The Throne of David

by James Lincoln on December 18, 2005

When you read the stories and sing the songs of the birth narratives of Jesus one thing you notice is that these accounts are filled with references to King David. To the shepherds the angels said that the Messiah would be born in the city of David. Matthew said that Jesus is the son of David. To Mary, Gabriel said that God would give Jesus the Throne of David.

This advent we've been reviewing just what that would have meant to those to who first heard it. And we started with Hannah because through Hannah we saw that God established a pattern of introducing His saving ways through women with impossible births. Sarah, Rachael, Rebekah Hannah, Elizabeth and Mary had one thing in common. Unless God did a miracle of grace there would be no son. Unless God does the impossible there is no salvation. Here's what's impossible: that sinners like us could ever be considered righteous. But through the miracle and gift of grace that is exactly what God promises us in the gospel. Any other explanation is just a joke. On what other grounds could it ever be said that we are righteous? On what other grounds could Paul address us as saints?

If you think there are grounds in your record for you being called righteous then you are delusional and are simply living in denial. Beloved, the fact that we could be called righteous is nothing short of miraculous. It's one thing to have a child after a season of barrenness. It's quite another to have one when you have never been with a man like Mary, who had not. All of the impossible births of the Old Testament point to the most impossible birth in all of human history, the birth of Jesus to Mary. So the story of Hannah prepares us for the greatest story, the story of Jesus.

We saw last Sunday that God promised David that one of his descendants would be The King of an eternal kingdom who would conquer and transcend the darkness of death, sin and even time. God promised that through this son of David the world would be put to rights in justice and righteousness. The message of the gospels is, of course, that Jesus is that King.

Now of all the passages that speak of Jesus being the Davidic king, Isaiah 9:1-7 is probably the most famous. This morning I want us to consider two things this glorious promise of God tells us about Christmas and about Jesus as the son of David. First, Christmas tells us how to deal with darkness. Second, Christmas tells us about God's gift of grace and what we find when we open it.

First, Isaiah tells us how to deal with the darkness. Notice the references to darkness in the first two verses.

In verse 1, Isaiah says there will be, "no more gloom" In verse 2, "The people walking in darkness." In v.2 he says that on those, "living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

As a kid I was pretty much terrified of the dark. I had two older brothers. Therefore, admitting that you were afraid of the dark would have invited the kind of mocking and abuse that only two depraved older brothers could dish out. One reason I was afraid of the dark is that we saw a lot of horror movies growing up. So, I had to deal with a lot of nightmares. I've since gotten over it. Last year Debby persuaded me that the nightlight wouldn't really protect me from any real threat. So, I'm doing much better now.

There was a lot of darkness in Israel's world; the darkness of sin, oppression, injustice and most importantly godlessness. There aren't enough Christmas lights made that could ever dispel the darkness of godlessness. The word darkness represents shadows, obscurity, fear and coldness or loneliness. Jesus called hell the outer darkness. Therefore hell is a very cold place. One reason that's true is just as C.S. Lewis said, "Hell is endless autobiography" or utter self-centeredness. Few things - even eternal physical torment - are more frightening to me than that. There's no love in hell. Beloved, there will be no restraining influence of the Holy Spirit in hell who now restrains our selfishness and makes life livable for all through His restraining grace. You don't want to go to hell. It's cold, dark, godless and loveless.

The Assyrians had brutally destroyed the Northern kingdom. Judah was living in rebellion. Isaiah said to Judah, "The ox knows his master, the donkey knows its owner, but Israel does not know the Lord." They had forsaken the Lord and turned their backs on the Lord. If the Lord had not left some survivors Israel would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah. There was much darkness about Judah.

But here Isaiah targets the darkness of death. This is classical Hebrew parallelism where the first line (v.1) is defined by the second (2). The first line doesn't say what the darkness is but the second does. "A light has shone on those living in the shadow of death." Literally it reads "in death darkness". It's an acknowledgment that death casts a shadow on everything in life. Today we don't recognize this because our culture does everything it can to deny the reality of death.

