“A Utopian Paradise”
Text: Isaiah 11:1-10
12-4-2022
In the name of our Advent King, dear friends in Christ. When the Old Testament lesson for today is read many folks over the centuries have viewed it as a description of A Utopian Paradise. You know what the word utopia means, right? The dictionary definition says it’s “an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect and ideal.” You’ve heard me mention a song that John Lennon wrote about this kind of utopia. It was called “Imagine.” In it, he imagined what the world would be like without countries, and wars, and personal possessions, and hunger. Oh, and no heaven or hell, and no religion since he believed these were the main sources of the world’s problems. Then, supposedly, people would live in peace with one another and there would be harmony all across the world. It kinda sounds like a “utopian paradise” doesn’t it? No, it actually resembles something called Communism or Socialism and those are societal systems have failed time and time again. Here in this country, we also learned during the 60’s and 70’s that putting flowers in your hair, wearing tie-dyed t-shirts and peace symbols, and living in a commune won’t bring about world peace and harmony either.
Actually, though, it may surprise you to learn that all of this really IS a utopian paradise. Allow me to explain. Sir Thomas Moore created the word “utopia” back in 1516. He wrote a fictional book by that title and in it he told of an imaginary island where people lived in a perfect, ideal society. But instead of saying this was something to strive for, he was trying to show that it wasn’t possible. It’s kind of an inside joke, but he named the island “utopia” for that reason. What he did was combine the Greek words for “no” and “place” to create it. It’s “no place”, or as we would say, “nowhere.” It does not, and never can, exist. Not in this sinful world at least. So maybe John Lennon was closer to the truth when he wrote in an earlier song, “He's a real nowhere man, Sitting in his nowhere land, Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.”
Well, then, if this paradise of ideal conditions can’t exist, then why in the world did God give Isaiah these words of prophesy? And what do they mean for us today? In order to answer that, we need to look at the background and context of what Isaiah wrote. To the people of Israel, the land of Canaan was God’s promised utopia on earth. The metaphorical description of it was a land flowing with milk and honey. It took years for them to conquer it and settle in this place that God had promised to give them. Eventually, under the kingship of David, they experienced what was about as close to their golden years as one could wish for. The borders were secure. Their enemies left them alone because the army under David was victorious wherever they turned. There was peace and prosperity. Yes, people still sinned, but they pretty much worshiped the true God in the way He had commanded and they went to Him for forgiveness. There seemed to be perfect harmony.
But this utopian paradise didn’t last. The sinful nature that lives within all of us reared its ugly head. Future kings drifted from solely worshiping the true God and the people followed their monarch’s lead. Greed, hatred, and distrust ruled their hearts. The country was a mess, so much so that there was infighting; brother against brother and tribe against tribe. Israel divided into 2 kingdoms, one to the north and one to the south. Their earthly utopia was in disarray. But rather than turning back to God and His promises, they relied on their own wisdom and power for solutions. In order to get their attention, God allowed their enemies to successfully attack them. By the time of Isaiah, the northern kingdom had aligned with Syria in an effort to stop the Assyrians from controlling the whole region. They wanted the southern kingdom to join them. But King Ahaz refused, so they threatened him with war. It was an opportunity for Ahaz to turn things around. Isaiah encouraged him to rely on God. Instead, he made a pact with the Assyrians to fight off Israel and Syria.
In the midst of all this, God gave His people a message of hope. It was the promise of a utopian paradise. However, He would provide an even better one than they had under David’s reign, which was merely a shadow of what was to come. In last week’s reading from chapter 2, Isaiah described how weapons of war would be retooled into farming equipment. In chapter 7 the sign of the promise is given: a virgin will give birth to a son who would be called Immanuel. And in today’s reading, that promise is further refined. Immanuel will come unexpectedly from the line of David. That’s what the “stump of Jesse” refers to. Why a stump? Well, it’s another metaphor. The tree is cut down, that is, the descendants of David no longer rule over Israel. It looks like their glory days are over. All hope for that utopia seems to be dead. However, below the surface, hidden from their eyes, the taproot of God’s promise still lives. It sends out a shoot that will grow into a tree and one of the branches from it will produce the fruit of the Messiah. He will be divinely gifted and able to rule God’s people with righteousness and wisdom.
His reign will bring about the idyllic conditions in nature that you heard about: The wolf lying down in peace with the lamb, etc. Now, don’t take this literally. It’s another metaphor. It’s supposed to convey the idea of people who were former archenemies, both the strong and the weak, living peacefully together. The part about the little children not being harmed by formerly poisonous snakes also has a deeper meaning. Do you remember how Satan took on the form of a serpent in the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve. Well, under the kingship of Immanuel the fear of his venomous attacks will be gone. Pain, suffering, violence, and destruction will be gone. As the final verse promises, “His resting place shall be glorious.”
As Christians, we know that this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ who is Immanuel, that little baby born in Bethlehem who died on the cross for our sins. He came to establish His kingdom, which truly is a utopian paradise. But this promised paradise is not an impossible dream of perfection. It’s a reality. Now, if you’re paying attention to what I just said then you’re probably wondering where in the world is it? I don’t know about you but I don’t see people living in peace and harmony. Justice doesn’t prevail. Wars and killing, racial tensions and rioting, greed and hatred are on the increase. So where is this utopian paradise that Christ supposedly established? Or, was the prophecy only for the next life in heaven?
Well, it’s true that in heaven we’ll finally experience 100% of the utopian paradise of a perfect existence. There won’t be enemies who attack one another or any of the sinful hate and killing we see here on earth. And Satan’s venomous bite of temptation and sin will be totally gone because he will have been cast into hell where he belongs. But friends in Christ, a shadow of that utopian paradise is available here on earth for us now. Those conditions of peace and harmony and safety under the reign of Immanuel are offered within His kingdom of grace, which is the Christian Church. How so? Well, like that stump of Jesse, God operates “under the surface” so-to-speak. In Baptism we can’t see the forgiveness of sins and faith that the Lord is working within that person’s heart. But the fruit of Christ the Savior is produced in and through them as they live a life of obedience and trust in God.
That saving faith produces in us the desire to live in peace and harmony with others. No, we don’t always do it perfectly. So those words of John the Baptist resound through the ages for us today, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” God is constantly calling us to recognize our sins against Him and others and confess them. Through the atoning blood of Jesus, He forgives and restores the peace and harmony. And in this utopian paradise on earth, He also thwarts the venomous attacks of Satan. Through prayer, God’s Word, and the Sacrament of Holy Communion He shields and protects us from the temptation to sin. Yes, we weaken at times and fall into sin, but once again, God calls us to repent so that we can be restored. That is the joy of living in the utopian paradise of the Christian Church here on earth. It’s preparing us for the reality of the perfect paradise that God has made ready for us in heaven, which all believers look forward to. May God enrich us with His Holy Spirit as we live in repentance and obedience to Immanuel or Savior. And may He grant us that peace and harmony within His Christian Church as we share the good news of Jesus with our fallen world. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!