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A peaceable kingdom?
How do we recognise and welcome Isaiah’s Messianic kingdom? (Isaiah 11:1-11)
Context
A wonderful aspect of the Internet is animal stories which echo Isaiah 11:6-9.
It’s up to each of us to become bringers of peace.
In a time when the “other” is becoming more and more demonised, some people prefer hope.
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
It’s been 2000 years since God’s love entered human flesh in Jesus and yet our world is no closer to the peaceable kingdom foretold in Isaiah 11:1-11. Russia’s war rages in Ukraine; people continue to die in Gaza; Trump’s masked agents continue to tear families apart and the list goes on. What has become of “They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain.”(v9)? For this writer, the answer is provided by an American cartoon character named Pogo who once said: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
For too long we have believed that the attributes of the Messiah described in Isaiah 11 will be automatically given to humanity, with no effort on our part. Yet Jesus plainly taught his followers that “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). If you do…i.e. Jesus never said he would do it for us; rather he gave us an example for all time. God is not a cosmic nanny who puts right all our wrongs. The peaceable kingdom begins with you and me; and it’s a 24/7 vocation. It is that simple and that hard.
Isaiah speaks of a “shoot” coming out of the stump of Jesse — King David’s father. In Judaeo-Christian tradition, David is often portrayed as the best King of Israel. I challenge this view in my novel, Joab. If you read 1&2 Samuel closely, you might do the same. David murders, lies, commits adultery and more. Isaiah doesn’t mention David by name but insinuates a coming king who will embody the best of the past (David?) whilst incorporating qualities scarcely any ruler in history has ever possessed. You and I live in a time when too many world leaders tend to compete for the most repressive and violent regimes: Trump, Putin, Xi and more. One man (and it’s usually a man!) needs to prove something to the world at everyone else’s expense. Even people of faith seem content to postpone an equitable government until after said government has done its dirty deeds. Can we simply sit by?
Questions for discussion
Think of a time when you had to make a decision between being righteously angry and being kind/peaceable. If you chose righteous anger, how did that feel after the event? And how did it feel, if you chose to be kind/peaceable?
We live in a time when populist governments and parties blame their countries’ ills on immigrants and ethnic minorities. If only those “others” would change, life would be so much better. This always lets me/us off the hook.
- Have you ever fallen into such a point of view? If so, why?
- How might you react if you discovered that we had killed or deported the Messiah?
- What sort of people might we have to become in order to receive the kingship of the Messiah?
The Revd Dr Jack Lawson is a freelance writer and novelist: Doing Time, No Good Deed, Criminal Justice, The Woods and Dirty Business. His newest novel, Joab (Wipf & Stock), is based on the life of King David.
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Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
I don’t know where the negotiations concerning peace in Ukraine will be when you read this. The proposed deal seems to change by the day. Suddenly it has developed an urgency as President Trump desires peace. I’m not sure why that makes any difference but if it adds to the momentum, I am not going to complain.
The imagery of peace in Isaiah 11 is vivid and moving. Ferocious wild animals cohabit peacefully with vulnerable and weak young creatures. This is not a zoological fact. It is an aspirational image and an image that speaks to the conflicts of our world today. Isaiah writes that this image becomes real as a result of the presence of the Spirit of God.
We should hold Isaiah 11 and the peace talks about Ukraine together and allow the words of the prophet to shape our prayers. Let us believe that peace will happen and let us pray that those engaged in seeking it may be guided by the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; and the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Peace in Ukraine - now that would truly be a great Christmas gift for the world.
Methodist Minister Revd Stuart Wild (Superintendent Minister of the Blackpool and South Fylde Methodist Circuit in Lancashire) is praying for peace and hoping that you will join your prayers with his.
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