Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Jesus - The Son of David

The title "Son of David," is related to the humanity of Christ and the Messiah - the promised Anointed One of the Old Testament. That is to say,  Israel expected one from the line of David to be the promised Anointed Savior, Deliverer and  Ruler over Israel. This expectation was due to the promise made to King David that Bible scholars call the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:11-17, and 1 Chronicles 17:10-15). The Son of David was prophesied to come and establish righteous rule in a future eternal Messianic kingdom.


Davidic Covenant Promises (2 Sam. 7:11-17; 1 Chron. 17:10-15)

           Provision                                                                                                  Verse
  • David was promised an eternal house (dynasty)                         2 Sam 7:11, 16; 1 Chron 17:10
  • One of David’s sons (Solomon) was to be established on the throne after David    2 Sam 7:12
  • Solomon would build the Temple of the Lord                                            2 Sam 7:13
  • The throne of David was to be established forever                                     2 Sam 7:13, 16
  • Solomon would be disciplined for disobedience                                         2 Sam 7:14-15 
  • The Messiah will come from the seed of David                                            1 Chron 17:11
  • Messiah’s throne, house, and kingdom will be established forever               1 Chron 17:17-14

    The anointing (appointing) into the office of prophet, priest, and king was essential in the Old Testament economy.  The Son of David is essential to the incarnation of Christ and is essential to the requirement of a righteous branch which only the Son of God can fulfill. The fact of Jesus’ virgin birth is especially important with regard to the rightful reign of the Son of David over Israel upon the throne in Jerusalem since it was declared to the last sitting king of the royal seed of David that none of his descendants would ever reign again (Jer. 22:30). However, since both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David, Jesus is not a legal descendent by  blood, through the father, but by adoption. “Thus, by adoption, Joseph was able to convey the legal right to the throne upon Jesus, without passing on the curse of Jeconiah, while Mary conveyed physical descendance from David.” (Mal Couch, gen. ed., Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, p. 394).  Thus Jesus in His incarnation is uniquely both the Son of David through birth and legally able to fulfill the promise of seating on the Throne of David.

    Jesus is called the Christ (Χριστός) which is Greek for “anointed,” and is equivalent to the Hebrew  מָשִׁיחַ  (machiyach) “messiah.” The name Jesus (Ἰησοῦς) is from the Hebrew Joshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ “yehoshua” or Hoshea)  and means, “Yehovah is salvation,” and is likewise related to the promised Anointed One who will save His people. The unique link made in John 7:42 of Christ to the Son of David is foundational to Jesus coming in the flesh to deal with the sin issue, to die for the sins not only of Israel, but of the world. However, Jesus was raised from the dead in order to be our anointed priest today, who is at the right hand of God. But Jesus will come again as the anointed King and savior of Israel who will rule with a rod of iron from mount Zion. Amen.  


Jesus in John 7:42; Luke 1:31-33 quoted from Jeremiah 23:5-6   

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet."  41 Others said, "This is the Christ (Χριστός)." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee?  42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"  (John 7:40-42)

5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.  6 In His days Judah will be saved (יָשַׁע , yasha’), And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jer. 23:5-6)

31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS (Ἰησοῦς).  32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."  (Luke 1:31-33)  


Jesus in Matthew 1:16 quoted from Daniel 9:24-27 (cf. Ps. 2:2)

16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ (Χριστός). (Matt. 1:16)

24 Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ, mashiyach, “anointed”) the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.  26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.  27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate. (Dan. 9:24-27)


Jesus in Matthew 1:21-23 quoted from Isaiah 7:14

21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."  22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Matt. 1:21-23)  


14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל “God with us”). (Isa. 7:14)