The Lineage of David
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Key Verse: “The women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Selected Scripture: |
THE CHIEF OBJECT OF the Book of Ruth is to preserve an authentic record of our Lord’s human ancestry. Matthew speaks of Christ the son of David; hence his genealogy is complete. According to the flesh, our Lord Jesus was born through his mother, and therefore was the son of the man David. (Luke 3:23-38) It is of importance to note that the Saviour of the world was to be born through the kingly line of the Jews in fulfillment of prophecy. God had promised centuries before that a holy child would be born.
We further read “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head.” (Gen. 3:15) These verses had no immediate application at the time when they were delivered, but would be fulfilled in God’s due time. We would then not apply these verses to the Lord’s First Advent, but to the worldwide blessings that follow the Second Coming of our Lord, and the subsequent establishment of his glorious kingdom.
The book of Matthew is the message connecting the Old Testament with the New, and is written to prove the messiahship of Christ. He would come to fulfill the promise made to Abraham—“In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 28:14) Jesus is the promised ‘seed’ from David’s house, the rightful heir of the throne, referring to the dignity, power and authority of office which David exercised. The throne of David is the emblem, or symbol, of David’s reign or kingdom. It serves as a type or picture of the reign or kingdom of David’s son and Lord. He is also called the “seed of Abraham” (Gal. 3:16), and the seed of “the woman.”—Gen. 3:15
According to God’s plan, this kingdom will be established ‘upon the throne of David.’ “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: … Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isa. 9:6,7) As David sat upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord, the greater than David—the Messiah—will reign because he has the right to do so. John tells us concerning Jesus, “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Rev. 22:16) The peace that he brings will be without end, ‘from henceforth even forever.’
All men should honor the Son, not as the Father, but as the Father’s direct representative. “For God hath appointed [him] heir of all things.” (Heb. 1:2) This is not given to the man Christ Jesus, but to the New Creature, the glorified Lord. As the ‘heir of all things’ he will be the representative of the Father for all eternity and the heir of all of the gracious promises of God’s Word. ‘The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.’ This is truly a wonderful expression of the love of God; for it was love that motivated the Father to give his only begotten Son. (John 3:16) It will bring great joy to the Father to restore man to his original condition of perfection.—Gen. 1:27-31