The Messiah, the anointed One, whom Christians believe is Jesus Christ, will establish a government by the Spirit of God in which peace, justice, and righteousness exist forever. The prophet Isaiah foretold of Christ’s birth and His deity in Isaiah 9: 6a. ‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…’ Verse 6 further state ’…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.’
Before His birth it was prophesied that He was coming to take over the government as a King of all Kings. The people misinterpreted how the government would be on His shoulders. They expected a man of war as they were used to bloody wars. Christ did not fit their definition of a King because He believed in peace. Some saw Him as wonderful because He worked miracles. But they missed the message. Some also believed in the powers of the sorcerers of the day. Many could not see Him as The Wonderful person. Everything about Him, His birth, His works, His death, and most of all, His resurrection made Him Wonderful. He was prophesied to be a great Counsellor and a mighty God. His wisdom would be unmatched. Even today there are those who do not wish to recognize the prophesy that His name shall be called Mighty God. He shall be the everlasting Father according to the prophesy. His deity was definitely established by this prophecy.
Isaiah had set the stage in describing the King of Kings, Lord of Lords ‘…There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots;’ (Isaiah 9:7) Although Jesus was born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1: 18-25), she was espoused to Joseph, the Son of David. Isaiah referred to the Messiah as a “shoot” from the “stump of Jesse,” the biological father of David. (I Samuel 16: 11-12) He is a “Branch,” who came through “Jesse’s roots”, meaning that He came through the lineage of King David.
The Spirit of God will rest on the Messiah and, as the perfect King, He will be endowed with the spiritual attributes of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might/power, and knowledge and fear/reverence for the Lord. The spirit of wisdom and understanding relates to powers of mind. Wisdom is the ability to make the right decision about a matter. (I Kings 3: 12) Understanding is the awareness of the nature of something – what it is and how it functions. Are there differences? The spirit of counsel and might/power relates to practical activity. God will provide sound counsel or advice based on His will. (Exodus 18: 19) The Messiah will have almighty power (Isaiah 55: 11), and be full of knowledge and blessed with a holy reverence for the Lord. The spirit of knowledge and fear/reverence of the Lord relates to the Messiah’s fellowship with God. (John 8: 55)
Our perfect, ideal King will make fair and compassionate decisions in the fear of the Lord. The poor and needy can expect justice and righteousness because our leader will not judge according to what He sees or hears. He will judge according to what He believes to be true. There will be absolute equity. The wicked can expect to be slain by the “rod of his mouth” and the “breath of his lips”. Once spoken, He shall be true to His promises.
Our perfect, ideal King will create an ideal perfect kingdom in which peace and unity will be throughout the land. Animals and creatures that usually attack and destroy others will be harmless. Wild animals will submit to the Messiah’s rule, making it possible for a child to be able to lead “the calf and the lamb” and even play near the hole of a snake. Until the perfect King appears and establishes the ideal kingdom, we must have hope for this eternal life to come.
Written by Deborah Davis
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