By Cameron Magby
Being from the South, I love a good idiom. Sometimes they just sound better dipped in a southern drawl. You’ve probably heard someone say, “Don’t miss the forest for the trees.” It’s a reminder not to get so focused on the details that you miss the big picture.
Our passages today help us zoom out and see the big picture. The big picture of the story that we’re a part of, living here in the already, not yet of the kingdom of God.
David was the greatest king Israel had ever known. Their borders were at their largest, they saw victories on the battlefield, and they experienced prosperity. When David was in charge, times were good. He became the definition of a good and righteous king.
So when God promised David that his throne would endure forever (2Samuel 7:16), it was a big deal. It carried weight. It was a promise to not only David, but all of Israel, that David’s righteous line would endure.
But by the time the story gets to the time of Isaiah, things had changed. David sinned grievously before the Lord. His sons and their sons fought over the throne. Civil war erupted in Israel. More often than not, a righteous king wasn’t on the throne, and as a result, the people of Israel strayed from God. They worshipped idols, and they broke the covenant He made with them. The nation split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom was conquered and taken into exile, and the southern kingdom of Judah was headed toward the same fate.
What happened to the promise God made to David? Where’s the righteous king from his lineage? If Judah was to be conquered and carried into exile, does that mean God’s promise failed?
Isaiah answers with a resounding “No.” Zechariah says the same. God, through His prophets, said that the promised king was still to come. And that king would be fully righteous and fulfill God’s will. While it may seem like David’s family tree had been cut to a stump, God would still cause it to grow (Isaiah 11:1).
Israel had to wait for that king, but He did come. Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, took on flesh and made His dwelling among us. His perfect life, sacrificial death, and powerful resurrection accomplished salvation for all who would believe. Because God is faithful and He rescues His people.
We rejoice in that, and yet we still wait. He brought rescue with His first coming. And He’ll bring rescue again at His second. The root of David (Revelation 22:16) will establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Where He will rule in complete justice and righteousness over all, setting right every wrong. Where we will get to live eternally with Him, enjoying His glorious presence fully.
So we wait and we hope. And because God is faithful, we can trust that He will rescue His people. Waiting is never easy. But that? That’s worth waiting for.
Post Comments (0)