The Prince of Peace

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 KJV

I was just a young college student the first time I sang these words from scripture. Our voices rang out from the choir loft with passion and enthusiasm as we performed Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. I am still so moved every time I hear these familiar words.

The prophet Isaiah so accurately spoke of the coming Messiah hundreds of years before the Savior King would be born in a modest stable in Bethlehem. Isaiah listed several descriptive names to illustrate the majesty and beauty of our Lord, but today my eyes are resting on the last name in this verse…The Prince of Peace.

Oh, how we need our Prince of Peace in our world today!

The Prince of Peace. What is the significance of the title Prince? A prince is a royal heir. A prince is sovereign. He has the final word. What he says is all that really matters. In our noisy world let us hear the voice of our sovereign Prince ringing loudly above all the noisy, clammer that destroys our peace. Let us hear with clarity the gentle, but sure, words of our Savior, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John14:27)

When we consider the word, peace, we often think of the cessation of turmoil or chaos. But the original Hebrew word for peace has an even broader scope. This richness of the word, peace is reflected in the Message version of Isaiah 9:6.

His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.

I love that He is the Prince of Shalom which contains the idea of wholeness and completeness. Where are you broken today? In what ways do you feel incomplete? Just the idea of a God who loves me in my brokenness and embraces me when I feel incomplete, makes me want to kneel before Him in a puddle of grateful tears!

Our God, our Prince of Peace, offers the completeness I long for. He comes to undo the lies that whisper that I am not enough. He is the supernatural glue that lovingly pieces back together every confusing, chaotic, and jagged piece of my life.

He is the quiet in my Christmas storm, the hope for tomorrow, the rest for today. He is Peace. Whispered softly in my troubled night or ringing loudly in the days of chaos – He is here. God with us. Emmanuel….the Prince of Peace.

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You are loved. gb