Isaiah 9:2-7
“Perfect Government”
December 24, 2002 - Christmas Eve

         Thomas Jefferson said, “The government which governs least, governs best.” It’s been a cherished principle of American politics. We worry when our political leaders take too much authority upon themselves, even for the best of reasons. A politician can usually win applause for promising less government rather than more.

         So take note of the prophecy made about the Messiah in verse 7. “Of the increase of his government… there will be no end.” Why to we who love freedom should this be good news? What good could possibly come of unending, ever-increasing government?

         The prospect of war changes one’s perspective on government. In the face of terrorism, we have allowed an increase of the powers of that be in our own country. As Isaiah spoke this prophecy, Israel both in the north and the south was led by kings of diminishing strength. A huge threat lay on the horizon in the growing power of the Assyrian empire. People hoped and prayed for a government which could protect them. They feared the weapons of their enemies more than they feared the abuses of their own kings grown too strong.

         So Israel hoped, as perhaps many of us hope, for leadership which could do what verses 4 and 5 predicted. They wanted a king who could shatter the yoke of fear and get rid of the instruments of war.

         Yet human leaders are always imperfect. In the past week we’ve watched the sad saga of Trent Lott’s fall from power because of racist remarks. As much as we want and need good leaders, they are terribly difficult to find. When their imperfections come to light it’s a terrible disappointment. Perfect government seems like a dream.

         That is why the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy became even then a cherished promise of something totally different, a new kind of leader. A child would be born to shoulder the government. He would be “Wonderful Counselor” and “Mighty God.” In other words, He would combine the wisdom of Solomon with the strength of David. He would be “Everlasting Father” and “Prince of Peace,” offering the impossible dream of an endless reign of peace on earth.

         We are here tonight in the faith that child has been born. Seven hundred years after Isaiah wrote these words, shepherds heard the message that the dream had come true. A child had been born, and He was the Messiah hoped for. He was Christ the Lord.

         In coming into the world as He did, that baby demonstrated Thomas Jefferson was not all wrong. The perfect government God had planned had a “least” quality to it. The Messiah, the Christ did not come in the trappings of power, but in the most humble circumstances. As St. Augustine put it long ago:

Maker of the sun,
He is made under the sun.
Disposer of all ages
in the bosom of the Father,
He consecrates this day
in the womb of His mother.
In Him He remains,
from her He goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was made on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely speechless;
Filling the world,
He lies in a manger;
Ruler of the stars,
He nurses at His mother’s breast.
He is both great in the nature of God
and small in the form of a servant.

         We worship God’s Son tonight as our humble governor, as our serving king. He governs best by becoming least in all the world. He rules over us by giving up His life for us. As I said Sunday, Jesus Christ was born homeless so that we could have a home in Him.

         The best earthly governors have been those who followed the lead of Christ by serving more than they wielded power. My family reminded me yesterday of “Good King Wenceslas.” We know him from the 130 year old Christmas carol written by John Mason Neale.[1] Wenceslas was actually the duke of Bohemia in the tenth century. Nurtured by the faith of his believing grandmother, he brought Christianity to his people.

         Wenceslas cared deeply for the people he ruled. He went out often, not just once as the song might suggest, to bring food and aid to the poor people of his country. He went at night so as not to embarrass them by the charity he offered.

         After only five years of gentle rule, the good king became a martyr, murdered by his unbelieving brother. The Czech people have made Wenceslas their national saint, beloved for his goodness and generosity. A huge statue of him stands at the center of the city of Prague.

         Good King Wenceslas is a fitting image of the Lord he served. The song tells how he went out into a bitter cold night to bring food and firewood to a poor man. In the same way Christ our Lord came down from heaven on a dark winter night to bring salvation to us all. Jesus came to find us in our spiritual poverty, bringing the bread of life and the warmth of His grace and love to all who believe in Him.

         So tonight as we celebrate His birth, I invite you to trust in the governing of Christ. As Isaiah prophesied, and as we will sing in a little bit, His peace will someday rule this whole earth. Jesus will come again and set up a perfect government which will have no end. Especially this year, with war looming on our horizon, that is a great promise.

         In the meantime, Jesus Christ would like to govern your life. The world may not be at peace, but you can know peace in Him. He is not yet Prince of every nation, but He is now already the Prince of Peace for everyone who believes. What Isaiah and the angels said to Israel and the shepherds, they also say to you: “To you a child is born, a Savior.” This Savior would like to rule in your life by offering you the gift He brings.

         I heard on the news this morning that President Bush yesterday pardoned seven men convicted of mostly minor crimes. One of them was a postal employee who spent a year in jail in 1971 for stealing $10.90 worth of mail. Another was a Tennessee moonshiner. All seven have served their time and now will have their records wiped clean. They all had words of gratitude for the Christmas gift given them by the President.

         The Christmas gift brought to you by the government of the baby in the manger is an unbelievably greater pardon. In the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ all your sins can be forgiven and forgotten. If you never have before, I urge you to accept and receive that pardon tonight. Pray a simple prayer and ask the Savior who was born to us to be your Savior too. He will come into your heart and begin to rule there.

         The perfect government of Christ means one more thing in your life. As He begins to rule in us, He asks us to follow in His steps. As that page followed Good King Wenceslas through the snow, you and I are called to struggle along behind Jesus, living the kind of humble servant life He lived. And when you do, you will also find like the page did, that Christ will give you warmth and strength for every step. His love will melt the cold from your heart and you will find yourself already within His everlasting kingdom of peace.

         Amen.

Valley Covenant Church
Eugene/Springfield, Oregon
Copyright © 2002 by Stephen S. Bilynskyj