The government shall be upon His shoulders

I've been thinking a lot lately about this marriage equality bill (or rather the definition of marriage bill) that's right through the news at the moment.

"By passing this legislation we not only change the definition of marriage, we change it’s meaning and the fundamental basis of marriage. This change will have enduring ramifications for future generations."

It passed it's first reading last week with 80 for it and 40 against it. With a result like that, it immediately got me thinking about the times of Noah...

"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." - Genesis 6:5

"Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" - Genesis 6:11-12

"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." - Matthew 24:7

and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah...

"But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly." - Genesis 19:4-6

Sure, we are still a long way off from what it was like back then, but it's changing and it's inevitable. Sigh, what is the government doing? If anything they are leading this country astray. They need prayer and lots of it.

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Sure, the Lord is sovereign and these things are bound to come as it's been prophesied to before the coming of our Lord. But what are we to do when it feels like we're loosing all hope, and feeling like our "Christian" nation is heading downhill. What's going to happen next? Will our national anthem declaring that "God defend New Zealand" be changed? Who knows.. but we have hope.

Isaiah 9:6 puts it nicely.
"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."

I used to think that this verse (the part underlined) referred to Calvary and that the government was upon his shoulders by oppressing and crucifying Him. However, as I looked a little further, I noticed that this wasn't the case.
This child shall bear the burden of reigning the government. This child is the Son of God who will reign over every power imaginable. All the world is subject to the rule of this Child. Wise men from the East came to worship this child. The angels of heaven broke out into glorious praise when He was born. King Herod could not outsmart the hand of Almighty God in carrying out His perfect plan.
One day, Christ will reign and it will be an increasing government because the bounds of his kingdom shall be more and more enlarged, and many shall be added to it daily. And it will be a peaceable government agreeable to his character as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:7). Praise the Lord!