The throne of David.
In
Matthew 1:1-17 the author goes to great lengths to show that Jesus was of the line of David, moving from Abraham to Joseph the earthly Father of Jesus.
Luke 3:23-38 does the same thing backwards. He starts with Jesus and works back in time all the way back to Adam. Both genealogies agree and pass through David and Solomon.
The throne was promised to David forever by God.
"And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever" (
I Kings 2:45). Then in
1 Chronicles 28:9 Solomon was warned the promise was conditional.
Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews never had a king, only governors, as they were under the dominion of other kings. The Herod kings of Jesus' time were not of the line of David and were appointed by the Roman Caesar. Israel had lost their kingdom and have never regained it. Yet rest assured the promise of God about the kingdom and the throne are still valid though circumstances have changed.
Daniel makes it clear that the kingdom will be given to the
"people of the saints of the Most High.." (
Daniel 7:27).
Galatians 3:29 makes it clear that
ALL who make Jesus King of their lives will inherit the promises to Abraham as they will be counted the seed of Abraham. Just as important as this promise is the promise of the royal throne of David. Two of the gospel writers have taken the time to give us the royal lineage of Jesus. Why? Just for interesting information? Not at all. Jesus is of the royal line as a fulfillment of the promise to David.
Isaiah made it clear that the Messiah was to come in the lineage of David.
"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. 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 kingdom that God sets up is forever. Daniel makes that clear in
Daniel 2:44. Then in
7:13-14 we find
"one like the Son of Man" being brought
"in the clouds of heaven" before the judgment throne of God (
verses 9-10) and dominion and a kingdom being given to Him. His dominion and kingdom are both everlasting even using the words
"shall not pass away." Jesus is to be crowned King of our lives today.
Someday when He comes again, He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords (
Revelation 19:16). This makes the throne of David eternal. Some claim that Jesus is not in the Old Testament. Paul is not in agreement with that stand and neither is Jesus. Paul, speaking of the Israelites of Moses day said:
"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (
1 Corinthians 10:4). Jesus said:
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (
John 5:39). When one stops to realize that the Old Testament Scriptures were the only Scriptures available when Jesus said that, one realizes that Jesus is in all through the Old Testament.
Paul, raised a Pharisee, said:
"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (
Colossians 3:11). In Christ Old and New Testaments are bound together and all the promises are now to be fulfilled in Spiritual Israel which has both Jews and Gentiles who accept Jesus as their King.