Years ago, it was common for people to come in contact with death. During the cholera epidemic of the 18th c., you had five hours to live after presenting the first symptoms. Five hours after you contracted cholera you were dead. People were literally dropping dead in the streets. For most of human history people came in contact with death as it really is. In the old days when your loved one died, they died in your bedroom at home and you fixed them up and then you buried them in the back on the farm. Today, death is something we frantically avoid. Today, the mortician's job is to make a dead person look like they're resting and asleep. But that doesn't mean that we don't fear death. It may indicate that we fear it even more.

Now, the death rate hasn't changed at all. The last time I counted It was still one death per person. Our civilization is perhaps the first civilization in history that has lost its consensus and certainty that there is anything after death. Practically every other civilization has believed that this life was hard and short but it was only one part of our life. After you died you had another life. Practically every civilization that has existed had a consensus and social certainty on the part of most of the people that it was possible that after you died to have more fulfillments, more joy, more satisfaction and more love than you had in this life. And society reinforced those beliefs. I wonder today if the reason that we are so driven to have and experience everything and squeeze all of life into the life we have here and now is that many are terrified that after they die there may not be anything to experience. As a result in earlier days - in spite of the fact that people were dying in the streets five hours after they contract cholera or in spite of the fact that half of your children would not survive until adulthood - they were not as dominated by the fear of death as we are.¹ Ernest Becker makes this case well in his famous book, The Denial of Death. He contends that there has never yet been a society that lives more in the shadow of death than ours.

But Isaiah says that there is a light that can dispel this darkness. During Hitler's regime many of the ministers tried to fit in with Hitler and not make waves. Many fled to the US and elsewhere. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran minister who came here for a while to lecture but against all the pleading of his friends he returned to Germany to join the resistance. He said that he just couldn't leave the place and people God had called him to serve even at the risk of his life. So, he went back, joined and was arrested and executed. However, just before his death he wrote this to a friend. He said, "Death is the supreme festival on the road to freedom." In the light of Christ he was not afraid of death.

George Herbert spoke about death saying,

"Death used to be an executioner but now because of the gospel Jesus has made death just a gardener. All death can do is to plant me in the ground of God's love. And make me come up in ways I've never been before more glorious and more full of life and praise."

In spite of the fact that darkness and death was all around, Bonhoeffer believed that Jesus Christ is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. And when Jesus died for us He paid the debt we all owed to justice and therefore when we die we can have no fear of death or darkness because Jesus has claimed us, redeemed us, saved us and entered into the very maw of darkness so that when we die we will enter the light of God's mercy, grace, forgiveness, love and joy.

What can death do to us? George Herbert says, "Bring it on! Death will only make you stronger and more beautiful and more fruitful. Death is a gardener." That's the light Isaiah is talking about, "On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. When you get this issue settled it's amazing how many other fears begin to diminish.

Bonhoeffer didn't have to get everything here and now and satisfy every appetite here and now and have everything go his way here and now. Why not? Because he came to know the truth of Christmas. A shaft of Light that transcends this world is a light that will completely erase the darkness of this world and it will make the sun and the stars look like a flickering candle in comparison to that Light which will someday fill the universe. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. And their gladness will be increased in that light.

Don't you love that moment when Jesus said to Mary, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die?"

The reason Jesus wept at Lazarus' funeral wasn't over Lazarus. He was about to raise him up from the dead. He was weeping for all those people who had lost their dear friend to death but had no certainty of what would happen after you died. Jesus breaks into the darkness of that uncertainty as the shaft of God's certain light saying, "If you believe and live in me even though you die physically you'll never die but will live on in fellowship with Me." Mary Believed, Bonhoeffer believed do you?

John says that perfect love drives out fear. I really amaze myself at how fearful I can be about things that, in reality, are no real threat at all. I can default to that fear in a moment. However, into those fears and into that darkness Jesus sends a shaft of light from heaven to cast out all fear. Isn't God good?

