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It just doesn't seem possible that July ends this coming Sunday and the Walmart shelves have "Back to School" supplies upon them. But before we begin to lament the oncoming end of summer, let's celebrate that we still have a few more days of July left by concluding our Christmas in July series.
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Prince of Peace
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This past Sunday, I taught from Psalm 124 about humanity's natural desire for safety. Our desire for safety actually comes from a deeper desire: a longing for peace. From the moment a newborn is pushed from the comfort of the womb to the final breath on their deathbed, humans crave peace.
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Need proof? Just read the news headlines:
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- Right now, Ukrainians long for peace, praying for the end of the invasion by Russia.
- Our friends, Patrick & Shelby Ray, long for peace in their North Minneapolis neighborhood.
- Kids all around the globe long for the arguing and abuse to end at home, so they might know and experience peace.
This longing for peace transcends culture, history, age, race, and just about any other category you can come up with for humanity.
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So you can easily imagine just how comforting the final title given to the Messiah by the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, would have sounded to his readers.
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The Peace Prince
Through much of the writings of the prophet Isaiah, God rebuked the Israelite people for their sinfulness and hardheartedness. The consequence for rejecting God and His ways was ultimately going to be the destruction of their land by a foreign nation. In the very first chapter of Isaiah's book, God said,
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"Your country lies desolate;
your cities are burned with fire;
in your very presence
foreigners devour your land;
it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners."
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I don't know about you, but if I were an ancient Jew of Isaiah's time, these words would be unsettling, even depressing. Why would a loving God allow an ungodly foreign nation like Babylon to invade and destroy us, robbing us of the peace for which we long?
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Yet right in the middle of Isaiah's prophetic writings of rebuke, God promised a child who would grow to be the Prince of Peace, one who would ensure the people don't wander from God, so that foreign nations are no longer needed to bring correction and renewal.
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Think about that. Most parents, when correcting their kids, discipline out of anger, focusing only on the "crime" and the deserved punishment. Yet God gives the people hope even as He warns them. He would not abandon them. Their punishment would not last forever. He would come, sending them a baby who usher in an age of everlasting peace.
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I hope this encourages you! No matter what you are going through right now, it is temporary. Which means if you are in a time of struggle or conflict or uncertainty, the peace you long for can be found in Christ, the Prince of Peace.
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The Run-On Name
Before I let you go, let me finish our series with one last thought. It was common in ancient cultures in the Middle East to have kings and rulers with names and titles that were basically just a run-on sentence. For instance, in ancient Egypt, many Pharaohs were given five titles during their coronation that became as one name.
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We even see this in Isaiah's writings. In the first verse of chapter 8, Isaiah has a son and names him "Maher-shalal-hash-baz," which means (according to the NET Bible's study notes) "One hastens to the plunder, one hurries to the loot." (Doubt you'll find that name in any Baby Name book!)
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If you noticed in our key verse for this series, Isaiah wrote "his name (singular) shall be called," not "his names (plural) shall be." This means Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace aren't just four separate titles. They all work together to help describe this Given Son. So do you long for peace? You will find it in the Amazing Supernatural Divine Peace-Bringing Strategist Who Is The Loving Sovereign Of Time.
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Wow! What an incredible Son given to us and for us! He isn't just the most impressive human ever. He is the true G.O.A.T, the Greatest Of All Time. May you run to Him in all circumstances, knowing that through His death on a cross and resurrection from the grave you can find a true peace that surpasses understanding.
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Erin Bird - Teaching Pastor
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P.S. In case you didn't know, Riverwood is part of Converge. The new regional president for Converge North Central (our region) will be with us this coming Sunday, July 31. I hope you take a moment to meet and greet Mark Bjorlo before or after the Worship Gathering.
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Film & Theology Night
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This Saturday, July 30 at 6:30pm, Riverwood will host another Film & Theology Night. Invite a friend to this movie (rated PG) night of laughs and a look into biblical themes found in unusual places.
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Monthly Food Pantry
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We have the opportunity to serve our community at the next Food Pantry day on Tuesday, Aug 9. Setup begins at 4:15pm and distribution begins at 5:30pm. Sign up here!
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No Kids Creek
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Just a reminder that there will be NO Kids Creek this Sunday, July 31; all children are invited to join us for our Worship Gathering. If you need to take an energetic kid out for a break, the lobby tv will be live streaming and the nursery room has speakers you can listen in on.
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Just For Fun
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Have you ever delved into the Hebrew meaning of the word "peace"? The Bible Project put out a great video that explores the core meaning of biblical peace.
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