December 6th

During the reign of David, Israel’s second king, God’s people were thrilled to have a powerful, successful, and God-favored leader. While they waited on the Prophet that Moses spoke of ((Deuteronomy 18) who would come through the family tree of Judah (Genesis 49), they were content to follow a King after God’s own heart. 

While David led the people of Israel, there was a prophet named Nathan who played a pivotal role in God’s story. One of the most powerful messages Nathan ever delivered was the news that the coming Prophet would be a Prophet and also a King! In the Book of 2 Samuel we read that he said to David:

When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
2 Samuel 7:12-16

This prophecy is specifically referring to David’s son Solomon. Yet, within the prophecy about Solomon, we see the promise of an eternal kingdom “established forever” in the line of David. This meant that the promised Prophet-King would be a son (descendent) of David.

If you have ever opened the Book of Matthew, or the Book of Luke, to read the Christmas story and wondered why you had to first read all about Jesus’ family tree…this is why! It was crucial for the first century readers of those Gospels to know for certain that Jesus was a descendent (son) of David. Jesus could not be the Messiah if he was not in the line of David. That was God’s promise.

God is concerned with the smallest of details. So many things had to happen just the way they did for Jesus to be born from the family tree of David. And yet, they did. In the same way, so many things had to happen just the way they did for you to be where you are right now. Just as I’m sure it was true for David’s family, there may be moments in your own story that seem to be completely out of control and off the rails. But God is at work and bringing things to a glorious fulfillment. Trust Him.

Take a moment now to express to God your trust in Him and His plan.