Isaiah says those who live in the darkness the light will shine upon them. They will be glad in thy presence. Are you glad? Does the light of Jesus dispel your darkness? In chapter 60, Isaiah says,

"Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you for, behold, darkness will cover the earth... But.... the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you and nations will come to your light and to the brightness of your rising...then you will see and be radiant."

Our Light has come but someday, beloved, the nations will come to the brightness of the light of the Lord. How do I know? Because Isaiah says that the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this. You tell me what can stop the zeal of the Lord? Put your trust in Him and His light, don't let the darkness and shadows of life prevail and run your life. Believe and trust in Jesus who is the Light. Christmas tells us how to deal with the darkness.

Second, this son of David comes to us as a gift of grace. And this tells us how to open God's first Christmas gift.

This light can only be received as a gift. The language all through this text is about a gift and miracle of grace over merit. Look in vs. 4:

"For Thou [or God] will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders. The rod of their oppressors. As at the battle of Midian.

Do you remember how Gideon defeated the Midianites? Did the story go like this? Gideon and his 32,000 soldiers overwhelmed and crushed the Midianite army to dust and smithereens. No. What happened? Gideon called up an army of 32,000 soldiers and marched them up to the camp of the Midianites to do battle. But then God said to Gideon, "Gideon, you've got way too many troops for this battle. When did an ancient army ever had too many troops? But God said, "Lest Israel become boastful saying, 'My own power has delivered me, send home 22,000 men." So Gideon let 22,000 go home. Do you know what else God said? God said, "Gideon there are still too many soldiers." And guess how many Gideon had to send home this time? Another 9,700 men. How many were left? 300 And the Lord said, "Gideon I will deliver you with the 300 men and will give the Midianites into your hands." What a great story. God gave each soldier three things: First, an empty pitcher, second, a trumpet, and third, a torch inside every pitcher. When Gideon blew his trumpet everyone said, "For the Lord and for Gideon." And then in one accord they blew their trumpets and smashed their pitchers on the ground. The Midianites were utterly terrified and ran. Then the Lord set the sword one against another even throughout the whole Midianite army and the survivors fled.

Of all the battles Isaiah could have referenced this is the one He picks to connect to the Messiah's coming. God put Gideon in a humble position so that he would have to totally rely on the Lord. Also it would be absolutely clear that God is the one who saves. God may be doing the same thing to you right now. Often we ask, "Lord why have you put me in such a humbling situation?" His answer may be that the only way you'll ever be convinced that He saves you is if you are utterly convinced that you can't save yourself. For some of us that may take some time. Because many of us are puffed up with pride. That's why we're told that God closed Hannah's womb. So that she and every one else would know that God saves and that we can't save ourselves. God was setting her up to be an illustration of His grace and power.

The victory over the Midianites was the gift of God's grace. For this battle you don't need any military hardware; for this you can burn it all. What you need is faith and obedience. Listen to Him and obey Him. Where do you need to just obey Him today? He can take care of whatever it is that is oppressing you and intimidating you.

But ultimately the language of grace comes to us in vs. 6. " For unto us a child is born and a son is given." There it is again. A son is given. Who is this child who is God's gift? Who is this son? Isaiah says that He's, among other things, Mighty God (6). This is one of the most amazing things ever said or written. This text says that the Mighty God was born. Therefore it had to be a gift. The human birth of the mighty God is something humanity can't accomplish or make happen. It's outside any human capacity to arrange or manage. John said it in his first epistle. 1Jn.1: 1-4:

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us."

Both Isaiah and John are saying that God came physically and literally into this world. In every other religion there are lots of miracle stories. But in every other religion whether those miracle happened or not doesn't affect your salvation. Because in every other religion your salvation is still dependent and established on your record and merit. In Christianity, it's who Jesus is and what Jesus has done that is the foundation of our salvation.

