In search of the Ancient Order (2)

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Isaiah is often referred to as the Messianic prophet because he so often speaks of the coming Annointed One. One such familiar passage is found in Isaiah 9:6,7. The passage reads:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

No serious Bible student can doubt the Messianic import of these verses. Yet these words describe in no uncertain terms a divine “order” to the kingdom of the Prince of Peace. First, Messiah is described as having the government resting upon His shoulders. Can anyone seriously conceive of an empire that has no order, no law, no form, no pattern to its government? The “key to the House of David” rested upon His shoulders, the emblem signifying the authority of the one who had the key to order His kingdom (Is. 22:22). Having this authority, He can open and no man can shut, and shut and no man can open (Rev. 3:7). Thus, having the authority of the divine government (Matt. 28:18-20), He permits some things and forbids others. This is the very essence of a pattern.

Second, this Prince has a kingdom (a dominion, a rule, a realm). Again the question needs to be asked can a kingdom exist without order or form (Matt. 12:25)? Jesus said to Peter and the apostles, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). In the Lord’s kingdom there are things that are binding, things that are obligatory. Indeed, the very terms for entrance into this kingdom are restrictive (John 3:3,5).

Third, please note very carefully that Isaiah said Messiah would sit upon the throne of David to order His kingdom. Peter said the Lord sat on the throne of David, the throne of His kingdom, when He was resurrected from the dead (Acts 2:25-31; cf. Acts 13:32-37). From that time on, at the establishment of the kingdom on the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection, the disciples “continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Those who keep not this doctrine are not to be fellowshipped (II John 9-11). Paul instructed young Timothy to “in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness” (Titus 2:7).

Finally, observe the word judgement (a verdict, either favorable or unfavorable, pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree; a human or divine law). This word is found over three hundred sixty times in the Old Testament and is used in various ways. For instance, this word is translated “ordinance” in Exodus 15:25. In Exodus 21:1 the word is used of a series of laws regulating the treatment of others, including slaves. God set forth a pattern for the building of a tabernacle which was to be made after a certain “fashion” (Exodus 26:30). Indeed, there is no righteousness without God’s judgement (Isa. 26:9), and a people who refuse to accept God’s pattern are backsliders (Jer. 8:4-7) because God is known by His judgements (Ps. 9:16; 89:14).

Clearly, then, we can see and understand that even the Old Testament prophets foretold of a kingdom that would be ordered by Messiah. In our next installment we shall notice what the New Testament says about the order of the kingdom, the church of Christ.

Eric L. Padgett