The Sure Mercies of David

                                        a sequel to last week’s

                                           Christmas Lesson

                                               Luke 1:23-38

                                          December 29, 2024

 

 

 

The following  ideas and statements are coming from the

Pulpit Commentary on the Gospel of Mark.

 

I am going to attempt to dove-tail them, splice, nail together, these

thoughts to last weeks lesson, taking a second week off from

Non-Inclusion into the Kingdom of God of the last month, prior

to the Christmas lesson. 

 

It is no more unreasonable to attribute the fruits of the gospel to the Spirit of

God, than it is to attribute human purposes to the spirit of man. It is a

spiritual universe, and things material and outward actions are nothing but

the garb and utterance of what is spiritual. If there be truth declared,

revealed, and if there be a nature capable of receiving, feeling, responding

to truth, there is one all-sufficient explanation of this wonderful and

beneficent correspondence, and that is, the presence and the action of the

Holy Spirit of God. The birth, the life, and ascension of Christ changed the

lives of the apostles, and through them, the history of the world.

 

Ø      Now and henceforth there was an express theme for them to publish.

This was the gospel, the good tidings, which only now was complete, and

so divinely perfected by all that Jesus had done and suffered, that it was

adapted to fulfill the purposes of Divine wisdom. Before, the disciples had

directed attention to what was to come; now, to what had occurred

actually and reality. Christ had died for men’s sins, according to the

Scriptures; He had arisen from the dead for their justification and salvation.

Around the great central facts of Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and

resurrection gathered ALL THE DIVINE TRUTHS WHICH

CONSTITUTED THE GOSPEL!  Accordingly, in the first place, the

 facts were related as facts abundantly attested, and as facts of interest and

precious moment to all mankind.  And, when these facts were believed,

then they were explained, and (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit

given from above) the inspired apostles taught their bearing upon the

position and prospects of the sinful race of man. It should never be forgotten

that our religion consists in something more than laws of life, sentiments of

virtue, promises of help, hopes of immortality. In accordance with the

constitution of things, all these depend upon and flow from the great central

facts relating to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Ø      Besides having a theme, the apostles of our Lord now had a commission

which authorized them. They did not go unbidden, nor without instructions,

nor without authority, upon this errand of mercy and blessing to mankind.

He who had all power in heaven and in earth had given them their commission.

He had said “Go!” and they went; not in their own strength and wisdom,

BUT IN HIS!  The same warrant and authentication abides with the

Church of Christ throughout all the ages. (even with me today) The apostles

were, as the name implies, those who were sent; in this respect, as

distinguished from personal endowment and equipment, an apostolic mission

is entrusted to the whole body of Christ’s followers to the end of time.

 

Ø      The sphere within which this commission was to be executed was

world-wide. (I think it noteworthy that I have opportunities, providing

God’s blessings on ir, that the apostles and those in earlier ages, have

never experienced [the worldwide web].“Go ye into all the world,” Jesus

had .said, “and preach the,gospel to the whole creation.” (Matthew 28:20)

“Make disciples of all nations.” “...and lo, I am with you alway, even

unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20)  A grand and noble

design, worthy of  the source whence it emanated, in the heart of Him

who is “the Savior of all men, specially of them that believe.” (I Timothy

4:10)  The habitable globe is the field in which the Christian missionary

is called to work; for the human race is:

 

·       the object of Divine compassion,

·       the destined participant in the bounty of the Divine beneficence.

 

None, however hardened nor illogical  can complain that  the operations

of mercy and benevolence are restricted and restrained.

 

Ø      In fulfilling this commission, the heralds of Christ’s gospel were assured

that they should enjoy, not only personal assistance, but the assistance

involved in undoubted credentials, by which they and their message should

be commended to the attention of men.

 

o        The Lord wrought with them. They were workers, but they were

fellow-workers with Him. What was to be done in the renewal of human

hearts, and the transformation of human character, was not to be done by

the exercise of merely human power. A Divine energy and operation were

alone adequate to secure results so difficult, so glorious.

 

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD

of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

 

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o        Signs followed. Signs, i.e. of a Divine presence and energy. There were

such in abundance, as is evident from the record in the Acts of the

Apostles. Signs outward, manifest, obvious to every eye, as in the case of

those miracles of healing which accompanied the ministrations of the first

Christian preachers. Signs of a less obtrusive, but of an even more

convincing character, as in the case of those Jews who were delivered from

formalism, those Gentiles who were emancipated from idolatry, those

flagrant transgressors of the moral law who were turned from darkness

unto light, and from the service of Satan unto God.

 

o        11 “And such were some of you:  but ye are washed, but ye are

sanctified, but  ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit if our God.”

