“O King of the Nations”
Monday’s Verses:
From Isaiah 2:4 ESV
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
From Isaiah 2:4 ESV
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah prophesies the future that we long for. Swords that are beaten into plowshares. Spears that are turned into pruning hooks. Nations that no longer train for war. It sounds far off. Nearly mythical. Because it is so different than the world we know. War is normal. Peace is often fleeting or tentative.
Then Isaiah declares the name of the King who makes such a world possible. He is not a king victorious in battle. He is a Child, given. A Son, born. His kingdom is not built on fear or violence. It is rooted in justice and righteousness, and in peace that has no end. He is Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, because He brings wisdom the world cannot give and peace the world cannot sustain.
As Lutherans, we confess that this King reigns in two ways. In the here and now, He rules the world through governments, even as they are now, in this world. But even now, He also reigns through the Gospel, in His Church. He overcomes not by the sword, but by the cross. He brings together the nations, not by force, but by forgiveness.
We await the day when His peace will be revealed to all creation. Until then, we walk by faith in the promise. The King has come. He has claimed us already. And He will come again to bring the day to completion.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
O King of the nations, Prince of Peace, reign over our hearts by Your Word. Give us Your peace where we are restless. Unite us in Your forgiveness where we are divided. Keep us awake and watchful, trusting until the day Your kingdom comes in fullness. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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