Isaiah 9:6 is startling in context. This familiar passage, often quoted during the Christmas season, heralds the coming of a child, the Messiah, to redeem God’s people. We’ve heard the central theme of the chapter before: “for unto us a child is born.” What I find striking is what precedes this declaration. Verses 4 and 5 contain references to the establishment of justice, throwing down oppression and burning away the manifestations of violence. It’s easy to understand why the Jewish people were expecting a military leader or a political king: Isaiah paints the scene of the Messiah’s reign with a bold brush. And then the great surprise in verse 6: a child is coming to institute this restoration. The government will be on the shoulders of a child. That’s unexpected to say the least.
1 Kings 19:12 also describes God revealing himself in a “low whisper” (also translated as “a still small voice”). In both 1 Kings 19 and Isaiah 9, God chooses to reveal himself humbly as a whisper and a child.
I find that intriguing in an age when the culture around us is loud and aggressive. With each recent election, I’ve seen the trench dividing our nation grow deeper. I’ve noticed that some Christians have passionately defended their chosen political parties and gone on the offensive in some cases. I’ve realized that the temptation to trust in and idolize political parties, candidates and ideologies, is very real.
That’s why I find the words of Isaiah 9 especially comforting. We have a king who will restore everything in its time. We have a God who will redeem the world completely. And He has chosen to reveal himself as a child. The political parties and candidates can’t save us.
I think this realization should also encourage us to rethink our own approach to the culture. We are not called to conquer ground, we are called to fertilize and till it, bringing the harvest to maturity. The problem with talking about the “culture war” is that it puts our focus on victory, not redemption. We are spiritual warriors but sometimes we win our greatest victories as cultural influencers. Speaking with a still small voice can sometimes be more productive than a battle cry.