The Messiah from the House of David
by Maria Rudolph
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‘… O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant [David]. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?’ (2 Samuel 7:19)
Read 2 Samuel 7:18–29
A common question to ask my confirmation class is: ‘How many gospels are there and what are they called?’
‘Four! Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!’
A boy who was eager to get his hands on a Bible opened the first page of the New Testament in anticipation. He looked up with a furrowed brow and said, ‘Pastor, there’s a big, long list of names right at the beginning!’
Too right. The first page of the New Testament, Matthew, chapter 1, is chock-a-block full of complicated names. However, at a closer reading, this list of names tells us many stories, more than we could fit into one single confirmation lesson.
We learn that the Anointed One, Jesus the Messiah, God made flesh, came from a line of real people. King David himself is in that list. But having lived about one thousand years before the birth of Jesus, David had absolutely no idea what God’s ultimate plan of salvation through Jesus would look like.
God simply revealed to David, who was humbly submitting to God’s guidance:
When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring … 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 (2 Samuel 7:12,13).
On the one hand, David’s son Solomon would become the one to build a magnificent temple to the Lord, one that would stand for about 410 years! On the other hand, ultimately, God would bring Jesus up from the line of David, whose kingdom still stands today!
Jesus was the temple that was destroyed and built up again in three days (John 2:19) – in his resurrection. All this was beyond King David. But he simply submitted himself to God and trusted in God’s plan for his life, despite not understanding it.
Can you do the same? Hand over your plans to God, and trust him to lead you in the right paths. Check in with God to ensure you are in tune with where he wants you to go. You can’t go wrong when you seek God’s guidance – even if you can’t understand the ultimate plan. Trust God with those details.
Loving God, I seek your guidance today. Show me the right path and help me discern the direction you want me to go. I am in your hands – do with your servant as you please. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church Perth in Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful primary-school-aged kids and one amazing high schooler. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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