By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical & Religious Studies, Samford University
THE KING WHO REIGNS FOREVER
Isaiah 9:6–7; Luke 1:26–33
While a certain amount of pomp and circumstance goes along with a presidential inauguration, even those who were glad to say goodbye to King George III in 1776 can admit our ceremonies pale in comparison to those accompanying the coronation of a new British monarch.
The service in which Elizabeth II was crowned took more than a year to prepare and lasted for more than three hours when it was held. Special hymns, elaborate costumes, a priceless crown, a golden carriage pulled by eight horses — all of these trappings and countless more were part of this unique occasion.
What is true for modern monarchs was true for ancient kings as well. The kings of Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and even Israel were crowned with tremendous fanfare.
Adonijah’s abortive effort to take his father David’s throne was accompanied by countless sacrifices, a great company of supporters and an elaborate banquet (1 Kings 1:5–9).
His half-brother Solomon’s more successful installment involved a journey to Gihon on the king’s donkey, the blowing of trumpets, blessings, anointing with oil and a raucous musical celebration (1 Kings 1:33–40).
Because he would serve as God’s representative among the people, the king’s accession to the throne was a tremendously important affair.
A child will be born to reign on the throne of David. (Isa. 9:6–7)
The accession of Hezekiah to the throne of Judah was an event of extraordinary importance to the prophet Isaiah. Having seen his nation suffer under the threats (and worse) from Assyria, Isaiah spoke for the nation in longing for a time when deliverance would come.
The language of Isaiah 9:6–7 (vv. 5–6 in Hebrew) celebrates Hezekiah’s coronation.
The language of “a child is born to us, a son is given to us” is the voice of the heavenly court, rejoicing over the fact God had entered into a special relationship with the king. God would be Hezekiah’s father, and Hezekiah would be God’s son, His representative among the nation.
The birth of the King was divinely announced. (Luke 1:26–31)
What was simply a metaphor in the case of Hezekiah would be quite literally true in the case of Jesus.
Some seven centuries after Isaiah’s message, the angel Gabriel would appear to a peasant woman in the obscure village of Nazareth to inform her that she, though still a virgin, would become pregnant with a son.
That son would be God’s own Son, the true and ultimate expression of God’s presence among His people.
Even with this angelic announcement, Mary could hardly have understood the full significance of what lay in store for her. Kings did not come from peasant mothers. Kings, regardless of the status of their mothers, certainly did not come from towns like Nazareth. And yet, Mary was destined to become the mother not just of a king, but of the King, the Messiah Himself.
Jesus is the King who rules forever. (Luke 1:32–33)
None of the New Testament authors directly applies the titles of Isaiah 9:6 to Jesus. The stamp of this verse is found all over the stories of Jesus’ birth, however.
When the angels appear to the shepherds, they cry out, “To you is born this day a Savior”; the angels’ words echo those of the prophet, “A child is born to us” (Luke 2:11).
Gabriel’s own words to Mary echo those of Isaiah. Isaiah had said, “Authority rests on His shoulders”; Gabriel said of this yet to be born Son, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
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