Advent Midweek 2, 2025

David to the Exile

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Do you have any famous people in your family tree? Military veterans?  Passengers on the Mayflower?  Perhaps even someone from one of the royal families in Europe?

It can be exciting to know that you are descended from someone famous, perhaps because you think that makes you special in some way.  Perhaps if you have someone famous in your family, you can claim some of the credit or fame for yourself.  If they’re special, maybe you are, too.

Matthew starts Jesus’ family tree with Abraham. The next major figure is King David.

When it comes to the famous men of the Old Testament, it’s hard to beat King David.

David, the shepherd boy who defeated Goliath with a slingshot and a stone.  Even folks who’ve never opened a Bible have heard of a “David and Goliath Story.”

David, the military commander who won the hearts of his people.

David, the one who established Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel and brought the ark of the covenant there, dancing all the way.

David, the great musician, the author of the Psalms.

Who wouldn’t want to be related to such a man?

In truth, though, none of these accomplishments are credited to David Himself.

Notice what Nathan says to David on the Lord’s behalf:

“I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you.”

All of David’s successes, all of his victories are because of what the Lord has done.  The Lord gets all of the credit.

Is that how you think about your own successes? Your family’s and your ancestors’?

You are successful people with much to be proud of. 

You can boast of success in academics, in the arts, in athletics, and in your professional lives.  You can see how you’ve gone from having a little and struggling to get by to living in Naperville (or close by), sending your kids to good colleges, having nice homes and a comfortable retirement.

But when you reflect on all these things, do you recognize where they truly come from?  Do you give credit where credit is due?  Or do you just assume that you’ve worked hard and earned everything that you have?

All of the good that you’ve received in life has come to you as a gift from the Lord.  He has brought you and your family to where you are today.  Every victory, every success has come because He has been with you.

The Lord took David from being a humble shepherd to being king over His people.  He took him from being the least important in his family to the greatest.  He gave him victory over all his enemies and established his throne securely.

And He’s not done with David yet.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever….  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

The Lord promises that David’s descendants will be kings after him.

And they are.  From Solomon on down, generation after generations of David’s sons reigned after him in Jerusalem.  You heard all those names from Matthew’s list.

Some of them were good and some of them were bad. 

The greatness of David was not found in his military accomplishments, in his political gains, or in his musical skills. The greatness of David came in his trust in the Lord.

The kings who followed David weren’t judged by how successful they were in battle, or by how much money they brought into the treasury, or by any such standards.  They were judged by how much they were like David.  Where was their heart?  What was their attitude towards worship?  Did they trust in the Lord, or in themselves and in their armies and in their allies?

True sons of David aren’t necessarily known by their accomplishments, but by their faith in the Lord.

Nathan promised that one of David’s sons would reign forever.  The people of God remembered that promise.  Even when it seemed like the line of David had failed.  Even when they had been taken into exile and dispersed to the corners of the world.  They were still watching and waiting for that Son of David who would reign forever.

When Jesus came, many people recognize Him as this Son of David.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  They expected Jesus to do the same things that had made David famous- defeat his enemies, establish the capital city, restore true worship in Jerusalem.

To most of the world, Jesus was a failure as the Son of David.  They called Him “king” only in mockery and sarcasm.  He did not restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory.  His enemies arrested Him and executed Him, and Jesus did not even fight back. 

They had forgotten the real reason why David was so significant, that is, in his heart.

Jesus trusted and relied on God the Father.  He showed Himself to be the true Son of David in obeying the Father, even unto death on the cross.  He placed His life in the Father’s hands, even if it meant dying in shame.

Maybe you don’t think of yourself as famous, as noteworthy, or as anything special.  Maybe you don’t have any big accomplishments that you can point to. Maybe you have grown up in the shadow of a famous relative, a parent or sibling whose accomplishments outshine your own.  Maybe you just can’t keep up with your neighbors in terms of worldly possessions.

In the end, none of those things will matter. All that will matter is your heart. Do you love the Lord most of all? Do you trust and rely on His strength for the defeat of your enemies?  Do you turn to Him in repentance when you have failed?

One day, Jesus Christ, the Son of David will return, and all the world will acknowledge Him as their true king.  The great promises will come to pass, all of God’s enemies will be defeated once and for all and Jesus will reign forever.

And you will reign with Him.  Not because of anything that you’ve done or accomplished, but because you are part of Jesus’ family tree. 

When it comes to your human family tree, you can’t claim credit for your ancestors’ accomplishments.  Whether you are descended from royalty or from peasants, that does not reflect on your character.

But it’s different with Jesus.  In His case, you can actually claim credit for what He has done, because He joins Himself to you.

You are a member of the royal family.  You are a child of the king.  Jesus Christ, your brother, is the Son of David.  And you will reign with Him forever.

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