SON
of DAVID
Student
Text Book & Teacher's Handbook
Devotional
Reading: Mark 10:46-52 – Background Scripture: Psalm 89; Isaiah 9:
1-7 Matthew 1:18-26; Luke 1:26-33
Rev.
Michael J. Hudgins
Sunday,
March 9, 2014
From
the teachers handbook, page 19
“Promises
that are not fulfilled quickly are often forgotten.
The longer a promise goes unfilfilled, the harder is is to believe it
will be kept. Parents who make light promises to their children
hazard the loss of their trust if they do not keep them. Many are
cynical about politicians because campaign promises are often
unfulfilled. Many
have come to believe that promises are made to be broken.
Some of God's promises were fulfilled in a short time, some were
fulfilled after many years, and some still have not been fulfilled.
Not understanding God's timing, some have become cynics. Peter wrote
of scoffers who said “Where is the promise of his (Christ's)
coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were (II Peter 3:4) A two thousand year delay leads many to
discount Jesus' promise.”
God
is not a man, that he should lie;
neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and
shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
For
all the promises of
God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Psalm 89:35-37
King
James Version (KJV)
Do you remember this?
“Do you swear to
tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?”
“God affirms the
certainty of His faithfulness by reminding the congregation that He
is the holy God. Thus God's promise is based on His own character. He
is not like fickle humans, who change their minds on a whim or tell
lies. Because HE IS the holy God, His promises are like oaths, sworn
on His own holiness.” page 243, student text
For
when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no
greater, he sware by himself,
No
matter how long it takes, if God has made a promise to you, rest
assured that is will come to pass, no matter how long it takes to
fulfill it.
Luke
2:25-29
King
James Version (KJV)
25 And,
behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the
same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:
and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And
it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see
death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And
he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought
in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
God made a promise, a
covenant with Simeon that he should not see death until after that he
had seen The Lord's Christ, and not only did Simeon get to see the
promise, he held the promise of God to him in his hands!!
God
did not lie to Simeon, but kept His promise to him.
Hasn't God kept His
promises to you? Now mind you, be not quick to answer, but think upon
it. The question was what GOD promised, not what you thought He said,
but what God Himself did say!
God has
assured David that he would have a place of greatness, that his
offspring would succeed him, and that his kingdom would be
established forever.
But
now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought
him a man after his own heart,
and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his
people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded
thee.
And
when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their
king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found
David the son of Jesse, a man after
mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
God's promise is for a
king that rules without end. Is not Christ's kingdom
“God will keep
his Word. His promise is based on his character. He won’t change
his mind or go back on what he has said, like people often do. The
throne of David will be established and preserved by the Lord
himself. What humans can’t do, God can.”1
Isaiah 9:6-7
King James Version (KJV)
6 For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace.
God promises to send the people a king that will by
far and wide exceed everything that His people have seen in their
past and present rulers.
7 Of
the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon
the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Confident
Hope
Isaiah 9:6, 7
“The prophet Isaiah gives a wonderful introduction to God’s Son, who will be known on earth as the Son of David. Four meaningful titles are used to describe his greatness —Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Obviously the child described is greater than anyone can imagine. His reign will be marked by justice and righteousness.”2
The
promised king will bring these things FOREVER!
King
David's rule had a beginning and an end. It was finite and only upon
the earth.
The
Throne of The Lord's Christ will last forever and His rule will have
no end!
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE PROMISE COMES TO PASS!
Matthew 1:18-23
King James
Version (KJV)
18 Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary
was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with
child of the Holy Ghost.
A familiar
passage of scripture that Christians all over the world have come to
know and repeat, especially during the Christmas Season.
Confidence
Fulfilled
Matthew 1:18-23
“The miraculous birth of Christ is carefully explained by Matthew. A Jewish couple was normally betrothed for about 12 months prior to their actual marriage. This was a binding relationship, however, and the couple was considered to be man and wife, even though they did not live together yet (Deuteronomy 22:23, 24). Mary was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Luke
explains this from her perspective (Luke 1:26-38), while Matthew
tells it through Joseph’s eyes.”3
God had, in past
times given children to aged and childless couples like Abraham and
Sarah, but never before had a virgin conceived.
