Who is the first person in the Bible to be called the “son of God”? If you answered Jesus, you would be incorrect. Actually, that title was bestowed on an individual about 1000 years before Christ was conceived.
2 Samuel 7:[11] from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
[12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
[13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
[14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men;
[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'”
Maybe I’m too much of a Catholic Bible geek but, I found this absolutely fascinating because of the rich typology at play here in the Old Testament. Did you catch the three elements? One, God will raise up David’s son. Two, God will establish his kingdom forever and three, he will be a “son of God”! God is fulfilling, partially at least, the covenant oath He swore to Abraham in Genesis 22, all Nations (same word as Gentiles) shall be blessed through him and his seed. Sarah really did bare kings to the world after all. So why is this so cool? Now fast forward and read the Gospel of St. Luke.
St. Luke 1: [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
[33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Wow! Did you catch that? The same three elements are at play… He will be both the son of David and the Son of God, and, He will inherit the Kingdom of His father David and that kingdom will have no end. So the kingdom Jesus established was actually begun with David and Solomon and brought to its perfection in Jesus. “Ok, that’s neat and all but, why is that important?” I hear ya… more bible geek stuff but, how does it apply?
Well, I’m in the process of writing a book about my “personal” relationship with Jesus the King of the Universe. During my conversion to the Church I had a personal encounter with Christ. Christ made himself known to me in a deep and profound way on a Spring day in 2002. I knelt down and had the proverbial “let-go-and-let-God” moment. When I got off my knees I was a changed man. I couldn’t explain it, it was completely foreign to me and it took some time, and witness, to prove to my wife that I had been transformed. I didn’t hear voices or see any visions… not the simple… God simply allowed me to mysticaly experience his presence and opened my eyes to my own sin. I had a real, personal, encounter with the living God, however, there was one thing I knew for sure… I didn’t have a clue who He was! Yes, I had been to Sunday School growing up, yes, I had been through RCIA in the Church however, I knew I knew nothing of who this God was… only that he loved me enough to not give up on me. God placed on my heart that day a deep and unquenching desire to get to know him. It set me on a journey of discovery that led me back home in the Catholic Church. (Want to hear a fuller version of that story? Click HERE.)
Ok, before I get too carried away, let’s get back to David and Jesus. Part of what I hope to accomplish in the book is to show the correlation between the structure of David’s kingdom and that of our Lord Jesus Christ. In my journey to the Church I struggled with the Pope, Mary, the Bishops, Priests and the Eucharist to name a few. I simply couldn’t see the “Catholic” structure or hierarchy in the Bible… at least not until I discovered how to read the bible in a typological sense (check out “A Father Who Keeps His Promises” by Dr. Scott Hahn). What I discovered was the Old and New Testaments fit perfectly together.
Let me show you a few examples of how Jesus has perfected the kingdom of David. We will look at the structure, key components, of the Kingdom God established with David in 2 Sam. 7. These same characteristics will come to their perfection in the Kingdom of Jesus as described in the New Testament. Oh, and before I do that, did I mention to you that David’s Dynasty was the longest in human history? Yes, its true, a son of David sat on the throne of the kingdom of David longer than any other dynasty anywhere else in the world at any point in history. David’s kingdom also receives high marks for the least amount of assignation attempts on the sitting king. Oh yes, bible geek stuff… I love it!
David’s kingdom possessed 12 ministers of the court that ruled over Israel and provided food. When Solomon ascended to the throne of his father David, he did a few things that were interesting, one of which was that he reinstated the 12 Princes of Israel (more on this in a minute).
1 Kings 4:[7] Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each man had to make provision for one month in the year.
Now, look back to Exodus 24, Moses set up 12 Princes/priests to offer 12 sacrifices on 12 pillars. Moses took the blood from the 12 and thew it on the alter of God and then sprinkled it upon the people saying “behold the blood of the covenant!” Joshua too will lead the people with these 12 Princes, crossing the Jordan river and marching on Jericho. So too does Jesus set up his 12 Princes to serve in HIS court and RULE over the people and provide them FOOD.