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom

of God?  Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters,

nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with

mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor

extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 

                                    (I Corinthians 6:11, 9-10)

 

ἀρσενοκοῖται - arsenokoitai - Male Bed." αρσενος (male),

κοιτην (bed). Sexual connotation denoted, but whom the male

is bedding is not specified

 

 

 I Corinthians 6:9 translation from the Septuagint

 

 οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι βασιλείαν θεοῦ ⬪ θεοῦ βασιλείαν } οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν ; 

Μὴ πλανᾶσθε · οὔτε πόρνοι , οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι , οὔτε μοιχοί , οὔτε μαλακοί , 

οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται ,

 

Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,

nor male prostitutes , nor homosexuals ,

———

μαλακοί - malakoi - (literally) "soft" (see Matthew 11:8 and Luke 7:25 ).

Alternative Greek usages of this term  in describing people were decadent,

debauched, weak, effeminate, or corrupt. In some Greek writings it was used

to reference catamites (young boys or young adults kept by pederasts for

sexual slavery or prostitution). (One of the problems in our current society

is sex traffiking. - CY - 2024) Latin equivalent of catamites was "cinaedi" -

(a man who performs a lewd dance - pervert - sodomite).

 

 

ἀρσενοκοῖται = (literally) "male copulators" (see Perseus Project Greek Lookup

Tool online). αρσενος ="males" κοιται = Latin "coitus"= intercourse. The word

ἀρσενοκοῖται did not exist in the Greek language or literature. Paul invented

it by combining two actual Greek words. He probably was using two words

from the Greek Old Testament (Leviticus 18:22 καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ 

κοίτην γυναικός   - kai meta arsenos ou koimaethaesae koitaen gunaikos - The

Jews (especially the Pharisees, of which Paul once was) interpreted this as

males having intercourse with males (see related writings in the Talmud and

the writings of Philo). * Also, See Nestle-Aland translations, the Syriac Peshitta,

and "The Source New Testament" by Dr. Ann Nyland. Also, NRSV, and most

modern translations.

 

 

 

The condition of mankind then, and towards which we are headed

now with the apostasy that is in the world, is described in

Ephesians 2:12 - “....without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth

of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope,

and without God in the world!”

 

ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι - apaellotriomenoi - having been to

alienated - the root word meaning belonging to another,

foreign, strange, not of one’s own family, alien, an enemy.

 

from ἀλλοτρίος - allotrios - strange; stranger

 

 

 

What do we live for, if it is not to prepare for a hereafter life, and

for the day for which all days were made?

 

Last week I used Isaiah 55:3-9 for much of the Christmas lesson,

as somewhat of an introduction to today’s theme “The Sure Mercies of David”

 

I want to repeat v. 3 and the first part of v. 4 to start today.

 

           

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live;

and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure

mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people........

 

God speaking to Moses said,

 

“I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,

and will put my words in His mouth, and He shall speak unto them all that

I 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

(Deuteronomy 18:18-19)  

 

Continuing to talk about Jesus Christ, the Messiah,  in reference

to the “sure mercies of David” promised long ago by God.

 

Here are some other Bible passages that relate to the "sure mercies of David":

 

  • II Samuel 7:13-14,16: God promises David that his seed will establish

      a kingdom, and that His mercy will not depart from Him. 

 

12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy

fathers; I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out

of thy bowels, and I will establish His kingdom.

13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne

of His kingdom for ever.

16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever

before thee:  thy throne shall be established for ever.  (II Samuel 7:12-13, 16)

 

 

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said,

and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of

Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my

tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that

ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,

even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of

the earth by clear shining after rain.

5 Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me

an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is

all my salvation, and all my desire, although He make it not to

grow.  (II Samuel 23:1-5)

 

 

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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting

Father, The Prince of Peace.

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.”

                                                                        (Isaiah 9:6-7)

 

“The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this!”  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

 

 

Inter-biblical period - Church Age

 

 Thus

Luke 1:26 - Here - the angel Gabriel is sent to start the process

            that God planned from the beginning of the world.

 

 

Revelation 14 is tied in to my 24 lessons on The Danger of Being

Dissatisfied with One’s Lot in Life and the four so far on Non-inclusion

in the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Revelation 7

Revelation 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the

everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and

to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

 

 

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with

Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name

written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and

as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers

harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before

the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song

but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed

from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are

virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he

goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits

unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault

before the throne of God.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the

everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and

to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the

hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven,

and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is

fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the

wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any

man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his

forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is

poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he

shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the

holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and

they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his

image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12  Here is the patience of the saints:  here are they that keep the

commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are

the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:  Yea, saith the Spirit,

that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.

 

 

           

See Rev. 13:8  mentions “....the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

 

The previous seven verses are associated with the beast (anti-christ)

and the first part of this eighth verse tells of those whose names are not

written in that Book of Life of this Lamb, worship the anti-christ!

 

Gabriel sent.  Christ, the Sent of God!  You/me are sent.

