Praying the Names of God - May 3
From Praying the Names of Jesus Week Twenty, Day Five
The Name
David was Israel's greatest king, a man whom the Bible describes as having the very heart of God. So it may not be surprising that the New Testament both begins and ends with references to Jesus as the Son or Offspring of David. He is the One who fulfilled the promise of a coming King so beloved by God that his throne will endure forever. Like David, Jesus was born in Bethlehem (the city of David). And like David, who established his kingdom by overcoming Israel's enemies and uniting God's people, Jesus would establish his kingdom by defeating the principalities and powers, making a way for us to become part of it as we confess our faith in him. When you pray to Jesus as the Son of David, you are praying to the long-awaited King, human by virtue of his descent from David and divine by virtue of being God's only Son.
Key Scripture
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. Luke 1:32-33
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Friday
Promises Associated with His Name
What comes to mind when you think of a promise — a rainbow, a ring, a stump? A stump! That is precisely the image Isaiah used when he spoke of the promised Messiah. He was saying that God would fulfill his promise to David despite impossible odds. The New Testament reveals that God kept that promise when, hundreds of years after David's dynasty had fallen, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. But how does this ancient prophecy apply now, in a world in which the strong still dominate the weak and the poor often have no voice? This word from Isaiah, it would seem, still awaits its completion. Even though the King has been revealed, his power is still veiled and his kingdom often grows in ways that are hidden and obscure. As believers and members of the kingdom we are called to wait in faith, seeking to advance the kingdom until Christ comes again, this time fully revealing his power, his justice, and his majesty. On that day perfect judgment will bring forth perfect peace and all God's people will worship the King, who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.
Promises in Scripture
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse [David's father];
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him —
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord —
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness
he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
Isaiah 11:1-4
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
Continued Prayer and Praise
Worship the King. (Matthew 1:1-2:12)
Understand that Jesus is great David's greater son. (Acts 13:21-39)
Consider the key of David. (Revelation 3:7-10)
Remember the Root of David. (Revelation 5:1-5; 22:16)
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Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
