Friday, August 2, 2013
The title words reflect the thoughts of the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
recently as they welcomed their son George Alexander Louie Mountbatten-Windsor
into the world on July 22, 2013.
The whole world sat on pins and needles
awaiting the birth of the royal child.
Media personnel camped out weeks in advance at the hospital where the
birth was to take place. Multitudes
lined the streets on the day after the birth just to get a glimpse of the
child. The story of the birth of the
future king trumped all other news stories around the world for days.
Little George will be the third in line to
assume the throne of England after his father Prince William and William’s
father Prince Phillip. When family
members ascend to the throne the form of government is known as a monarchy.
The title words are of course found in the
Old Testament book of Isaiah written approximately 2,700 years ago.
“For unto
us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His
shoulder…Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon
the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with
judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” Isaiah 9:6-7
The
Hebrew base for kingdom has several synonyms including sovereignty, royal rule,
dominion, and reign. The term throne in
both Old and New Testaments is an emblem of royal authority over a government
or empire.
Several hundred years prior to Isaiah’s
prophecy, God had spoken to King David via the Prophet Nathan regarding David’s
descendants.
“When your
days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed
after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom…And
your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12,
15
The terms ‘house’ and ‘kingdom’ indicate
that the future kingdom would be ruled by one from David’s family, i.e. his
seed. Thus it is noted that the future
form of government referenced in the Isaiah prophecy would be a monarchy.
David’s seed was initially referenced
early in the Book of Genesis.
After Satan deceived the woman in the
Garden of Eden, God pronounced a curse on Satan that centered on his future
conflict with the ‘Seed’ of the woman.
“And I will
put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall
bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15
Approximately 700 years after the Isaiah
prophecy, the Angel Gabriel announced to the virgin lass named Mary that she
would conceive and bear a boy child.
“And
behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call
His name JESUS. He will be great, and
will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the
throne of His father David. And He will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no
end.” Luke 1:31-33
As the time approached for Mary to give
birth, she and her betrothed husband Joseph traveled from their home in Nazareth
of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea to be registered for a census as required by
Roman law.
“Joseph
also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city
of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of
David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.” Luke 2:4-5
Recall that King David was born in Bethlehem nearly 1,000
years earlier. Note also that Joseph,
Mary’s betrothed was of the lineage of David to fulfill the prophecy given to
David when he was king.
While in Bethlehem for the census registration Mary
gave birth. There was no fanfare as
there was with Prince George born recently in England. There was no modern hospital nor were people
lining the streets to get a glimpse of the future monarch.
To be completed next week.
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