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Author: Ron Graham The Blessings of —Part (A)

Although David's name is written only ten times in all the book of , his memory was highly honoured in Isaiah’s time. King David had established the throne in almost three centuries earlier. He was the patriarch and hero of Jerusalem’s royal family.

This lesson observes the first two of seven attributes "of David" mentioned in Isaiah, and what they signify for us.

1 The House of David

Isaiah 7:2,13

In Isaiah's time, the royal family of Jerusalem was known as "the house of David" because it descended from King David who had established the throne in Jerusalem almost three centuries earlier.

At David’s death, his son had become king. However Solomon, whose name is not written at all in Isaiah, had sinned against God. Therefore Solomon’s son Rehoboam was allowed to be king only of and the little tribe of Benjamin attached to it. All the other ten tribes of became a second and separate kingdom. A new throne, a new royal family, and a new capital city was established to the north in . As for Judah, the royal house of David continued to reign in Jerusalem, the "city of David" (see 1Kings 11:26­40).

Isaiah was a in Judah during the reign of kings , Jotham, , and (2Chronicles chapters 26 to 32). Except for Ahaz, these were good kings in Judah, after the heart of David their ancestor.

Christ in the house of David

Isaiah is aware that the Messiah (Christ) will be born in the house or lineage of David. Isaiah says that Christ comes from "the root of " (:1­5). Jesse was David’s father (Ruth 4:13­22).

2 The Throne of David

Isaiah 9:7

Isaiah always kept in mind that God had sworn with an oath to David to seat one of his descendants upon his throne to rule forever (2Samuel 7:12­14, Psalms 89:3­4).

Although Isaiah speaks of many lamentable things, there is this strong hope (:6­7). Isaiah is not only looking back to David, but looking forward to Christ of whom David was a symbol or type. Jeremiah was preaching the same a century later, and Ezekiel later still (Jeremiah 30:9, Ezekiel 37:24­25).

Christ on the throne of David

More centuries went by before Peter proclaimed the fulfillment of this promise shortly after Christ had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven (Acts 2:29­36). The throne of David had foreshadowed the eternal reign of Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords (:21, Revelation 19:16).

Blessings of David

1. The house of David (:2,13)

2. The throne of David (Isaiah 9:7)

3. The tabernacle of David (:5)

4. The city of David (Isaiah 22:9, 29:1)

5. The key of David (Isaiah 22:22)

6. The God of David (:35)

7. The sure mercies or David (:3,6­9) simplybible.com/f476.htm

Author: Ron Graham The Blessings of David —Part (B)

Although David's name is written only ten times in all the , his memory was highly honoured in Isaiah's time. King David had established the throne in Jerusalem almost three centuries earlier. He was the patriarch and hero of Jerusalem’s royal family.

This lesson observes the third and fourth of seven attributes "of David" mentioned in Isaiah, and what they signify for us.

3 The Tabernacle of David

Isaiah 16:5

The kingship of Christ is combined with his high priesthood. Just as the throne of David had foreshadowed Christ’s kingship, the "tabernacle of David" symbolised Christ’s priesthood (Hebrews 9:1­15).

The word "tabernacle" means a temporary or portable dwelling such as a tent. The house of worship in David's time was still a tabernacle. David wished to build a more substantial house for God, but God would not let him. It was David’s son who built the great temple to replace the tabernacle (1Chronicles 17:1­12). In Isaiah’s time this great temple dominated Jerusalem. Even in Isaiah’s prophecies and heavenly visions "the house of the Lord" was a temple (:2­3, 6:1­4). Isaiah sorrowfully foretells the destruction of this temple (:8­12).

Likewise, centuries later in the time of Christ, Jerusalem boasted a brand new temple. The disciples of Jesus admired it, yet Jesus told them to see those beautiful buildings as something destined for complete destruction (Matthew 24:1­3).

By building a glorious temple, man is liable to patronise God rather than being humble before him. Through Isaiah the Lord points this out most clearly (:1­2).

Christ in the tabernacle of David

As a symbol of Christ's priesthood, the "tabernacle of David" is more fitting than any of the temples. For Christ "humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:5­8). By this he "offered one sacrifice for sins for all time" (Hebrews 10:9­12).

The Hebrew writer, after describing the tabernacle, says, "Christ did not enter a holy place made by human hands, a copy of the true one, rather he entered heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).

