ISAIAH 11: 1-10

 The US commenced its attack against Afghanistan last week.  Such attacks were expected, but some people in the world especially in Islamic countries believe that retributions against a destitute country like Afghanistan is unjust.  Today, in Afghanistan, about 7.5 million people are famished.  While conducting air raids against the Taliban, the US plans to provide some $320 million in aid to include food, medicine, and winter supplies to the people of Afghanistan.  Indeed, this is a strange war where we bomb with one hand while giving aid with the other.

 On the other hand, in Florida, three people have been infected with the anthrax, raising the collective nervousness of the people of the US.  Anthrax germs can be readily and easily spread, making it an ideal agent for biochemical warfare.  Anthrax, in a powder form, can be spread using a crop-duster or similar aircraft at low altitudes; it can also be spread through air vents in a building.  If 99.6 kg, or approximately 220 pounds, of Anthrax powder is spread over the air of Washington DC, about 300,000 people can be killed.   Infection and contraction of Anthrax include some 2 to 60 days of latency period, where the disease shows no overt symptoms; after the latency period, the usual symptoms include high fever, cough, hallucination, and eventual death.  If antibiotics are taken prior to the appearance of severe symptoms, the chances of recovery are quite high; however, if the symptoms appear, then it is usually too late.  The FBI is currently investing whether the cases of Anthrax outbreak are related to biochemical terrorism. 

 After the terrorist attacks on September 11, the whole world let alone the people of the US have been in a state of fear and confusion regarding terrorism and war.  The world wants peace; yet, the rumors of war get louder by day.  It is during these times that we, as Christians, must become demonstrators of peace and disciples of Shalom. 

  Hans Wildberger has called today’s scripture, Isaiah 11: 1-10, as the “Pearl of Hebrew poems and lyrics.”  This poem is a graphic and illustrative depiction of the scenery or panorama of peace when the “King of Peace,” (Acts 9: 6) our Lord Jesus Christ, arrives.  Verses 6 through 9, in particular, uses opposite images in depicting the Kingdom of Peace.  When the nation of peace advents, the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lay down with the young goat.  Further, the calf, the young lion, and the fatling, or young pig, will be together, and a little child shall lead them.  The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young shall lie together; the lion will graze like the cow.  The nursing child will play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

 Truly a peaceful spectacle, indeed.  But will such nation of peace where wild animals befriend tame ones, where children toy with poisonous snakes be possible on earth?  Will there be a day when Americans hold hands with Afghans, Israelis hug Palestinians, and Islamic fundamentalists hold a peaceful conversation with Jewish Rabbis?

 Hartsdale, New York boasts a large cemetery for household pets.  Perhaps this is the only place where the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the young goat, and the alligator and the chick can coexist peacefully in tranquillity.  It seems only death brings about peaceful coexistence.

 During the Cold War, a tourist visited a zoo in Moscow.  After looking at various attractions in the zoo, the tourist happened across a den where a lion and a lamb lived together.  Out of curiosity, the tourist asked one of the guides regarding the peculiarities of that arrangement.  The zoo guide answered, “This den is a demonstration of peace and tranquillity, of peaceful coexistence among seemingly incompatible species.  Of course, to maintain this den, there is a requirement of putting a new lamb into the den every day.”

  Peaceful coexistence between a lion and a lamb can only take place when either one is dead, or we can never expect them to reconcile and coexist peacefully while both are alive.  It seems as if the same parable is true for Israel and Palestine and for that matter, between the US and radical Islamic terrorist organizations, as well.  Only when one side is destroyed or extinguished, there can be peace and tranquillity.  Then how can we make the seemingly unrealizable peaceful world come true?

  First, our nature must change or turn into a peace-loving nature.  Jesus stated in Matthew 5, verse 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  In order for us to be children of God, we must become “peacemakers,” or those who bring peace to this world.  Those who make war are not the children of God.  Children of God do not create instability and uncertainty in this world.  Wherever the children of God go, all disputes, conflicts, hate, and anger disappear; agreement and love abound.  Therefore, if conflict and hatred appear wherever you go, then you are not a child of God.  True children of God create peace wherever they go.