 

Whose side are you on?  ch. 11:23

 

Nazareth, a city of Galilee, hidden in the hills.  A rendez-

vous for the worst of people, a proverbial place out of

which no good thing was expected.  John 1:46

 

Gal. 4:4-5 - "....when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son,

made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under

the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." -

 

Rev. 3:14 - Christ, "the Beginning of the creation of God"

 

A deeper interest should gather around Jesus coming into

the world to save mankind from their sins, than that of

the beginning of the material universe.

 

Genesis gives to us the account of the mysterious origin

of the material world - Luke gives us the account of the

mysterious origin of the new creation and the salvation

of man!

 

Galilee - Isaiah 9:1

 

vs. 27-28 - Warning against worshipping Mary - the Lord

            Jesus is the one to be magnified - not Mary.

 

I would like to ask the women folk, if you had lived in that

generation, would you have qualified to be the mother of

the Son of God?

 

Isaiah 7:14

 

We are living in a very evil age - we count God's

commandment as nothing and commit fornication or adultery

as if eating a piece of bread or taking a sip of water.  Mary is

the original madonna (a title of respect)- today you have a

cult star by the same name of which she is not worthy.  It is

alarming when more young people know more about Madonna

than democracy.

 

v. 29 - Receive what is written - being assured that the same

            power of the Highest by which the crucified Jesus

            was raised from the tomb where He had lain for three

            days, was able to overshadow the virgin of Nazereth,

            was able to cause to be born of her "that holy thing"

            which was called the Son of God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vs. 32-33 - "house of David" - a sure house - I Sam. 2:35

 

Isaiah 9:6-7

 

"He shall be called the Son of the Highest" -

 

A new king - an everlasting Monarch!

 

"the throne of his father David"

 

Yet unfulfilled - speaks of a restoration of Israel.

 

It has been 2000 years since Gabriel spoke of a

kingdom that would have no end!

 

1948 - Israel a nation!  1967 - Jerusalem regained!

 

This thing was not done in a corner! 

 

"This thing was not done in a corner" is a phrase from the Bible, specifically 

Acts 26:26, where the Apostle Paul is telling King Agrippa that the Christian

message was not spread in secret or hidden away, but was openly proclaimed

to many people; essentially meaning it was not done in a secluded place,

but was widely known.  (Google)

 

Today the Jews are looking in all the wrong places -

It is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus and Him Only!

 

The Jews have been kept distinct even though

intermingled with the nations of the world and today

are waiting His coming - “Who hath herd such a thing?

Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?  Or shall

a nation be born at once?  for as soon as Zion travailed, she

brought forth her children.”  (Isaiah 66:8)

 

v. 33 - the dignity and power that Christ shall attain -

            its duration - "forever"   - its extent - "no end"

 

9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in

heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to

the glory of God the Father.   (Philippians 2:9-11)

 

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather

together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and

which are on earth; even in him:  (Ephesians 1:10)

 

11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat

upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He

doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many

crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He

Himself.

13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is

called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white

horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should

smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He

treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING

OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS  (Revelation 19:11-16)

 

v. 35 - In Christ we have the  humanity and the Divinity

            in one, each perfect and complete.  What ever can be

            said of man, it can be said of Christ (except sin),

            what can be said of God can be said of Him.

 

"I and my Father are one"

 

Psalm 118:22-23                     Matt. 21:42

 

"This is the Lord's doing, it is marvelous in our eyes"

 

 

 

Reminds one of the opening words of Genesis at the

dawn of creation - "The Spirit moved (brooded) over

the face of the deep". 

 

The Word was conceived in the womb of a woman,

not after the manner of men, but by the operation of

the Holy Ghost, whereby a virgin was, beyond the law

of nature, enabled to conceive, and that which was

conceived in her was originally and completely

sanctified!

 

Holiness is not a mere attainment, obedience to the

moral law - it is a new supernatural being - "born of

the Spirit" - "not born of blood, nor of the will of the

flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God"

 

v. 37 - "with God nothing shall be impossible"

 

 

v. 38 - No demands made on Mary - just her consent.

   Notice the attitude of Mary - "Behold the hand-maiden

   of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word"

 

She accepts the sacrifice - she submitted herself of her

own free will to what she felt was the will & wish of God!

 

Her innocence was vindicated - Matt. 1:20

 

 

 

 

 

GOD IS THE SOURCE OF MARY'S JOY!

 

 

Surely in all the world's creation, His might had never

been shown as it was now about to be manifest in her!

 

In the Incarnation, God was sending real help to His

people.  It was the crowning act of mercy, and the

fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham and his

seed.  Mary thus began with God's holiness and passed

in review His  power, His mercy, and finally His

faithfulness.  All these are illustrated eminently

in the Incarnation.

 

 

 

 

 

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