Matthew 14:[19] Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [20] And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
Luke 22:[19] And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] And likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Matthew 19:[28] Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
What is this food that the King gives to His 12 to distribute to His household? The bread of life! Like the 12 Priests under Moses who offered sacrifice for the people, so do the 12 under Jesus. Like the 12 under Joshua who lead the people into the promised land, so do the 12 under Jesus lead us into the promised land (heaven). Like the 12 under the son of David, who serve in the court of the King, providing food for the house of the king, the people, and ruling over Israel, so do the 12 under Jesus sit on 12 thrones, ruling over Israel and feeding His house!
David’s kingdom possessed 1 man which bore the “keys of the kingdom” of the house of the King. This “over-the-house”, or chief steward/prime minister, wore the keys upon his shoulder so that all in the kingdom would know that that man was second in charge and answered only to the King himself. This man posses incredible authority, bestowed up him by the King, so long as he occupies the office of the Chief steward. Once he dies, or is deposed, he is replaced with another. The Prime Minister was so vital to the kingdom that he was to serve as a “father” to the people, a “pappa” of sorts. This was also seen in the role of Joseph in Egypt back in Genesis. Let’s first look at the account of Joseph and then at the Kingdom of David.
Genesis 41:[39] So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are;
[40] you shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
[41] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
[42] Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
[43] and he made him to ride in his second chariot; and they cried before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.
[44] Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
Isaiah 22:[15] Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him:
[19] I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station.
[20] In that day I will call my servant Eli’akim the son of Hilki’ah,
[21] and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
[22] And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
So it would appear that Solomon was instituting this office in the Kingdom of David, modeled after the Kingdom of Egypt (1 Kings 4:5). So, does Jesus also have a Chief Steward, a Over-The-house, a Prime Minister, who will be bear the “keys of the kingdom”? Let’s take a look.
Matthew 16:[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
[19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Luke 22:[31] “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
[32] but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”
John 21:[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
[16] A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
[17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Just as Solomon, the wise man who built the House of God upon the “even shetiyah” (lierally the foundation stone) appointed a Chief Steward who bore his keys, how much more the King of Kings, one greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31), who built HIS house upon the foundation stone of Peter, also appoint a Chief Steward who bares the keys of HIS kingdom? Just as the “Prime Minister” of the kingdom of David was to be a “father” to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so too will the “Prime Minister” of the kingdom of Jesus be a “Pappa” (a “Pope” in Italian), a father, to the inhabitants of the NEW Jerusalem which is the Church of the Lamb of God (Hebrews 12).
David’s kingdom possessed a Queen who was the mediator of the people to the King. Question? Which of King Solomon’s 1000 wives was the Queen? Or any other son of David for that matter? None is the answer! Polygamy is riddled with complications, a by-product when you pervert the natural order and intent of God’s design for marriage, and therefore choosing the Queen among the thousands of wives and concubines of the King would only start a civil war among the family. So, who got to be Queen? The Mother of the King is who! The Mother of Solomon was the first to posses the office, yes I said office, of “The Great Lady” which continued all the way until the Babylonian exile in 597 BC (c.f. Jer. 13:18, the Queen is also dethroned due to her role in the disobedience of the people). The Queen Mother would sit at the right hand of the King and mediate between the people and the King, her son. (I would recommend you read “Queen Mother” by Dr. Edward Sri (HERE) and “Hail Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God,” by Dr. Scott Hahn (HERE). Both are FANTASTIC resources to help you see just how scripturally sound Catholic teaching is on Mary. You might also want to check out the stuff I’ve recorded on Mary and the saints listed on my Apologetics page HERE. )
1 Kings 2:[17] And he said, “Pray ask King Solomon — he will not refuse you — to give me Ab’ishag the Shu’nammite as my wife.”
[18] Bathshe’ba said, “Very well; I will speak for you to the king.”
[19]So Bathshe’ba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adoni’jah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right.
[20] Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.”
[21] She said, “Let Ab’ishag the Shu’nammite be given to Adoni’jah your brother as his wife.”
