Circle Squared

Chapter 19: "The Governator"

 

Chapter Summary:

Isaiah speaks messianically--The people in darkness will see a great light--Unto us a child is born--He will be the Prince of Peace and will reign on David’s throne--Compare Isaiah 9. About 559–545 B.C.

 

 

 

 

 

Expounding upon the idea that the Jewish messiah will be a great ruler, Isaiah describes some of the qualities which the messiah will have. Keep in mind that Isaiah is still talking about the child born of a "virgin" which will be a sign from god for King Ahaz. In no way has he indicated that this will be an event in the far-distant future.

 

Isaiah describes the Jewish messiah:

 

"6 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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

 

Aficionados of Classic Christmas music will note that this verse is cited verbatim in Handel's definitive work, "The Messiah". As I have noted a few times, early Christians appear to have read between the lines of Isaiah's prophecies in order to make Jesus fit the description. I tend to agree with Jewish scholars that the messiah described by Isaiah is supposed to be a great political leader, which Jesus was clearly not.

 

Isaiah even says that the messiah will have the government upon his shoulder. In this way, he will bring about peace. Jesus subverted many aspects of his local government, and never once tried to take political office; although, some of his opponents feared that his rising following might allow him to do so.

 

Curiously, Isaiah seems to be critical of taking advice from "ancients":

 

"14 Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush in one day."

 

"15 The ancient, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail."

 

This is probably just another metaphor soaring over my head (which begs the question "what good is it?"). But it is a funny thought that Isaiah would be critical of ancient wisdom, and then that Christians would use his ancient writings to prove Jesus is the messiah.

 

Isaiah also says in the same verses that false prophets will be cut off. How do we know that a prophet teaches lies? Presumably by their prophecies not coming to fruition. Ya know, like Isaiah.

 

Moving on to the unjust punishment of people for the actions of other people--which god is apparently totally in to--Isaiah blames followers of leaders for the actions of leaders:

 

"16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed."

 

Leaders cause people to err, and the people who are led to err are destroyed. Sounds like godly justice to me.

 

True to form, Isaiah closes this chapter with more obscure metaphors which, also true to form, I don't understand. But they all come across as brutal punishments from god for various transgressions. This is indicated by a phrase repeated a few times and is the last line in this chapter, spelling out god's outstretched hand of wrath:

 

"For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

 

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