Since this Sunday, we will look at the Davidic covenant in Sunday School and Pastor Hank will preach from Isaiah 9, I wanted to offer some brief thoughts on Christ’s kingship. God made a covenant with David that his son would build God a house, and God would establish his house upon the throne forever (2 Sam. 7:12-16). But obedience was required of David’s sons (Ps. 132:11-12). But none of David’s sons were obedient. The disobedience cast our eyes to the horizon to look for the coming of David’s greater Son (Eze. 37:24-28).
The New Testament opens in anticipation of the return of the King from the house of David (Matt. 1:1; 2:1-6; Lk. 1:32-33, 69-70; Is. 9:6-7). Jesus Christ is this king (Matt. 9:27; 12:23; 21:9). He is the light that has come to release those who are in captivity and darkness. He has come to wage war against His enemies and to bring healing to the nations (Matt. 4:12-16; Lk. 1:68-79; 4:18-22; Is. 9:2; 42:6-7; 61:1-2). Peter tells us that Christ is now seated on the throne of David in heaven in fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (Acts 2:29-35). Christ has sent forth the Spirit to continue the building project of the kingdom and God’s house in the church as Jews and Gentiles are brought in by faith (Acts 15:16-17; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 2:16-18; Eph. 2:11-22).
But who are these enemies that Christ the King must subdue? By nature, we are (Rom. 5:6-8). Christ came to subdue and rescue hostile people (Eph. 2:1-3). We were blinded by our sin nature and in bondage to it (Rom. 6:5-11). We were impotent and unable to return to God. But He came as the king we needed to rescue and transfer us into His kingdom (Col. 1:12-13).
At the cross, Christ is victorious as King. Though the cross appears like the moment of defeat, it is the moment of Christ’s triumph on the battlefield. It is the moment the serpent’s head has been crushed (Gen. 3:15; Matt. 12:28-29; Jn. 12:30-32; 16:11; Heb.2:14; 1 Jn. 3:11). Death could not hold the King (Acts 2:24-28). In Christ’s resurrection, He ascended in victory over His enemies in his enthronement (Dan. 7:13-14; Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 2:15; 1 Pt. 3:19, 22), and now He is ruling until all of his enemies are subdued (1 Cor. 15:20-28).
Jesus Christ our King has secured victory for us through His suffering for us. He rescued us from sins dominion, healed us from sins wounds, and brought us into his kingdom. No matter how great the nations rage against Christ and His people, Christ will build his church and nothing in heaven or on earth can thwart His rule over the kingdom of God. May we remember our faithful and conquering King, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5).