Sermon Tone Analysis

Humanity Longs for a Wise Ruler

If this past election illustrated anything, it illustrated that humanity longs for a wise ruler.

Unfortunately for the United States of America our two major political parties nominated candidates that most Americans judged as unwise.

One was unwise in her actions and the other was unwise in his choice of words.

Things were not that much different in ancient Israel.

Judah was cursed with an intelligent but foolish ruler named Ahaz.

During Ahaz' reign the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Syria conspired against Judah and attacked it.

You would think that Ahaz would have been comforted and encouraged by such a positive word from the Lord, but listen to what happened next.

Rather than trust in the Lord and his promises, Ahaz decides to trust in his own wisdom and this is what he does.

Spiritually and politically, Ahaz' alliance with Assyria was a disaster.

Ahaz felt obligated to not offend the religious sensitivities of his new master, so the introduced the idolatrous practices of the Assyrians in the temple worship.

Politically, Judah was never be truly independent again, but rather she would be a ping-pong ball in the game of world domination fought between Assyria, Egypt and Babylon.

It is against the backdrop of the foolishness of King Ahaz that God, through Isaiah reveals to us the promise of Immanuel--God with us.

In chapter 9, God gives us more details about this coming King.

For the next four weeks we will examine in detail each of the four names Immanuel is given.

The first of these names is Wonderful Counselor.

The word "counselor" speaks of Immanuel being about to make wise decisions and plans.

In the history of the world and of Israel, the ruler who most perfectly exemplifies the wisdom we long for is king Solomon.

King Solomon Exemplifies the Wisdom We Long For

With the exception of Jesus--Our Immanuel--no ruler has exceeded the wisdom of Solomon.

Notice that Solomon's wisdom is of divine origin. 2 Chronicles 9:23 makes the divine origin of Solomon's wisdom even more explicit.

The divine character of Immanuel's wisdom will be even more evident because his counsel is called Wonderful.

This word "wonderful" in the Hebrew speaks of something that is miraculous and beyond human comprehension.

This word is typically used to describe God and his mighty acts.

For example, we read in Exodus 15:11:

Isaiah himself, praises God for his wondrous deed and plans.

But even God-like wisdom is not enough to restrain the sinful human heart.

In the end, Solomon's sinful lusts made him a fool and shortly after his death his kingdom was torn in two by civil war.

Thomas Brooks makes this observation about Solomon:

“Solomon got more hurt by his wealth than he got good by his wisdom… Under all his royal robes, he had but a threadbare soul.”

This should be a warning to us all.

No human ruler will bring our world into a golden age of wise and good governance.

We need more than a ruler gifted by God--we need a ruler who is God!

We need Immanuel--God with us! Jesus is that God-man our hearts long for.

In the gospels of Matthew and Luke we find these stunning words:

Jesus, Our Emmanuel, is Greater Than Solomon

Jesus is everything that Solomon's wisdom pointed to--a wisdom and counsel that go beyond our ability to comprehend!

What the psalmist says of God the Father, can also be said of Jesus' wisdom:

Unlike Solomon (or any other politician for that matter) Jesus' knowledge and wisdom is not undermined by a sinful and lustful heart.

The kings and queens of the earth use to come to king Solomon to seek his wisdom, but now King Jesus invites us to come to him for wisdom.

The apostle Paul writes this about his preaching:

The Ruler and King every human heart longs for has already arrived!

This is why we celebrate Advent!

All across American, election parties were held a few weeks ago.

Advent is the world's biggest election party!

Jesus has already ascended and reigns from His throne in heaven.

By wisdom, Jesus is directing all things to God's glory and our everlasting joy.

The rulers of this earth and the spiritual powers and authorities of the Unseen Realm are but pawns on Christ's chess board.

He is carefully moving each piece to glorious conclusion of the game--the Second Advent!

What a comfort this is in light of the foolishness and wickedness of earthly rulers.

Even the disastrous messes they make of the nations and kingdoms of this world, Jesus is turning to the glory of His! Ahaz was a fool to not trust in God and to rely on Assyria, but it was during his disastrous reign that God gave us some of his most glorious promises.

The promise of Immanuel Our Wonderful Counselor!

Conclusion:

Some of you like Ahaz are filled with fear and dread as you look at the political situation of our world.

God is speaking the same Word to us that he spoke to Ahaz so many centuries ago.

We know this Word is true, because God has already given us the sign of Immanuel, the babe born in a manger in Bethlehem!

Don't be like Ahaz and the unbelieving generation of Jesus' day--trust you future to the wisdom of God.