"Thou Art The King Of Israel."

by J.Dorricott | Category: General | Feb 1936

Nathanael verily expressed the truth of the Kingship of the Messiah when he said to the Lord, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel" (John 1. 49). He who had been foretold in the prophetic Word as the coming King had now arrived; and before Nathanael stood the Hope of Israel, even the eternal Son of God who had become flesh and tabernacled among men.

Let us refer to some of the scriptures which foretold the coming of the Messiah as King of Israel, He who was to come of the royal line of David to reign over His people Israel, and also to have universal dominion.

THE PROMISED KING.

Through the mouth of Balaam the word came concerning Him- "There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel ... out of Jacob shall one have dominion."

Numbers 24 17, 19.

Possibly these words had a voice to the wise men, who, having seen His Star in the East came to Jerusalem, enquiring for the born King (see Matthew 2.).

The Lord also spake through Nathan the prophet to David, saying,

I will set up thy seed after thee ... I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever ... thy throne shall be established for ever." See 2 Samuel 7. 12-16.

If Psalm 89. is compared with this, it will be seen that the promise made to David declaring that his house and his throne should be established for ever, goes far beyond Solomon in its ultimate fulfilment, and points on to David's greater Son (as to His humanity) and David's Lord (as to His Deity). This will be perceived clearly if Psalm 72. (a precious Messianic Psalm) is also read and compared with the promise cited.

Psalm 72., a Psalm "of (pertaining to) Solomon," had but a partial fulfilment in his glorious, peaceful reign'. After David had subdued his enemies, the effect of righteousness was peace and assurance. Solomon, the beloved of his father, took his place upon the throne and that which is written of him goes far beyond Solomon, and points forward to the King of righteousness and of peace.

The territory occupied by Israel during the reign of Solomon was large, but when He whose right it is to reign, comes in power and great glory, He will reign not only over Israel and the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 15. 18), but over the whole earth, as it is written- "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River unto the ends of the earth."

See Psalm 72.

Solomon, in his glorious reign, only partially filled the picture portrayed in this Psalm. Note the majesty of the One spoken of here; the blessing that shall come to Israel, and through them to the nations of the earth; the righteousness of that Kingly rule, and the abundance of peace flowing therefrom; the curse removed and the earth yielding its fulness ; poverty, and the hand of the oppressor known no more; the obedience of all the nations to Zion's King; the presentation of kingly gifts in homage-"Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him."

Note all these things and see depicted as in a mirror the future earthly glory of Him who became "Son of Man "- "BEHOLD A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE."

"Blessed be Jehovah Elohim, the Elohim of Israel,

Who only doeth wondrous things:

And blessed be His glorious Name for ever;

And let the whole earth be full of His glory. Amen, and Amen."

The fulfilment of all this is certain, for although Divine purposes may be postponed and God's sovereign will flows meanwhile in

other directions, yet His purposes are never finally frustrated nor abandoned-they, like His promises, are all "Yea, and Amen "in Christ Jesus. In Psalm 2. the enmity of the people, and the counsel of kings, with the rulers of Israel, are seen to be against Jehovah and against His Messiah, but the Divine reply to all this is-

"Yet I have set My King

Upon My holy hill of Zion

Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the

Nations for Thine inheritance,

And the uttermost parts of the earth

For Thy possession."

Verses 6-8.

He who knoweth the end from the beginning, and who worketh all things, after the counsel of His own will, made the rejection of Messiah by Israel, the occasion for the manifestation of His eternal purpose concerning Christ and the Church, to the praise of the glory of His grace. Well may both reader and writer how in adoration and exclaim, "0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past tracing out! For of Him, and through Him, and unto Him, are all things. To Him be the glory for ever. Amen."

In the book of the prophet Zechariah we read- "Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion;

Shout, 0 daughter of Jerusalem;

Behold thy King cometh unto thee:

He is just, and having salvation;

Lowly, and riding upon an ass,

Even upon a colt the foal of an ass."

Zechariah 9. 9.

We do well to remember that when our Lord entered Jerusalem riding upon an ass's colt, as recorded in the Gospels, the multitudes that had come up to the feast of the Passover were constrained (surely by a power beyond themselves) to proclaim Him Zion's King, though the Rulers and Pharisees and Scribes had by this time openly rejected Him and were seeking His life. Notwithstanding this, God would have the truth publicly proclaimed that the One rejected by the many was Israel's King-this fact was proclaimed in the most vivid and emphatic way when the Lord rode into Jerusalem as recorded in the Gospels-all four, be it noted. See and compare Matthew 21. 1-11; Mark 11. 1-10; Luke 19. 29-38; John 12. 12-15. It may be remarked that in Matthew 21. and in John .12. where Zechariah 9. is quoted-" Behold thy King cometh," the words "having salvation," are not mentioned. This, we suggest, is significant. Israel rejected their King, and in consequence, Having salvation" was not then fulfilled to Israel nationally. How truly this was expressed in the sad words of the two who journeyed to Emmaus-" But we hoped that it was He which should redeem Israel" (see Luke 24.). But we rejoice to know that in a coming day, "having salvation" will be blessedly fulfilled to Israel nationally. We see, therefore, that the kingdom to Israel, though postponed, is not abandoned, and happy were those Israelites who as individuals owned the Lord as did Nathaniel-" Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel." Nathanael's noble confession was answered by the Lord's promise to him concerning the wondrous future kingdom-John 1. 51.

