Thursday, January 3, 2008
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
IN THE CITY OF DAVID
Bethlehem, of course, is the city of David. Near this historic village young David watched over his father Jesse's flocks. From here the shepherd boy was sent by his father to see how his brothers were doing when they were bivouacked at the Valley of Elah as members of the army of King Saul. In that valley David would go out to face the Philistine Goliath. Now a greater champion than David goes forth, representing not just one nation but the entire human race. This Child of Bethlehem will go up against the old evil Foe in our stead -- as promised of old.
Forth today the Conqueror goeth, Who the foe, Sin and woe,
Death and hell, o'erthroweth. God is man, man to deliver.
To refer to Bethlehem as "the city of David" is a reminder of the fact that God promised David that the Saviour would be born of his line -- and that God always keeps His Word. The eternal Son of the Father "as to his human nature was a descendant of David" (Romans 1:3 NIV). Every other Old Testament promise regarding the Saviour to come was also fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the "Woman's Promised Offspring," the "Virgin's Son, Immanuel." He is "the Lord our Righteousness" and in Him "all nations of the earth will be blessed."
Deep in the prophets' sacred page, Grand in the poets' winged word,
Slowly in type, from age to age, Nations beheld their coming Lord,
Till thru' the deep Judean night Rang out the song "Good will to men!"
And just as every promise of Him was truly kept, even so every promise in Him is utterly dependable, completely reliable. Through Him we have "peace with God" for "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). In Jesus we have "rest for our souls" and we await His final return, for He has promised, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:3).
See how God, for us providing, Gave His Son and life abiding;
He our weary steps is guiding From earth's woe to heavenly joy.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 77:2; 132:2; 90:3)
