History
Why were so few voices raised in the ancient and present world to protest against man’s ruthlessness? Why have human beings so historically slavish if not submissive, ready to annihilate and succumb to perish at the alarm of imperious leaders?
Perhaps it is so because they deify might, while idolizing those in command. Yes, history archives that a multitude of people are convinced that man prevails by force. The pomp and the self-glorification of leaders cause the multitude to become undiscerning.
The ravenousness of the forceful knows no gratification; for the gluttony grows on the vastness of provisions obtained. Dominance honors itself and is powerless to yield to any supernature intelligence. The harsh paradox of history is that the everyday people, who are barren of potentiality and thus are the soon-to-be fatality of its corruption, are the first to become the accomplice of him/her who amass power!
According to the prophet Isaiah, the heart of all vile is not the love of money, but man’s distorted sense of supremacy and, stemming from it, man’s self-importance, vanity, and presumption.
Control, dominance, and influence are eye-catching, while its destruction, the ethical principle of behavior is camouflaged.
The ancient seers were burdened with questioning man’s obsession with might, demanded not only of the lawlessness but also of the emptiness and folly of enmity and armed conflict.
Napoleon asks a question, ” do you know what astonishes me most in this world”? The inability of force to create anything! In the long run, the sword is always beaten by the spirit! [J.C. Herold, The Mind of Napoleon (New York, 1955, p.76]
Nevertheless, the most bewildering thing in creation is the never-ending barrenness of force. Thus what is the eventual advantage of all the arms, alliances, and victories? Annihilation, torment, and cessation.
Goodness, fairness, and uprightness as reciprocal to that of serenity and reconciliation!
Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. The springs from the earth; and righteousness looks down from heaven. Indeed, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its produce. Righteousness will go before Him and will make His footsteps into a way.
Psalm 85:10-13
Not by Force Shall a Man Prevail
Hosea proclaimed in the name of the Lord; “I will not deliver them by bow, nor by the sword, nor by war, nor by horses, nor by horsemen…, I will make for you a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety.” Hosea 1:7; 2:18
Adonai Elohim has the heart toward the side of those who are weak. His special concern is not for the mighty and the successful, but the lowly and the downtrodden, for the stranger and the poor, for the widow and the orphan.
I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord because they have called you an outcast: it is Zion, for whom no one cares. Jeremiah 30:17
“For not by force shall a man prevail” 1 Samuel 2:9.
The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might. Mic. 7:16
So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
The Prophecy of the “Wonderful Counselor“
Isaiah was writing nearly 800 years before Christ about the coming of a “Wonderful Counselor.” The title, Wonderful Counselor” indicates the kind of character this coming King has. The word wonderful in this passage means “incomprehensible.” The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.”
The second part of the Messiah’s title is the word counselor. In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people. He can advise His people thoroughly because He is qualified in ways no human counselor is. In Christ is “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
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.
Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7
True Greatness is Measured by the Spirit of Humility
Matthew 20:25-27
But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.“
The Master implemented aspects of God’s Kingdom at His initial advent. Everything about His ministry was to show the stark difference between God’s Kingdom and earthly kingdoms. Before He went to Jerusalem to be delivered to the Gentiles for crucifixion and his ascension into glory, rank within His coming kingdom became an issue with His disciples.
The popular Jewish expectation shared by many, even the disciples of the Messiah was that heathen rulers in their character, believed that might be right, and ambition for the true greatness of service. Jesus’ prime interest was the heart of His followers, what are one’s motive and intention for greatness and or ambition?
Kingdom character in all souls who are spiritually redeemed will yield forth a humble spirit of a servant as the mark of the true greatness of His disciples in this life, and the eternal life to come.
Christ—Our Warrior King at His Second Advent
In Revelation 19:13,16, we see Christ returning as a mighty conquering warrior king: “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God… And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name is written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” He will then execute the supernatural seven last plagues, which will ultimately bring rebellious mankind to its knees.
The Millennium Begins
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15).
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Isaiah 2:4
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo
The inspiration and essence of this blog post were made possible by my reading and respeaking of the most excellent work of Abraham J. Heschel’s book, The Prophets, chapter 9. History pages 159-167.