The time for the fulfilment of Psalm 2. 8 will then have come

"Ask of Me and I will give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance,

And the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." This future scene was shewn to Daniel in a vision, depicting the Son of Man in His glorified humanity escorted by the heavenly host, coming to the Ancient of days and receiving the kingdom.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven One like unto a Son of Man, and He came even to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7. 13, 14.

Throughout the prophetic Word similar predictions are found. God speaks through the mouth of Jeremiah thus- "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will

raise unto David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as King and deal wisely, and execute judgement and justice in the land." Jeremiah 23. 5.

Autocracy, or government in the hands of one person, is the form of earthly rule which is according to God. But where is the sovereign who is wise enough to bear such rule? Where is he that in everything can act righteously, or who is sufficiently beneficient to hold universal sway? The world is in crying need of such an one, who will right all wrongs, and the nations in their sorry plight. Men, seeking what they consider the right way have dethroned some constitutional monarchs and substituted dictators. We fear that this will be the order of the day until the Man of Sin is enthroned as the head of a restored confederated Roman Empire. But even this will end in ghastly failure, and in the judgement of God (see Daniel 7. 11 ; Revelation 19. 20), for there is only One who in everything can deal wisely and execute righteousness and judgement in the land-Israel's Messiah and King, even as Isaiah predicts- "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement.

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Isaiah 32. 1, 2.

This predicted King was to be truly a Man who would prove to be a refuge and a shade in this weary land; One in whom men would find a hiding place from the biting blasts and a shelter from the storms. He would also bring refreshing streams and fruitfulness to a dry barren land, and a cooling shade from the burning heat. This was the promise, and God Himself has provided the One in whom it will all be fulfilled. We look backward to His incarnate Son, of whom the prophet wrote-

"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, Counsellor,

The Mighty God, The Father of Eternity, 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 judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever.

THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL PERFORM THIS."

Isaiah 9. 6, 7, (Newberry).

As the "Child Born" He was -to be, as stated elsewhere, of the house of David, of the Royal tribe of Judah. His eternal Sonship is expressed in the words "A Son is Given." He ever was the Only Begotten Son which is (that is, which always is) in the bosom of the Father. Perfect Deity and Perfect Humanity are His. Thus it was foretold that the Son who was to be given should have the Government upon His shoulder. He was to bear the full weight of the burden of government. All had to be centred in Himself, the Second Man, the Lord from heaven. He, through His atoning death has laid the basis of reconciliation not only for ourselves, not only for things in the heavens, but also for the things on the earth. He will be manifestly the Head of all in His future reign, for He is the Heir of all things.

Again we look back to His incarnation and we learn that the sign to Israel was to be "Immanuel."

"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the (R.V.M.) virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

Isaiah 7. 14.

Here would we adoringly bow as we behold His perfect Deity enshrined in perfect humanity. The woman's Seed begotten by the power of the Holy Spirit, is seen in His spotless, sinless humanity. "In Him was no sin." "Who knew no sin." "Who did no sin." He could say, "The Prince of this world cometh and bath nothing in Me" (John 14. 30). There was nothing in Him which in any wise could answer to the temptations of the Evil One, yet, on account of His inherent holiness, deeply did He feel those assaults. In his holy Manhood He was absolutely impeccable, not liable to sin, proof against it because of His holy Manhood and His perfect Deity. He was God manifest in flesh. God in His eternal counsel and in His eternal purpose has laid help upon One who was mighty, yea almighty; and His counsels and purposes were put beyond the possibility of failure in the Second Man, the Lord from heaven. The first man, Adam, made in the image and in the likeness of God, although innocent, was yet liable to yield to temptation, and he fell. The Second Man, the last Adam, the Lord from heaven, was not of the earth, earthy; He was not like Adam-merely innocent, for He was the Holy One, the Son of God, yea, the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, perfect Man and perfect God in one Person, with whom failure was an absolute impossibility. Therefore all the counsels, purposes, plans and promises of God were and are absolutely safe and secure in His hands, and everything will be fulfilled through Him, according to the counsel of Him who worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will.

J.Dorricott | Feb 1936
General