Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end
The missionary work
I.
WHAT IS THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED AND WHOSE AGENCY SHALL ACCOMPLISH IT?
1. The missionary work is the increase of Messiah’s government and peace: the proclamation of Messiah as King of kings and Lord of lords throughout the universe; the establishment of peace among men, because He hath made peace for them through the blood of His Cross.
2. “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
II. WHAT ARE THE INSTRUMENTS WHOM THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL EMPLOY in the accomplishment of this seemingly impossible work? They are themselves subjects of the Kingdom which they aim to extend, and adorers of the one name which they desire to exalt, believers in the Word which they combine to diffuse, holding substantially the same truths, maintaining steadfastly some fellowship with those to whom the Lord Jesus proclaimed in the days of His flesh, “Go ye,” and to whom He graciously declared, “Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.”
III. WHAT IS OUR OWN DUTY AND OBLIGATION IN REFERENCE TO THIS WORK? As we are Britons, the missionary work belongs to us from our country; as we are Christians, from our profession; as we are churchmen, it appeals to us from our very prayers, for how can we implore our blessed Lord to bring home to His flock the infidel, the heretic, the beguiled Romanist, the benighted idolater, unless we are prepared, as far as in us lies, to “prepare the way of the Lord, and make in the desert a highway for our God”? But neither as Britons, nor as Christians, nor as churchmen, shall we ever learn our duty from any teacher but God’s Word, or perform it through any power but that of God’s Spirit. Besides, while the missionary work, being a work of faith, is therefore acceptable to God, it is also profitable to ourselves; it awakens brotherly affections, it kindles a holy zeal, it expands Christian charity, it brings us into communion with “the excellent of the earth,” it cements our fellowship with each other, and with Christ; by engaging in it heart and soul, we not only apprehend the brotherhood of man, but we anticipate the brotherhood of heaven, when they shall “come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.” Nor is the missionary work profitable only to the heathen and to our own souls, but to those who dwell immediately around us. What we attempt abroad we shall never be content to leave undone at home. (T. Dale, M. A.)
The increase of His government
I. THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT. This implies--
1. The extended diffusion of the knowledge of His Gospel.
2. The triumphs of His grace over the sin and misery of man.
3. The diffusion of the peaceful influence of the Gospel in calming the passions, and allaying the violence of unhappy men.
4. The annihilation of all that opposes His progress.
II. HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT OF CHRIST TO INCREASE? By the agency of miracles? No; the age of miracles is gone. By the distribution of the Bible, and suitable tracts, by pious individuals? Doubtless this may be the means of great usefulness. By the education of the young? We look for something more than all this. How then shall it be increased? By the instrumentality of the preached Gospel accompanied by the influences of the Holy Spirit.
III. WHERE IS THE NECESSITY OR CERTAINTY OF THIS INCREASE OF THE SAVIOUR’S GOVERNMENT?
1. In the Divine appointment.
2. In the claims of His mediatorial sacrifice (Php_2:8-11).
3. In the very nature of His exaltation (Eph_1:21-22).
4. In the events which have taken place in the theatre of the world Hag_2:7).
5. In the proofs with which we are furnished of the final evangelisation of the world. (E. Parsons.)
The government of the Prince of Peace
I. THE VAST AMPLITUDE AND GROWING EXTENT OF THE MESSIAH’S KINGDOM.
II. THE MEANS BY WHICH THE KINGDOM IS GROWING. (R. Macculloch.)
Christian peace conditional
“His government and peace.” Note that combination. It contains a truth much needed in these times. There is no peace without government. Liberty and independence are our favourite watchwords; liberty for the community, liberty for the individual. Obedience, order, self-control, are less enthusiastically praised. Yet we cannot have the one without the other. We need no appeal to history, no a priori conjectures, to convince us of the truth, that peace and government must go hand in hand. The experience of our own times, the experience of each man’s daily life, is ample to teach us that. Every newspaper we take up is full of such lessons. Every reproach of conscience tells the same.
1. Is it not so in the State? Whence comes the want of peace in our sister island? Whence come the perplexity and the insecurity which are such a stain on our civilisation, and which make statesmen well-nigh despair? Is it not because government has become impossible, while law is neutralised and defiled by the unscrupulous opposition of a rival and self-constituted power?