Isaiah says that God will come and be born. God the Son will live for us and die for us and give us the record of His righteousness and the punishment of His death and satisfy the debt we owe to justice. Jesus is mighty God, Immanuel or God with us. And if He isn't then we are most to be pitied because if He isn't Immanuel then none of this is accomplished. Only the Son of God with a record of perfect righteousness could represent the Father's love for us and satisfy the demands of His justice. That's what Jesus did. This is God's gift and God's doing and therefore can only be received as a gift. This is grace. Christmas is about opening a gift, God's gift. And only as you receive it as a gift will His light dawn on your heart.

And when we do open this gift look what else is in that Gift.

1. Everlasting Father.
Why the word Father? As Immanuel or God with us, Jesus communicates the love of the Father. Even though He is a king, He wants us to be close to Him, to know His affection and tender mercies and to know them with confidence, hope and joy. That's what the word Father represents. Look, what one person can wake up the king in the middle of the night, run into his bedroom, climb up on the bed and snuggle up under his arms and get safe comfort? One person.....the king's child. This doesn't cancel out his sovereign authority. However, the first thing Jesus said when asked how to pray was, "Pray like this...Our Father who art in heaven..." Israel needs a king to win her battles and lead her in wisdom. She also needs a father to love her with compassion and tender mercies. And so do we.

Jesus is like that. Here's a God who takes a woman's hand who lost her son and says, "Don't cry.' Here's a God who takes the hand of a little girl whose dead and says, 'Talitha cum." Honey, get up. Here's a God who has stormed the gates of hell so that you and I can know him and trust Him as our Father. Behold, what manner of love is this that we should be called the children of God and, beloved, that is what we are. Do you rest in God as your Father? To as man as received Him, to them, he gave the authority to become the children of God.

2. Prince of Peace
...and the increase of His peace and government there will be no end. One of our problems is that when we think of peace we almost always psychologize it into inner peace and calm. However, the word shalom means absolute wholeness and complete flourishing. Peace on earth has to mean where there was oppression and injustice there is kindness and justice. Where there was disease there is healing. Where there was death there is life. Where there was hunger there is satisfaction. It also means that where there was alienation from God there is reconciliation and inner peace. At Christmas, God took on a body showing us that the material world matters to God. Put another way, at Christmas, God moved into a bad neighborhood and began to do His redeeming work. In time, He moved into the bad neighborhood of my heart. And every Christian should be doing the same thing to some degree or another through whatever gifts and abilities God has given you. It's not just about your individual peace and your individual renewal, it's also about taking this message out of the comfort zones of your neighborhood and taking it into neighborhoods that don't know it yet. And that neighborhood could be another person's fear, unbelief, oppression, sin, hopelessness or the neighborhoods of law, education, science, business, health, troubled marriages or a troubled teen. Peace on earth comes as God leaves his good neighborhood and comes into our bad neighborhood with the message of peace. Is that what you're doing? His peace is for spreading around.

Finally, Wonderful Counselor
This phrase means the counselor who brings wonder. And wonder means beauty and joy. He comes into our lives as a counselor to fill us with beauty and joy. Why is Christian counseling flourishing? Could it be that the Wonderful Counselor is not getting much business? Do you know Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor? Do you make appointments with Him to hear him remind you of what he has done on your behalf and to help you sort out your troubles? If you are not filled with wonder this Christmas could it be that you have not spent much time cultivating a professional relationship with Counselor Jesus?

To be called his child, joint hers with Christ, to be called His elect and chosen of God, to be called His sheep and members of His body, His ambassadors, to be called his beloved is wondrous! And if God loves you like that isn't that wondrous? God cannot lie. He will never betray you. He will never deceive you. He will never leave you high and dry. He will never desert you. He will never let anything happen to you that is not good for you. That's His word and that's a wondrous thing - He's the Wonderful Counselor - if you open it as a gift and receive His light that lights up and dispels the darkness.

There's a hymn that goes like this,
In your hearts enthrone Him there let him subdue.
All that is not holy all and all that is not true.
Crown Him as your Captain in temptation's hour.
Let His will enfold you with His light and power."