21 kjm advent devotional asset

Son of David, Have Mercy!

Matthew 1:1 (ESV) — The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham 

 

David is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. David’s story begins in 1 Samuel. Israel longs for a king like the neighboring nations possess. The first king is one that has the stature of strength and handsome looks that the people wanted to identify their king. It was a man after the people’s own hearts. But Saul was a terrible king. His rebellion led to the LORD stripping the kingdom away from him to be put in another man’s hands. This man would not be perfect by any stretch, but he would be a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). 

 

The LORD used the prophet Samuel to identify David as His anointed to replace Saul as king. He wasn’t the biggest or best looking in the nation, but he was God’s man. He tended sheep, protecting the flock from predators. Zeal for the LORD consumed him. When he visited the battle lines where the Philistines and Israelites stood face-to-face with one another, he witnessed Goliath taunting the armies of Israel and mocking the LORD. This infuriated him and led him to do what no other warrior dared to do: fight Goliath. He only needed a slingshot and stones to defeat the seasoned warrior. This shot David into fame throughout Israel and made him an immediate enemy of Saul, who envied the praises people lavished on the young shepherd boy. 

 

David eventually took the role God set apart for him years prior. Saul’s death led to David’s institution as king. But beyond David being a king, it was his lineage that would bring forth the Messiah. The Jewish people waited for the promised one of Israel. The One promised in the Garden, through Abraham, and by Moses came to be expected through David. Israel’s Messiah would be the Son of David because the Messiah would be a king. This expectation permeated Israel. 

 

Jesus asks the question in Luke 20:41 (NIV) “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?” This shows that the basic expectation of the Messiah’s coming was that he would be a part of the lineage of David. This explains why many throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry referred to him as Son of David (Matthew 9:27; 20:31). The coming of the Son of David led to the cries of blind men to plead for him to give them mercy. He did. When crowds rebuked them for bothering with Jesus, because of how important they perceived Jesus to be and how unimportant they perceived the men to be, Jesus stopped for them. 

 

The coming of the Son of David signified the coming of a merciful king. He healed the blind with tenderness and love. Unlike the kings of the world who use others to exalt themselves in power and comfort, this king lowers himself as a servant to comfort his people. Rejoice in the Son of David, our king, Jesus Christ the Lord. Cry out for His mercies.  

 

Questions for Reflection:

  • Why is David so significant to the story of Israel?
  • What does the title “Son of David” refer to? How did Jewish hearers understand it?
  • How does Jesus defy all expectations of earthly kings?

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