Devotional - 98-01-10 - The Promise of the Redeemer

The Comprehensive Study Series, Part 20

Last week we left off in our study/devotional with a brief glimpse of the earliest hopes given to mankind for a Redeemer. I find it fascinating to search out a topic thoroughly and watch it advance as time progresses. This week we will continue searching for more truth about our Redeemer, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah.

THE PROMISE THROUGH MOSES

The book of Deuteronomy contains a marvelous prediction made by Moses before he died. The prediction says that God would hold each Israelite responsible for not rendering obedience to the Promised One to come, when He appeared, this Promised One, Moses called a "Prophet". The apostle Peter informs us that God fulfilled this promise of a Promised One to the Jewish people when he raised up Jesus of Nazareth.

Acts 2:22-26 Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope:

NOTE : It is always beneficial to examine the context of a passage of scripture that is referenced back to or is about the Old testament in its context of course!

Deut. 18:15-19 Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

THE PROMISE THROUGH DAVID

II Samuel 7:11-16 and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

King David wanted to build a temple to the glory of God. The Lord did not allow him to do it. Instead Solomon (David's successor) was to build the temple (verse 12). David's house and kingdom were promised, his throne was to be established forever. After Solomon's reign, there were nineteen kings who sat upon the throne. The throne of David was terminated by the Babylonian captivity.This was a fulfillment of the warning that told if David's descendants committed iniquity, God would punish them. According to God's promise, Davids throne was to be established forever. Since it was overthrown at the time of the Babylonian captivity the throne needed to be re-established. When restored it was to continue as long as the sun, moon and stars endured.

Amos 9:11-12 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations that are called by my name, saith Jehovah that doeth this.

The prophet Micah also refers to the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. God would establish one of David's descendants to the throne, it would endure as long as the earth stands. This descendant is none other than the Hebrew Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Micah 4:6-8 In that day, saith Jehovah, will I assemble that which is lame, and I will gather that which is driven away, and that which I have afflicted; and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and Jehovah will reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even for ever. And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

THE PROMISE THROUGH JACOB

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.

By prophetic vision Jacob foretold that the ruling power should not depart from Judah until the coming of the One whom he called, "Shiloh". Various explanations of this passage have been offered, but there is only one that harmonizes with the full context of Scripture. The ruling power over Israel would remain in the tribe of Judah until "Shiloh" would come, the one referred to in the above verse to whom "shall the obedience of the peoples be".

Ezekiel confirms this by saying:

Ezekiel 21:27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: this also shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

The fulfillment of this prediction was in Jesus of Nazareth. After His rejection in A.D. 30, the Romans (in A.D. 70) overthrew the nation of Israel and scattered her people throughout the world.

THE PROMISE THROUGH BALAAM

Baalak, King of Moab, summoned the Prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites as they approached his borders on their way to the promised land. Four oracles of Balaam, as they pertained to Israel, are recorded in the Scriptures. Restrained by the Spirit, Balaam could not curse Israel but he was constrained to praise them. In his second oracle Balaam foretold that Israel would be purged and freed from all sin. He also foresaw a divine King reigning over Israel.

Numbers 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Jehovah his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.

Hebrew poetry is written in parallelism. In verse 21 lines 3 & 4 are parallel in meaning. In line 3, "the Lord, the God of Israel" is with him. In line 4, "a shout of a king" is among them. This King is none other than the God of Jacob in their midst. In Balaam's fourth oracle the advent of the Messiah and his rule over Israel is predicted.

Numbers 24 :17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

These predictions point to none other than Israel's future King, God in human form, reigning in her midst upon earth. Evidence of Israel's future is even offered by the answer to a question which was addressed to Jesus by the Apostles. The evidence is found in the Lord's answer to Peters question:

Matthew 19:27-28 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

So very often we misunderstand or completely miss much of God's teaching because we forget God has great plans for Israel. Much of the prophetic portions of the Scripture deal with this future hope. The Jewish Apostles knew this and once again Peter encourages us to seek the truth regarding this important fact. This is especially true for our generation.

II Peter 1:19-21 And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

THE PREDICTION CONCERNING THE VIRGIN BIRTH

During a certain crisis in the history of Judah, when the very country was at stake, the Prophet Isaiah went to Ahaz. Isaiah, as God's representative, offered to restore Ahaz's faith by performing any miracle he might request. Ahaz rejected the offer saying, "I will not ask neither will I tempt Jehovah". This was followed by Isaiah's marvelous prediction concerning the virgin birth of Messiah. Turning from Ahaz he prophetically addressed the house of David.

Isaiah 7:10-14 And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah spoke of the mother of this child as being "the virgin". There was assumed on the part of the audience a knowledge of a definite, specific virgin. The Hebrew word alma (virgin) literally means, and is consistently and exclusively implied throughout the Old Testament, an unmarried woman. This reference appears in six irrefutable instances in the Hebrew Bible. By examining all appearances of the word within the six respective contexts the "alma", virgin, can and does mean but one thing, "an unmarried woman". The unusual facts of this prophecy lift this particular passage out of the realm of the ordinary and places it in the sphere of the miraculous.

So, we wrap up this two-part devotional which is part of a larger, continual comprehensive Bible devotional study. Next week I plan to cover "The Atonement". If you would care to pray in concert with us at CF devotionals, I refer you to the prayer page which can be found at this web address: http://members.aol.com/richr89011/cfpraypg.htm. As always we pray this study will enrich your understanding of God's word. Please join us in praying for the peace of Jerusalem, Psalm 122:6. Amen.

In His Service,
Liv4Yeshua