“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” 

Isaiah 9: 6-7 

Read Isaiah 9:2-7 

In Advent we participate in the expectancy of the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9 is a prophecy for the people of God while their nation was threatened by Assyria. 

The Israelites anticipated a human king who would rule on David’s throne and defend them from enemies. Jesus later would fulfill this passage, though not with military might or winner-take-all politics. Jesus came to this world as a vulnerable child to a young virgin mother, quite contrary to the hopes of his contemporaries for a messiah to forcefully free them from Roman occupation. 

Following Advent, we enter yet another election year in our increasingly polarized country. As Christians, we should not feel secure because “our” candidate is polling well or dismayed because they’re not. As we participate in the politics of this world, let us not place our hopes in the rulers of this world, but instead in Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor. 

Amidst the ads, misinformation and awkward family holiday conversations, may we remember that in Christ’s Kingdom there will be no end to his government and peace. May we humbly admit our own blind spots, placing our hope in the Prince of Peace. 

Keep our eyes on the manger and not on the polls. May our hope be placed in the Prince of Peace.