Jesus, Son of David

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I have been intensely studying the book of 2 Chronicles all summer. I have been doing this for my DMIN classes at Southwestern. I have learned some remarkable things, let me share one.

Have you ever read those genealogy passages? Few things are harder to find relevance in than those passages. There are even some genealogies in the New Testament, the Gospels. In our culture genealogies don’t really peak our interest that much. But, they are in scripture and a part of God’s inspired Holy Word, and therefore, we need to take them seriously.

Here was a light bulb moment for me?

In the Hebrew Bible the last book of the Old Testament is Chronicles. It is not in our English translation.(I won’t take the time to explain why here). But, in the original languages Chronicles is the last book of the OT and Matthew is the first of the new.

Stay with me.
Chronicles is all about the Davidic Covenant – the promise that an heir of David would reign on the throne forever. Chronicles is written to the people of Israel that had returned from exile. Remember that Jerusalem had been taken and the temple destroyed in 586 B.C. as a result of the infidelity of God’s people.

Chapter 36 of 2 Chronicles concludes with the exiles be allowed to return. Keep up, it’s about to get real good. Cyrus the king of Persia sent them back. They would return to their land (the promised land of the covenant). They were permitted and instructed to rebuild the temple. Everything is back in order. Land, Jerusalem, Temple, People – all part of God’s great covenant. But, at the end of Chronicles something striking is missing. The author of the book is writing a “chronicle” of the kings of Judah. He gives detailed information about these kings. But, when the exiles are returned the only thing that is not mentioned is a king. What about the Davidic covenant? What about the promise of God that an heir of David would reign on the throne forever? Nothing is mentioned about the king at the end of Chronicles. The people would have been filled with expectation and hope for the promised king.

That is where Chronicles ends.

That is where Matthew starts.

Matthew 1:1 " The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1, ESV)
Amazing! Marvelous!

Jesus is the long expected King who would reign forever!
Does He reign in your life?

King Jesus

As you have noticed, I have been a little lax in blogging as of late. But, they are coming back. I have started back to school again and have been intensley studing the Greek NT book of Hebrews. I had an in-depth class on Hebrews 1:1-4. This amazing passage of scripture gives one of the loftiest descriptions of Jesus Christ found anywhere. As I have studied this passage, it has penetrated into my life. It made me think of the following text from a sermon preached by the late great S.M. Lockeridge.

Hebrews 1:1-4
" Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." (Hebrews 1:1-4, ESV)

"That's My King"

The late Dr. S. M. Lockeridge, a pastor from San Diego, California said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976:

My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King. He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King. He's the King of Israel - that's a National King. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that's my King. Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. That's my King. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's honest. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent. He's the grandest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That's my King. He's the miracle of the age. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. That's my King. Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislatures. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King. His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible. I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hands. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him. That's my King. He always has been and He always will be. I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him. You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign. That's my King! That's my King! Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever's, then . . .Amen!


You can actually listen to S.M. Lockeridge giving this sermon if you will google it.