  There are two types of peace in this world.  First, there is peace by force through use of force, as provided by the police or the military.  In this vicious world of ours, we cannot imagine peace without strength.  No one, nor any entity or organization can guarantee peace and stability for a nation that does not possess strong military or a robust economy.  Therefore, ironically, only those nations who possess nuclear weapon can create a deterrent to guarantee peace against other nations who possess nuclear capabilities.

 A newspaper reporter, during the frontier days, went out to the Kentucky territories to cover a story about the settlers who were engaged in a bitter territorial conflict with the surrounding Indian tribes.  The reporter visited a home of one of the settlers, and asked this question:  “What type of people are your neighbors?”  To this question, the settler answered, “My neighbors are all honest and peace loving people.”  During the conversation, the reporter happened to notice a loaded rifle hanging from the kitchen door of the settler’s house.  He then asked, “Okay, if you all are honest and peace loving people, then how come there is a need for loaded rifle in your house?”  The settler answered, “Because that is what keeps us honest and peace loving.” 

  We are living in a world where peace and stability or security can only be provided through force, in the form of police or military power.  However, peace by force cannot become an eternal peace.  This is because a stronger, more powerful force always threatens the weaker force.  When the US conducted retaliatory strikes against Afghanistan, the radical Islamic fundamentalists, far from toning down their acts, probably planned even greater terrorist acts against the US.  Peace through force is only temporary, one that is very susceptible to collapse when the balance of power is disrupted.

 The second type of peace comes when our collective human nature turns into a peace loving nature.  Only when the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5: 22-23 love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control hang from the tree that is our character and inner nature, can we create peace in our community and society.

 The following event took place when Leonardo Da Vinci was working to complete his masterpiece, the Last Supper.  When Da Vinci was working on this picture, he got into a very heated and ugly argument with one of his friends.  Da Vinci, having a difficult time suppressing his anger, conjured up the image of his friend when painting the face of Judas.  Perhaps he felt a sense of relief and satisfaction in venting the anger against his friend through the painting.  However, after such “retribution” against his friend, Da Vinci felt gradual erosion of his artistic sense and abilities.  He had a particularly difficult time in painting the face of Jesus Christ, because he would constantly recollect his own hate-filled image when painting the face of Judas.  After confessing and repenting his sins, he erased the face of his friend who for the moment, became Judas and started over again.  Upon forgiving his friend, a great peace and tranquillity came over the heart of Da Vinci.  And he was able to create perhaps the greatest artistic masterpiece, and created the image of Christ that was befitting. 

 Peace encompasses a change in character.  Only those who were forgiven can forgive others.  Only those who were healed can heal others.  Only those who were loved can love others.  Only those who love peace, and who live in peace, can give peace to his neighbors.  I hope that all of us can become the children of God, those who bring peace to wherever we go.

 Second, true and lasting peace stems from Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2: 14 states, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us.”  Colossians 1: 20 reiterates this point by stating, “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”  

 In today’s scripture, the “peaceful Kingdom” that Isaiah’s prophesy illustrates begin with Jesus Christ, the King of peace and tranquillity.  In verse 1 of today’s scripture, this peace begins from a Rod, or a shoot that comes from the Stem of Jesse.  The Kingdom of peace comes not from some emperor who possesses vast military or financial might; rather, this kingdom stems from a weak, defenseless sapling or shoot.  This Rod, or shoot, represents the One who came through the manger in Bethlehem our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus did not come to us with some power to rule or rights to royalty in His hands.  He came, humbly, as a baby into this world.  Thousand angels sang in joy when Jesus was born into this world.  “Glory to the God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men!” (Luke 2: 14)  True Kingdom of peace lie not in some authority to rule or military power; rather, it rests in one fragile shoot, the baby Jesus.

  Peace through force crumbles in the face of mightier, greater force.  Eternal and ever lasting peace comes only from the character that is humble, truthful, respectful and fearful of God.  Then what specific characteristics of Jesus allow him to bring peace to this world?

