Bethannrichardson's Blog

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on his shoulders;

And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of his government, or of peace,

On the throne of David and over his kingdom,

To establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness,

From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9:6,7

Today I set myself a schedule for Bible readings during this week before Christmas, and this passage from Isaiah was part of my first reading.  After reading these words, my mind went instantly to what I’d been previously reading from my Chronological Bible, which is the beginning of the monarchy in ancient Israel (see 1 Samuel 8 and following).  When Israel begged for a king, Samuel, their prophet and judge, was deeply hurt.  He took it personally that the Hebrews wanting something other than his leadership.  But God told Samuel that it was really God Himself Israel was rejecting as their leader.  God warned His people how difficult life would be for them under a king’s rule, but they were insistent, and, as predicted, things went bad almost from the start, with Saul’s tendency toward pride and disobedience.    As I’ve been reading through Saul’s kingship, noting Samuel’s sorrow over Saul’s failures (I think he really invested himself in Saul, even though he was hurt about the whole king thing at first), I have myself felt loss.  Why couldn’t Saul be faithful???

But in reading the passage from Isaiah today, I saw something really incredible.  God is so amazing!!  In His unfathomable wisdom and mercy and love He found a way to redeem the kingship in Israel.  He planned (even before the Hebrews begged for a king!!) to answer Israel’s plea for a ruler in a way they never could’ve imagined!  God’s plan for a King was way bigger than what Israel was asking for!  Where Saul, and later David (even David, a man after God’s own heart, couldn’t get it right) and then Solomon would fail and fail and fail again, the King that God would eventually send would “establish” the “throne of David” and “uphold it with justice and righteousness;” it would be a kingdom of peace, and one that would last “from then on and forevermore.”  And God’s King would offer redemption not just to a failed monarchy but to everyone, everywhere, every time, the whole world (John 3:16).

Maybe it’s just me, but I think that is amazing beyond words.  God took a request made by an ancient people, who were given one spot in time and bound by the culture and wisdom of their age, and, and WOW! did He ever answer it in such an astonishing way, outside of their little dot on the historical timeline, outside of their understanding.  He gave an answer that was more than they could have “asked or imagined:” an answer that was way beyond the grasp of the people who dared to ask for a king.

How great is God!  His plans are astounding!  How grateful I am that He delights in the redemption of all things.