4 The City of David Isaiah 22:9, 29:1 4 The City of David Isaiah 22:9, 29:1

It was David himself who called Jerusalem or "the city of David" after he had taken the city from the Jebusites (2Samuel 5:4­12). There he made his home, there he set his throne, and to there he transported the ark of the covenant and set up the tabernacle. There he built a great capital for his kingdom. In Isaiah's time Jerusalem was still the capital of Judah and the seat of the royal house of David.

A century after Isaiah’s time Jerusalem was destroyed. On its ashes and rubble a new city was painfully rebuilt. Forty years after the time of Christ the city was destroyed again. Yet today it stands as a great and special city upon the earth.

Christ in the city of David

The earthly city of David is merely a symbol of the heavenly Jerusalem, the true and eternal city of God where all true followers of Christ will dwell forever (Galatians 4:26, Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:2).

Jesus was referring to this heavenly city when he said, "In My Father’s house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1­6). He has gone ahead of us to the new Jerusalem, "the city which has foundations of which God is the builder and architect" (Hebrews 11:10,16).

Blessings of David

1. The house of David (Isaiah 7:2,13)

2. The throne of David (Isaiah 9:7)

3. The tabernacle of David (Isaiah 16:5)

4. The city of David (Isaiah 22:9, 29:1)

5. The key of David (Isaiah 22:22)

6. The God of David (Isaiah 37:35)

7. The sure mercies or David (Isaiah 55:3,6­9) simplybible.com/f88b.htm

Author: Ron Graham The Blessings of David —Part (C)

David was remembered, and his name honoured in the time Isaiah. King David, who had established the throne in Jerusalem almost three centuries earlier, was the hero of Jerusalem’s royal family.

This lesson observes the last three of seven attributes "of David" mentioned in Isaiah, and what they signify for us.

5 The Key of David

Isaiah 22:22,

In the vision of Christ which John saw, Christ said to John, "I have the keys of death and of Hades" (Revelation 1:18). This is the same as saying, "I have the key of eternal life".

The "key of David" represents this very thing. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, explained that "David, because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to seat one of his descendants upon his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh suffer decay." (Acts 2:22­39). Because of his resurrection from the dead to live for evermore, Christ is able to unlock the door of eternal life for us.

Christ and the key of David

Referring to this passage in Isaiah (Isaiah 22:22), Jesus calls himself "He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens..." (Revelation 3:7).

Only Jesus the King of kings, who now and forevermore sits on David's throne, has the power to give or deny eternal life. When he opens heaven for you, nobody can shut you out. If he shuts you out, nobody can let you in He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

6 The God of David

Isaiah 37:35, :5

David was God’s servant (and a symbol of Christ the Servant) therefore God was pleased to describe himself to Hezekiah as "the God of your father David". This shows God’s commitment to David, and David’s commitment to God. However it represents also God’s commitment to Christ, and Christ’s commitment to his heavenly Father. But Isaiah forces us to take the relationship between God and Christ much further, and to see... Christ as the God of David

Isaiah makes it clear that the Christ who reigns on the throne of David is God (Isaiah 9:6­7). If Christ is God, then he is David’s God isn’t he? Jesus himself showed that David called Christ Lord, and asked the Pharisees to explain how Christ could be both David’s Lord and David’s son? (Matthew 22:41­46, Psalms 110:1, Acts 2:34­35). The only possible answer is, of course, that Christ is the Son of God —God become flesh (John 1:1,14).

7 The Sure Mercies of David

Isaiah 55:3

Finally, in his last mention of David, Isaiah speaks of "the sure (or faithful) mercies of David" that is to say the blessings which God bestowed upon him. The heart of these blessings is that God has compassion and abundantly pardons those who forsake their wickedness and return to him (Isaiah 55:6­7). God pardoned David, and David’s contrite prayer for forgiveness and a clean heart is very beautiful (Psalms 51:1­17).

Christ and the Blessings of David

The "sure mercies of David" represent God’s compassion for the whole world and his willingness to forgive all sins through Christ (John 3:16, Acts 13:32­38).

Isaiah looked forward to the Christ who was willing to "render himself as a guilt offering" and who "poured himself out unto death" and thus "bore the sin of many" (:10­12).

Blessings of David

1. The house of David (Isaiah 7:2,13)

2. The throne of David (Isaiah 9:7)

3. The tabernacle of David (Isaiah 16:5)

4. The city of David (Isaiah 22:9, 29:1)

5. The key of David (Isaiah 22:22)

6. The God of David (Isaiah 37:35)

7. The sure mercies or David (Isaiah 55:3,6­9)