“The generations of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”
In these opening words of the Gospel of Matthew is epitomised the purpose of God to bring salvation to the world through a chosen people. Not only was the Saviour to be of a race called out and separated, but he was to be in the royal line—a descendant of the king under whose rule the nation of Israel was consolidated and raised to heights of glory and influence among her neighbours. It was a brief triumph after the degradation in Egypt and the lawlessness of the time following Moses’ rule, but it was a memory ever cherished in the hearts of Israel. When they had departed from the ways of God and were suffering the indignities of a foreign yoke, they—the people of God—knew that, because they were the people of God, retribution would come upon their enemies and they themselves would be restored to the glory symbolised by the reign of David, the “man after God’s own heart.”
God’s method of working out His plan had a powerful psychological effect. A king appeals to the imagination, and fires the spirit of loyalty and devotion. His standard is a rallying point, where will gather together the followers who rank obedience higher than life. “God save the king,” shouted Israel, when Saul had been anointed. At last they had a visible head who would go out before them into battle—a leader and an example. It was a cry of joy, relief and attainment. That cry will yet ring through the world when “the desire of all nations shall come,”1 and the day of wars and rumours will be ended. Freed from fear, every man will gladly render allegiance and devotion to the King of kings. “God save the King.”
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Author: N. L. Evans
Keywords: Seed of David, covenant with David, David's royal throne, David's throne, throne of David, house of David, King David, Promises unto David, Promise made unto David, Promises made unto David, David's seed, David's son, Jesus son of David, son of David, genealogy of Jesus, genealogy of Christ
Bible reference(s): 2 Sam. 7:12-16, 2 Samuel 7:27, 1 Kings 3:6, 1 Kings 5:5, 1 Kings 8:19-20, 1 Kings 9:5, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, 1 Chron 22:9-10, 1 Chron 28:6-7, 2 Chronicles 6:8-10, 2 Chronicles 13:5, Psalm 89:20-37, Psalms 132:11, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isa 16:5, Isaiah 22:22, Isa 55:3, Jeremiah 22:30, Jer 23:5, Jeremiah 30:9, Jeremiah 33:15, Jeremiah 33:21-22, Jeremiah 36:30, Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:24, Ezekiel 37:24, Ezekiel 37:25, Matthew 1:1, Matthew 9:27, Matthew 12:23, Matthew 15:22, Matthew 20:30, Matthew 20:31, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 21:15, Matthew 22:42, Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Mark 10:47, Mark 10:48, Mark 12:35, Luke 1:32-33, Luke 3:31, Luke 18:38, Luke 18:39, Luke 20:42, John 7:42, Acts 2:30, Acts 2:34, Acts 13:23
Source: “The Seed of David,” The Testimony, Vol. 9, No. 100, April 1939, pp. 140-44.
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