King Forever

He is great and glorious, whatever we may be; and it is for our joy, our safety, our everlasting happiness, that we should become his servants. It is necessary, for the right ordering of our lives, that our hearts may be in tune to yield the music of joy, that we should be tuned by obedience to his will, and that we should learn to serve him. - Charles Spurgeon

(For December I will reflect on hints of Christmas in the Old Testament.)

As the Old Testament patriarch Jacob approached his final days, he gathered his twelve sons and pronounced his ‘blessings’ upon each of them. Some were grand and reassuring, but many seemed more like condemnations.

One of the good blessings fell to Judah. Some of Jacob’s comments were, “Judah, your brothers will praise you. . . Your father’s sons will bow down to you. . . Judah is a lion’s cub…The scepter shall not depart from Judah.” (Genesis 49:8-10a)

The regal nature of the blessing anticipated the kingly line that David, from the tribe of Judah, would someday establish. But the pronouncement looked much further. The prophet Nathan delivered God’s special message to King David. He concluded, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)

When the angel Gabriel stunned Mary with the good news of her selection as Jesus’ mother, he assured her, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.” (Luke 1:32b-33a)

The birth of our King was foretold thousands of years ago and millions of years from now, He will still be on the throne! Merry Christmas indeed!

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc