'Tis the season when millions will hear in the third chorus from Part 1 of Handel's Messiah, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…" Even as you read these words, in your mind you may be hearing a choir singing the powerful music of that unforgettable 1741 oratorio.

Perhaps this may, however briefly, take your mind off of the worldwide economic disaster unfolding in slow motion day after day. But if you have ears to hear, there is an even more meaningful connection between these great words and the world around us!

First a few comments on that unpleasant world...

National economies managed by their governments see further manipulation of their financial institutions, industry, commodities and taxes. It shocks no one when nations like Venezuela and Bolivia nationalize their energy industry.

But it is news when South Korea partially nationalizes its commercial banks, and when Argentina nationalizes its pension funds.

And it is news when Britain's former Finance Minister Kenneth Clarke says that the financial crisis may require the UK to nationalize its entire banking system. It was also a shock when the Benelux nations partially nationalized bank and insurance giant Fortis.

The United States, which has long prided itself on a free market philosophy, is turning in desperate times to nationalizing or partially nationalizing numerous financial institutions and perhaps the auto industry. Headlines like these speak for themselves: "U.S. Forces Nine Major Banks To Accept Partial Nationalization"; "Feds Take Over Mortgage Giants"; "Washington Takes Risks With Its Auto Bailout Plans".

Governments are growing in power as the economy shrinks.

That brings us back to Handel's Messiah. In this season millions give lip service to Christ with the words, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." But do they know the next refrain? Do you? It is, "and the government shall be upon His shoulder." Few people would associate government with the Messiah! Yet, they should!

Strangely, many worshippers look only at the introduction, "the child" and ignore the rest.

Consider how odd it would be to visit a museum of fine paintings and spend all of one's time admiring the frames but never looking at the paintings. Or think how irrational it would be to visit a library of precious books to admire their covers without reading their content. That is exactly what worshippers do in this season. They consider only part of the picture.

What did Isaiah mean by government being on the shoulder of Christ? The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains that the phrase is figurative of responsibility and power, citing Isaiah 22:22.

"The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open."

The key symbolized the authority of an honored priest to act in the name of king David. Similarly, the Messiah prophecy about having the "government upon His shoulder" is a figurative expression meaning that Christ would have the responsibility and the authority of the Kingdom of God.
It is misleading to claim that these prophecies foretell a socially active Christianity reforming the world.

Only the Messiah King can bring the needed changes. This message is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus did not preach about His birthday, or that He was once a child. Rather, His message was and is, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15).

The gospel of Jesus Christ has everything to do with government. When on trial for His life, Jesus answered Pilate's piercing question, "Are You a king then?" saying, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born…" (John 18:37).

It is remarkable and somewhat bizarre that humankind never seems to tire of searching for another charismatic president, prime minister or even a dictator who could bring universal peace and prosperity.

So many people don't recognize the King as the only one who has the authority and power to do what is truly needed to bring about solutions to mankind's problems. They look at the cover and never read the book, at the frame of the masterpiece and never at the master's work.  

In this season when human governments are attempting to solve the economic crisis by taking sweeping control, most aren't even thinking about the government of God that will actually save them.