2. Is it not so in ourselves? Whence comes the want of peace in our own hearts? Is it not because of the want of government there; while passion, and self-indulgence, and the fashion of the world, usurp in turn the authority of conscience? What we fancy, what comes easiest to us, what other men do, these constitute our rule of life: not the dictates of conscience, not the will of God, not the example of Jesus Christ. We most of us wish for peace, as we most of us wish for heaven; but we take little means of winning either the one or the other. The cry for personal freedom, for liberty of thought and conscience, is on every lip; but we are most of us more eager to win the power of doing what we choose, than careful to choose what is best. Self-knowledge, self-control, self-renunciation--this is the only road. And while you pursue it, liberty will come unsought; for the highest liberty of all is to be free from the tyranny of self. Self-government is only another name for that service which is perfect freedom. Perfect peace is found in the absolute surrender of self to One who cannot abuse so tremendous a trust. And with this peace in your own hearts you will almost without effort, almost without knowing it, bring peace to others. (A. Plummer, M. A.)
“He will do it”
Charles, King of Sweden, father of the great Gustavus Adolphus, was an ardent Protestant, and purposed for his country more good than he was able to accomplish. His son, who gave early promise of his brilliant qualities, was his father’s great hope. Often when a scheme of reformation, yet impracticable, was referred to, the king would lay his hand upon the boy’s head and say to the bystanders, “He will do it.” So with respect to all which cannot now be accomplished, our faith should look confidently to “Great David’s greater Son,” in whose reign it will surely be effected. (Sunday School Teacher.)
“The empire is peace”
Napoleon, standing amid the ambassadors of Europe, reassured the entire continent by the utterance of his New Year’s motto, “The empire is peace.” But with far greater truth may we apply the words to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose rule over the soul is the synonym of peace unspeakable and full of glory. And as His government spreads further and further over the soul, with its growing area there is growing peace, until they shall both become complete to all the heights, and depths, and breadths of blessedness. Of the increase or his government, and of our peace, there is no end. (F. B. Meyer B. A.)
Christ’s influence ever increasing
Speaking on the day of Mr. Gladstone’s funeral, the Rev. F.B. Meyer said: “One of the marks which distinguish Jesus Christ from every human teacher and reformer is the fact that His influence is ever increasing. The influence of Gladstone, today so great, will diminish year by year, but Jesus Christ’s influence was never so great as it is now.”
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this
The zeal of the Lord
“The zeal” translates our English version, but no one English word will give it. It is that mixture of hot honour and affection to which “jealousy” in its good sense comes near. (Prof. G. A. Smith, D. D.)
Claiming and reckoning.
If we ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us; and if we know that He hears us, we know that we have the petition that we desired of Him--not only that it will be our, but that it is our, to be used forthwith for His glory, because the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.
1. Are you in need of counsel? Reverently and thoughtfully claim the wisdom of the “Counsellor;” reckon that you have it, and act to the best of your judgment, believing that His wisdom is threading it with its unseen direction. And when you have acted, whatever be the results, dare to believe that you were directed to do the best thing, and never look back.
2. Are you in need of strength? Reverently and believingly claim the power of the “Mighty God,” and reckon that it is yours; and go forth to any work to which He may call yon, believing that you are adequately equipped. You will not know what power you have till you begin to use it.
3. Are you in need of unchanging love and affection, in a world of incessant disappointment, in which the warmest friendships cool/ and the dearest friends die? Reverently and gladly avail yourself of the love of me “Father of the Ages,” the I AM, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
4. Do you want peace? Reverently and trustfully claim His peace, who is the “Prince of Peace; and know that it is yours in the depths of your soul, though the surface of your life be still swept by storms. These are two great words--“claim” God’s fulness, and “reckon” that whatever you can claim is yours, although no answering emotion assures you that it is. Dare to act in faith, stepping out in the assurance that you have what you have claimed, and doing just as you would do if you felt to have it. But this is only possible when you have put the government, where God the Father has placed it, on the shoulders of Jesus. It is there by right, but it must be also there by choice and acquiescence. (F. B. Meyer, B. A.)
