Upon His Shoulders
Earlier in this chapter, Isaiah spoke of the burden on the shoulders of God’s people. The Messiah, he promised, would break that yoke for them. Now he says that “the government shall be upon [the Messiah’s] shoulder.”
The word Isaiah uses for “government” is used only here and again in verse 7. It is related to the word “prince.” It speaks of the Messiah’s ruling authority. The Messiah comes to relieve His people from the burdens too heavy for them to bear. He does this, in part, by bearing the weight of ruling authority.
We all suffer the burden of living under unjust and immoral rulers. Even the best ruling authorities is flawed. They are flawed because they are sinners. Christ rules in righteousness because He is righteous. So, we pray, “thy kingdom come.”