Is it just me, or do you find that truly remarkable? The King of the kingdom bows down to his mother, has a throne brought in for her (same Hebrew word for the kings throne is used for her’s… both are thrones!) and then SHE sits at the KINGS right hand! That is huge! Even though the Queen’s request is not granted in this example, it still goes to show how the “Great Lady” is fulfilling her role as the mediator between the people and her son the King (want to know why the request wasn’t granted? Well, in a nut-shell, Adoni’jah was trying to pull a fast one… he who has the Kings wives IS the King! Bathsheba tried to warn him but, he didn’t listen.). Ok, so what do you think the chances are that Jesus will have a Queen Mother of his very own? I’ll give you 3 guesses and the first two won’t count!
Luke 1:[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
[27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
[28] And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
Revelation 12:[1] And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
[5] she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne
[13] And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had borne the male child.
[14] But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, …
[17] Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. …
Doesn’t it just make sense that the King of the Kingdom would have for His Queen His own Mother? If its true for Solomon, how much more of Jesus? Mary is the Mother of the male child who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, who will “…be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32). So the Angel of God, Gabriel, declares Mary to be “The Full of Grace” (or the “Hail, O favored one” as my RSV translation renders it), a declaration of her position in the Kingdom of her son. This is a title, Mary is the NEW “Great Lady” who will intercede on behalf of her son, the King.
John 6:[1] On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
[2] Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.
[3] When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
[4] And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
[5] His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.“
Unlike the request Bathsheba makes on behalf of Adoni’jah, this request made by Mary, the King grants. Jesus not only gives them wine but, He does so in great abundance… the choicest of wines! Take a minute to reread John 1 & 2… notice the props and the players on the stage. By the time you reach the wedding feast of Cana where are you? On the 7th day of a new creation. What is going on? A marriage feast. Who are the only people named in this scene? Jesus and Mary. What does Jesus call Mary? Woman. Does this remind you of anything? Yes, Genesis 1 & 2 perhaps? Its a NEW creation culminating in a NEW marriage feast with a NEW Adam and Eve. Just like the first wedding feast pointed to the “hour” that Adam and “Woman” would be tested in a garden, so too does this NEW wedding feast point forward to the “hour” when the New Adam and “Woman” would be tested also in a garden, the garden of Calvary. Unlike the first Adam, who sinned saved his flesh and gave up his soul, the NEW Adam will give up His flesh and save our souls by entrusting His to His Father!
Do you see the design? The intent? The purpose with which God has written salvation history? If Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of David, then he posses the Kingdom of David in perfection. If David’s Kingdom has 12 ministers who feed the people fo the house of the King, so too does Jesus have 12 Priests who give His body and His blood as FOOD for the people in His house (John 6:55). If David’s kingdom had 1 man over the 12, who possessed the “keys of his kingdom” and was a father to his people, so too does Jesus have 1 man over the 12, who possesses the “keys of the kingdom” and is the father to His people. If David’s kingdom has a Queen Mother who sits at the right hand of the king, mediating on behalf of the people, so too does Jesus have a Queen Mother interceding for “…her offspring, … those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. …” (Rev. 12:17).
Why? Because Jesus truly is the Son of God and there is one more perfect than the Son of David, Solomon, here, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Just think about that for a moment… you have a personal relationship with the King of the Universe. If you love Him; won’t you love His Ministers and Queen too? To plagiarize Dr. John Bergsma (Professor of Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville OH), If you will follow Jesus, as His beloved disciple, then you must also take his mother into your home (John 19:26-27) and follow Peter (John 21:19-25). It’s true, we have a very personal relationship with Jesus but, let us not forget that he is the King of the Universe whose court is in session and whose minsters He appointed to rule over us. Let us also remember that we have a Queen Mother who never ceases to intercede on our behalf to her Son, the King. May Mary whisper your name into the ear of her Son! Now go and follow Him!
About the Author:
Joe McClane – The Catholic Hack! – is the director and events coordinator for Fullness of Truth Catholic Evangelization Ministries, as well as an a Catholic New Media producer & Evangelist. He is married to his lovely wife Michelle and they have five children. The Catholic Hack | Catholic Apologetics, Theology & More!
