Luke 1:26-38
2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
“The Throne of David” Luke 1:32; 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
Pastor Tom Johnson, December 20, 2020
In Luke’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel ingeniously connects our Old Testament reading from 2 Samuel chapter 7 to Mary’s pregnancy. He tells her it’s the fulfillment of God’s promise her Son will reign on King David’s throne forever. When we look at the Old Testament more carefully, we see that the unexpected is what we should come to expect. David wants to build God a house. You’ll remember that ever since the time of the Exodus, the Ark of the Covenant dwelt in a tabernacle. Tabernacle is just another word for tent. Through the prophet Nathan, God says to David, “Thanks but no thanks.” “When have I ever asked for you to build me a house—a temple made of cedar, precious stones, gold and silver? I have been living in a tent for centuries,” God says. “No, I will build you a house, David.”
The house God promises to build David is one that is not made with human hands or of wood, stone, or metal. It is made through human flesh. God is talking about the descendants of David. He will extend David’s reign forever. This is similar to the way we talk about the White House. It’s a seat of power that is passed down from administration to administration. So, God promises David that he would have sons and grandsons that would rule in his name forever. For centuries after, it seems like God did not fulfill his promise. There are many wicked kings that follow David. The line eventually runs out when conquered by foreign empires—the latest being the Roman Empire. Herod tries to kill off the line of David shortly after Jesus, the descendent of David is born. The Roman Empire eventually destroys the House of God—the Temple in the year 70.
Tragically, this is universal, human nature. In our nation, we are in a current battle for the White House and a majority of seats in the Senate. There is nothing new under the sun. We can complain but our leaders are but a reflection of all of us. We too can be all about our own comfort, maintaining our power and possessions, and want to pass on our wealth and power to those most like us or bear our names. We can fall into the trap of discontentment—unhappy with our homes, relationships, and material possessions. How can there be any peace on earth? How can we be a perfect union? How can we bring joy to the world? How can we accomplish any good if it is every person for themself? How can we if it is all about me and not about we?
The amazing thing in our Old Testament Scripture is that God says he is content to be in a temporary, portable tent. The angel Gabriel is showing us the continuity of who God is from ages ago—even since before the foundation of the world. The Eternal Son of God—the One who has no beginning or end—the one who sits on his eternal throne since before the creation of the universe. This King of kings and Lord of lords leaves his heavenly house to take up residence in the womb of Mary. He exchanges his timeless, eternal reign for a sac of amniotic fluid. He trades a house made of fine stones, gold, silver, and gates of pearl for an abode of flesh—a chamber with a uterine wall. Instead of a heavenly throne, footstool, and scepter; the Son of David will float in amniotic fluid tethered to his mother by an umbilical cord. Instead of being born into privilege and prestige. He will be born in a stable—in the margins—among a suffering people longing for physical and spiritual salvation.
In John’s Gospel, it literally says, “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (1:14). The Alpha and Omega steps out of eternity into time and space. His tent—what Jesus later calls his Temple—is his human body. The house of David is now the Body of Jesus, descended from David, conceived by the Holy Spirit. And if that is not miracle enough—that God would take on our humanity—he does so to make a home for himself in all of our hearts—to dwell richly in each of our lives. And he dies and rises again to purchase a place for us in his heavenly home. He ascends to the Father and assures us that before he comes back again, he prepares a place for us in his house—there are many mansions—many rooms he says. And as his great grandfather King David said at the end of Psalm 23, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” So just like David, we can pray for God to make his home with us permanently. But just as he did with David, God wants to make a home for us. He does both. He makes his home with us. And one day he will bring us to our heavenly home.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
(“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” LSB 357 v. 5)
May it be so quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
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