Son of David
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Key Verse: “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet.” Selected Scriptures: |
THE NAME DAVID SIGNIFIES “beloved,” and the Scriptures describe a close and tender relationship between David and God. While in the depths of despair due to his own sins, David turned to the Heavenly Father for forgiveness with a repentant heart and found comfort. (Psalm 32) When David’s desire to build a temple to house the Ark of God was not granted, the Lord lovingly reassured him that his desire to show gratitude would be accomplished through his seed. “When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.”—II Sam. 7:12,13
This promise appeared to be fulfilled when David appointed his son, Solomon, to be the next king of Israel. The name Solomon means “the peaceful one,” and this accurately describes one of the outstanding features of his reign. However, Solomon’s peaceful rule eventually ended when he took heathen wives in opposition to God’s instructions. The eleventh chapter of I Kings gives a detailed account of Solomon’s turning away from the Lord. His actions finally led to the division and loss of Israel’s kingdom: “Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon.”—I Kings 11:31
In the eyes of the world, it appeared God’s promise to David had been broken. We see through the Scriptures and the prophets, however, that this was not the case. God’s promise was not broken, but merely hidden in prophetic testimony. The Prophet Ezekiel explained that God would establish the promised kingdom under David’s rightful heir in due time: “Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”—Ezek. 21:26,27
Our Key Verse identifies Jesus as the son to be born to Mary and Joseph. More importantly, he is spoken of earlier in this chapter as being the “son of David” (Matt. 1:1), for whom the throne prophesied of by Ezekiel has been waiting. Jesus is shown to be the rightful heir of David through the birth lines of both Mary and Joseph. (see Luke 3:23-31 and Matt. 1:1-16) Indeed, he is the one who has earned the “right” to sit on the throne of the promised kingdom.
This throne will not be an earthly one such as those filled by the kings of Israel. The Apostle Paul declares, “Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (II Cor. 5:16) The throne spoken of represents the sovereign power and dignity of Christ’s office. “Of the increase of his [Christ’s] 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.”—Isa. 9:7