 In verse 2, King of peace, Jesus Christ is a Spirit that possesses wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.  A characteristic that sets Jesus apart from a thousand secular kings of this world and their leadership is that Jesus rules through the faith that fears the Lord.  Psalms 111: 10 states that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and Proverbs 1: 7 states that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”  Without fearing the Lord, one cannot realize or achieve lasting peace.

 Verse 3 outlines the way in which Jesus, the King of peace, governs this world.  Jesus delights in fearing the Lord.  And different from the kings of this world, Jesus “shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears.” 

  In looking at verse 4, we can see that Jesus will judge the poor with righteousness and decide for the meek of the earth those who are oppressed and persecuted with equity.  Jesus will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.  The evils and violence of this world will not be punished through some threat or force; rather, evils and violence will be slain through proclamation of truth. 

 Finally, as it is stated in verse 5, for Jesus, “Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.”  The kingdom of Christ, ruled through righteousness and faithfulness, will naturally be a nation of peace.  The kingdom of Christ will be the peaceful kingdom in which the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the young goat, the cow and the bear, and the toddler and the viper play together. 

  In the end, as it is stated in verse 9, when the Kingdom of peace is realized, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”  True and lasting peace does not rest in the hand of man.  It comes from God.  True kingdom of peace will not be realized in this world; it will advent only with Jesus Christ.  Only when the knowledge of God covers the entire universe, like water covers the oceans, will the true kingdom of peace be ultimately realized.

 An art gallery in Florence, Italy displays two paintings that are very particular and peculiar.  Both pictures contain the image of a violent, storm filled sea.  In the first picture, violent, white-capping waves dance wildly beneath a sky that is sheathed in black, lightning and storming clouds.  A man, on the verge of death, is desperately awaiting some miraculous rescue.  The title of this work is Distress.  It is a work that depicts the inability and despair of this world.  The other picture contains the same background of violent waves, black-clouded skies, heavy storm, and winds yet, it is set apart by something else.  In the midst of the violent storm-filled sea protrudes a rock.  Peeping out from a crevice that runs the length of the rock are a beautiful flower and green blades of grass.  In this crevice, a dove, regardless of the storm that is raging overhead, peacefully rests in a nest.  Do you know what the title of this work is?  Peace.  True peace constructs the nest of trust and faith in God, even in the midst of most violent of storms.

 True peace does not take place, nor is it given in a vacuum.  It is a present from the Lord, to those who live in the midst of a violent, terror-filled world.  Jesus speaks in John 14: 27.  “Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  Jesus gives us peace.  In the midst of the world filled with pain, sadness, and despair, He brings the gift of miraculous peace.

 There is a vast difference between those who have peace and those who do not.  When there is peace in our spirits, the most difficult and fearful of the tasks can be easily accomplished and overcome; when there is no peace, even the easiest of tasks are impossible to accomplish.

  I hope that true peace, given by Jesus, appear in every one of your lives.  Carry that peace and give it to your neighbors become the messenger of peace in your neighborhood.  When one of us becomes the disciple of peace, this world will become all the more peaceful despite the fear of war and terror.

  Most of all, let’s carry around with us the vision of peaceful kingdom as outlined in Isaiah 11: 1-10.  Let’s pray for that day of peace, when the US and Afghanistan reconcile and Israel and Palestine hug one another.  Let’s hope for the day when all nuclear weapons and mines in this world disappear.  Let’s pray for this day when all rifles, grenades, howitzers, missiles, and tanks turn into a pile of rubble, no longer needed to maintain security in this world.

 There is nothing more important than praying for that day of peace.  Therefore, we must never forget the following words of Samuel Chadwick.  “The only concern of the Devil is to keep saints from praying.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion.  He laughs at our toil and mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”

 Now is the time to pray for peace.  It is the time for you to ask God to use you as a tool a device of peace.  I hope, in the name of our Lord, that all of us can become the children of God, ones that spread and disseminate peace to the far corners of this world.  Amen.