The Sure Mercies of David Part II

                                a sequel to the Christmas Lesson

                                                Luke 1:23-38

                                              January 5, 2025

 

Two weeks ago I used Isaiah 55:3-9 for much of the Christmas lesson,

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

 

I want to repeat v. 3 and the first part of v. 4 of Isaiah 55, 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.  (Romans 10:17 - “....faith cometh by hearing and

hearing by the word of God.”)

 

Read Romans 10:8-18

 

“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.......Take heed what ye hear”

                                                                        (Mark 4:23-24a; Luke)

 

“Take heed therefore how ye hear  (Luke 8:18)

 

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

commander to the people.

 

God speaking to Moses had said, over 700 years prior to this in Isaiah:

 

“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)

 

_______________________________________________________________-

 

In Samuel 23:5, the Greek word translated as "sure" is "βεβαῖος" (bebaios),

which directly means "firm" or "certain" in English. 

 

In Samuel 23:5, the Hebrew word translated as "sure" is "na'aman" (נֶאֱמָן)

which literally means "faithful" or "reliable." 

 

sure; secure, security, He kept it in Hebrew

 

θέλημα  - thelaema - will/want/wish.

 

Haggai 2:7 - “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall

                       come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts."

 

חֶמְדַּ֣ת - to the desire

em-da  - covet - desire

 

ἐκλεκτὰ - eklekta -  chosen, selected,

 

Spurgeon Sermon 3442  The Desire of All Nations

 

And now observe that these persons, according to another rendering of the

text, when they come to build up the Church they always bring their desire

with them — they bring with them the most desirable thing. The desirable

things of all nations shall give the silver, and the gold, and so on. He that

comes to Christ brings with him all he has, and he has not come to Christ

who has left his true substance behind him. What, now, is the desire of all

the nations when hearts are renewed? Well, silver and gold will always be

desirable, and men who give their hearts to Christ will bring what they have

of that to Christ. But the most desirable things of manhood are not metals

— dirt, mere dross, hard materialisms — no, the desirable things of

manhood are things of the soul, the heart, the spirit; and into the temple,

the great second temple, there shall come, not masses of gold and silver

merely, that can adorn with outward splendor, but also love, and faith, and

holy virtue, more priceless than gems, far richer in value than rarest mines.

Oh! what a sight the Church of God is when holy angels look upon it. We

hear of some of the first Spanish invaders going into the temple of Peru,

and seeing floors, roofs and walls made of slabs of gold, and standing

astonished. But oh! in the Church there are slabs of faith on the floor of

that great temple, and walls of love, of Christian self-sacrifice, and roofs of

holy joy and Christian consolation. It is a temple that makes spiritual eyes

flash with gladness. What care they for the splendor of kings and princess.

But they care much for the true, desirable things of nations — holy

emotions, holy desires, ascriptions of gratitude, and devout acts of service

for the Lord God. Oh! how glorious is the second temple then, when the

desirable men come to it, and bring with them all the desirable things to

make it glorious in the sight of God.

 

And then this temple, thus built and thus adorned, will continue. The text

implies that “I will shake all nations.” The apostle says that this signifies the

things that can be shaken; that the things that cannot be shaken will remain,

and that the desire of all nations must be put down as a thing that cannot

be shaken. The Church, then, shall never be shaken, and the precious things

that the Church gives to her God shall not be shaken. Time will change

many things. Great princes will be considered mere beggars by-and-by in

the esteem of men who know how to judge by character. Great men will

shrivel into very small things — when they come to be tried, even by

posterity. And the judgment-day — ah! how will that try the great ones of

this earth? But the Christian Church — the very gates of hell shall not

prevail against her. Time shall not be able so much as to chip one of her

polished stones. Her treasures of faith, and what not, the rich things that

God hath given her — these things shall never be stolen: they can never be

shaken. And then the crown of all is, “I will fill this house with my glory,

saith the Lord.” This is the reason, the great charm of it all. God Himself

dwells, as He dwells nowhere else, in His glory. The Church, which we

think two, and call militant and triumphant, is but one, after all, and GOD

DWELLETH IN IT!  Oh! if we had but eyes to see it, the glory of God on earth is

not much less than the glory of God in heaven, for the glory of a king in

peace is one thing, but the glory of a conqueror in war is another thing,

though I know which I prefer; yet if I transfer the figure, I have no

preference between the glory of the God off peace in the midst of his

obedient servants in his ivory palaces, and the glory of the Lord of Hosts in

the thick of this heavenly war, as he conflicts with human evil, and brings

forth glory to His saints out of all the mischief that Satan seeks to do to His

throne and, to His scepter. God is known in the Jerusalem below, as well as

in the Jerusalem above. “The Lord is in the midst of her.” Out of Zion, the

perfection of beauty, God hath shined. God is in the midst of her: she shall

not be moved; and though the kings gather together for her destruction, yet

His presence is the river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God.

Yes, glorious things may well be spoken of Zion when we have such stones

as precious men, such gifts as precious graces, such abiding character as

God gives, and such

 

 

 

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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