Monday, April 26, 2010

Bringing Forth Christ – Part 11 – Hezekiah

Skipping several generations we come to Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a king that led a revival and return to the Lord in his day. However the main reason I focus on him now is because of the messianic promise of Isaiah 14:29, “Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you, that the rod that struck you is broken, for from the serpent's root will come forth an adder, and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.”

Hezekiah’s great-grandfather was Uzziah who ruled over all the land of Judah, and held the Philistines in subjugation. After his death under Jotham and Ahaz, Philistia was able to reassert itself, especially when Ahaz was defeated by the northern Kingdom of Israel. This prophecy refers firstly to Uzziah (the serpent), then progressing to Hezekiah (the adder) and ending with the Messiah (the flying fiery serpent), who will extend control of Israel to the boundaries promised to Abraham by God and will rule all nations with a rod of iron. Philistia, consisting of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron, and corresponding roughly to the Gaza strip will be brought under the rulership of Israel by the Messiah.

The Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever. Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Bringing Forth Christ – Part 10 – Solomon

Solomon is an important link in the messianic chain. He was the son of David and in many ways in his early years he prefigured the reign of Christ. Some of the Psalms written for Solomon clearly go beyond him and point to a higher Son of David who was to come (Psalm 2; 45; and 72 for instance). The name “Solomon” means peaceful and he in his reign while he served God, God gave him peace and he was a type of the Prince of Peace.
He was renowned for his wisdom so much so that a ruler of a distant land came to see for herself of his wisdom, yet Jesus said a greater than Solomon is here, since He not only had the wisdom of God, but He was the Wisdom of God.
Solomon wrote 1005 songs, 5 of which are the book we know as the Song of Solomon. In that book the woman is known as the Shulamite, which is a feminine form of Solomon. In this he is again a type of Christ who is preparing a Bride who will be a partaker of His characteristics. Christ as the Last Adam will have a bride formed from Himself out of His side from which His blood flowed.
Unfortunately the story of Solomon’s life does not end here. Through his many marriages he was lead into apostasy and idolatry and forsook the Lord. Though it is quite possible that Solomon refound his faith before he died, yet as a result of his sin the nation was divided, and in the subsequent invasion by Egypt duing his son’s reign most of the treasures with which God had blessed him were carried away. Solomon’s life conclusively proves that talents, wisdom, abilities, wealth, fame and anything else can never satisfy apart from a relationship with God.