Though composed of many books written at different times by different authors, much of the Bible is a continuing narrative that tells the story of salvation in ever-deepening detail. One of the ways it does this is by encapsulating the story or part of the story in the life of a particular person in the Bible whose shadow is then cast forward across the remaining pages of the Bible.
David is certainly one of these characters for in many ways his life prefigures the life of Christ. Like David, who established his kingdom by overcoming Israel’s enemies and uniting God’s people, Jesus would establish his kingdom by defeating the principalities and powers and by drawing people from every tribe and tongue and nation together in his kingdom.
Many of the Jews at the time of Jesus believed that the Messiah would be a direct descendant of the great King David, whom God described “as a man after my own heart.” The Gospels refer to Jesus as the “Son of David,” or Huios Dauid, fifteen times, nine of these in the Gospel of Matthew. The New Testament also refers to Jesus as the “Root and Offspring of David,” the “descendant” or “seed” of David, and the one who holds the “key of David.” The Hebrew word for “Son of David” is baneka (ba-NE-ka).
A related idea is contained in the Hebrew word tsemach (seh-MAK), which is translated as “branch.” The most notable appearance of this messianic title is contained in the Book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23:5 speaks of a “righteous branch for David,” a phrase that refers to a future heir to the dynastic line of David.
Praying to the Son of David
When Barak Obama was inaugurated president of the United States, he swore the oath of office on a red velvet Bible trimmed in gold. It was the Bible Abraham Lincoln had used in his first inaugural. By doing so, the first African American President was paying homage to Lincoln. Perhaps he was also hoping that the shadow of this great man would be cast over his own presidency.
In a similar way, the New Testament invokes the shadow of David, Israel’s greatest king to point to Jesus, the promised Messiah. Now let’s take a look at one of the scenes from the gospel in which a blind man addresses Jesus as “Son of David.”
Imagine that you are one of the two blind men described in Matthew’s Gospel. You have heard of the miracles that Jesus has performed all over Galilee. That’s why you’ve followed him to the synagogue leader’s house. A crowd has gathered outside, mourning the death of his daughter, who lies still and cold inside. When Jesus tries to soothe them, assuring them the girl is not dead but sleeping, they laugh. Who is this crazy man? But in the space of moments, the mood changes. Their mockery has vanished, replaced by a sense of awe, because the unthinkable has happened. Jesus is standing in the doorway and the girl is right behind him!
So you follow as Jesus leaves the house, jostling along with the crowd until you sense you are finally within shouting distance. “Have mercy!"
He does and quickly addresses you with this question: “Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord.” Then suddenly you feel his hands touching your eyes. You see a burst of light, and then you hear his voice again: What you have believed will be done for you!
You can see! And the first thing you see is the face of the man who healed you. Jesus, the Son of David, the one you have been waiting for all your life.
What are you waiting for? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of David, the one who will heal all wounds, conquer all evils, restore all hope? Do you believe that he cares for you? If so, let him touch you, heal you, and save you, as you cry out for his help today.
