mind Blowing)
        • Counselor (Life Coach)
        • Mighty God (Warrior God)
        • Everlasting Father (Forever Father)
        • Prince of Peace (Shalom Bringer)
      • Slide 18 Trinitarian (Holy Spirit, Father, Jesus)
      • Qualifications to govern
        • Unlimited wisdom
        • The all-powerful God over the universe
        • Family relationship
        • Legal position of authority to bring peace
          • שַׂר (śar). n. masc. official. General word for the leader of a specific group or region.
          • This is the most common word for a leader in the ot. The all-encompassing nature of śar is reflected in 1 Kgs 4:2, which designates Solomon’s high officials with this term. The word also often refers to a military leader, as in Gen 21:22 and 1 Sam 17:18, and to the leader of a group of priests (1 Chr 24:5; Ezra 8:24).[1]

 

        • Slide 19 Peace – “Peace,” in this case, means much more than mere absence of war. Rather, the root meaning of the verb šālēm better expresses the true concept of šālôm. Completeness, wholeness, harmony, fulfillment, are closer to the meaning. Implicit in šālôm is the idea of unimpaired relationships with others and fulfillment in one’s undertakings.
  • Carr, G. L. (1999). 2401 שָׁלֵם. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 931). Chicago: Moody Press.
      • Davidic – He will reign on David’s throne
      • Dominion – He will rule and govern
      • Justice and Righteousness
      • Result will be Peace
    • The Son who was to come would be fully qualified as a leader to restore the righteousness and justice that were lacking in society and therefore to bring about peace in all its meanings.
  • Slide 20 Our solution – Not the birth of the Son, but the return of the Son
    • As we begin Advent season we remember Jesus first coming as the Son who would bring Righteousness, Justice and Peace.
    • And we wait in hope for His second coming where He will come as the righteous one and justice bringer.  When He judges He will set things right and usher in His Kingdom of Peace.  This is the hope for our world that we look toward.
  • Our response –
    • What do we do while we remember and wait?  Do we just watch things fall apart and hope He hurries before there is nothing left?
    • Remember that we are His image bearers.  He has not left Himself without agents of righteousness, justice and peace on the earth.  That is our calling now as those who bear His image and carry His Spirit.
    • Slide 21 Clothe ourselves with righteousness
      • Embrace His ways as revealed by His character and His word.
      • Live according to His ways and lead according to His word in the spheres you are called into.  Your business, your school, your neighborhood, your ministry.
      • Eph. 4:24
    • Walk justly –
      • Render decisions according to God’s ways and His word.
      • Defend the marginalized and those who have no voice when it is your turn.
      • Isa. 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. NIV

 

    • Live as Peacemakers
      • How can I bring peace and reconciliation into this situation?
      • It might mean helping two people get along, or choosing to get along with someone yourself.
      • It might mean standing up for a marginalized or voiceless person.
      • Matt 5:9
  • Conclusion
    • To us a Son is given
    • He is the righteous one, who rules with justice and brings forth peace.
    • While we await His coming, we are called to live as His righteous ones, to walk justly and to be peacemakers.

[1] Herbst, J. W. (2014). Civil Leaders. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.