When
God does a thing, He does with authority, power and no doubt that is
it He Himself that has done this thing. God was now Father and SON
and Holy Ghost!
19 Then
Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away privily.
Because Joseph
knows that he is not the father, he knows (or thinks he knows) that
Mary has not been faithful to him and decides to break the engagement
and end the arrangement between his parents and Mary's.
As was the custom
of that time, Joseph had the right to bring Mary's condition to the
community's attention to bring her to an open shame. But Matthew
tells us that Joseph is a man whose character is in line with the
righteous of God.
He decides not to
do that thing, but to make the dissolution of the engagement private,
thereby showing Mary MERCY!
Blessed
are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
20 But
while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
While he thought
on these things! Can you imagine how Joesph felt about what he had
found out?? Grief? Anger? Disappointment? Shame? But whatever he was
feeling as he was thinking on it, God sends an Angel (messenger) to
let him know exactly what has happened and what WILL happen.
“Joseph
was not only a pure and good man, but he was tender and gracious as
well. He kept the law and did not want his name and reputation to be
sullied. At the same time, he loved Mary and cared about her
well-being. He wanted to protect her from public disgrace, so he was
considering a quiet divorce.
Joseph
did not act hastily, however, but took time to anguish over the right
thing to do. Taking time to think before we act is a wise habit for
all of us (James 1:19). God appeared to Joseph in a dream. The Lord
at times used dreams to make known his will to the prophets and other
people of God (Genesis 20:3; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 7:1). The Lord
reminded Joseph of his lineage in preparation for his role in raising
the Son of David —Jesus, the Son of God.”4
21 And
she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus:
for he shall save his people from their sins.
“Do
not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.”
Joseph did not need to be afraid, nor should he have doubted Mary’s
chastity. The child conceived in her was by the Holy Spirit. An angel
had explained this to Mary as well (Luke 1:26-38). His name was to be
Jesus.”5
“Names
were important to the Jewish people. The name Jesus, like Joshua, was
derived from the Hebrew word meaning “to save.” This play on
words is emphasized when Matthew adds because he will save his
people from their sins (see Psalm 130:8). All this took place to
fulfill what God had said. It was not fulfilled because it had been
predicted, but it had been predicted because it was certain to take
place (2 Peter 1:21).”6
To reign with
Him is to suffer with Him!
2
Timothy 2:11-12
King
James Version (KJV)
I thought of this
after I read the Sunday School lesson text from the student text
where it read:
“.. This is the
greatest of announcements, but for Joseph it is also a call to serve
God in a most unusual way. By telling Joseph that he is the one to
name the child, the angel implies that Joseph will serve in the role
of the child's father. Joseph is now committed to this child. Acting
as father, he will share with Mary the community's scorn for what
people will falsely assume to be the couple's mutual immorality.”
page 246 of student text.
We
all know how some people, especially women (no offense) are when it
comes to a woman engaged to be married, walking down the isle while
pregnant are do we not?
Imagine the
whispers, gossip, all manner of conversation that was NOT good about
this event? Isn't it just like God to tell us to do something that He
has plans for, we know it is of God and we bear scorn, are mocked for
doing it?
But thanks be
to God for He will never leave us alone or forsake us, especially
when we do that which He has commanded that we do!
22 Now
all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us.
“A
miraculous conception was essential for the miraculous things that
God’s Son would do. The quotation from Isaiah 7:14 clearly set
forth the fact of the virgin birth. The name Immanuel describes how
the divine nature was combined with the human nature in him—“God
with us.”7
God is with us!
Question, are we with Him?
“Jesus
is indeed God because the subsequent narrative shows that He comes
with power and authority that belong to God alone; Jesus is with us
as He undeservedly takes our sufferings on himself.” page 247 of
student text
Throughout
all we suffer, all that we endure, times of trouble, whatever God is
WITH US!
Remember
that when you are facing the trials of life and its disappointments,
never lose hope and never lose faith, for He is with you, He is with
us!
3
Written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
4
Written
by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
5
Written
by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
6
Written
by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
7Written
by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
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