As revealed in the entire Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ is not only the Root of David (see Rev. 5:5), the seed of David (see Rom. 1:3), and the Son of David (see Matt. 1:1), but He is also the Real David (see Matt. 12:3-4).
To the Jews both in the old times and now David was kind of a big deal – he was “a little potato” when he was young, the eighth son in his family, but God raised him up and made him king over all Israel.
Today, the flag of Israel features the Star of David, and all the Jews desire the restoration of the kingdom of David, the full Israel! But Christ is the Real David, who brought in the kingdom of God and will return to bring in the kingdom of God in full over all the earth!
As the real David Christ is today leading us to eat of Himself as the fresh bread of the presence, the holy food, the food for the priestly service.Hallelujah for such a Christ, our Real David!
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Real David
In Matthew 12:1-8 we see a very interesting story with the Lord Jesus and His disciples, on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and so they picked the ears of grain, eating grains in the field. The “Sabbath patrol” came around, and the Pharisees asked the Lord, Why do Your disciples break the Sabbath by working on the Sabbath?
This afforded the Lord an opportunity to reveal Himself as being greater than David – He is the Lord of the Sabbath!
He is the real David – David and his men entered into the tabernacle while he was running from Saul the king, and they ate the bread of the presence, which was supposed to be given only to the priests to eat.
Just like David, the Lord Jesus was rejected and persecuted, and His followers ate on the Sabbath (seemingly breaking the rules). David and his followers were a prefigure of Christ and His disciples, and Christ is the real David!
David was a man who was born in Bethlehem, seemingly insignificant, but was chosen and anointed by God to be the ruler in Israel, and he fought the wars of God, defeating all the enemies of God and bringing in the kingdom of God in Israel.
Christ was also born in Bethlehem as a descendant of David, He was anointed and chosen by God, He fought against and defeated the enemies of God, and He brought in the kingdom of God!
Also, David prepared all the materials for the building up of the temple and he gave them to his son to build up the temple. Christ also prepared the materials for the temple of God, and He Himself is the Temple of God, the building of God, and the Builder of the Building of God!
Christ is Greater than All the Types
Christ is not only the real David, but He is also the Greater David, greater than what David was. David was just a type, but Christ is the reality!
When Christ came, He was the Root of David (Rev. 22:16), the seed of David, and the son of David (the legal royal heir of David).
He was also the real Jonah, preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and going through death into resurrection to bring salvation to all mankind (Matt. 12:41).
Christ is the greater Solomon – He prepared the materials for the building, He builds up the temple of God, He builds the city of God, He is wiser than Solomon, His words of wisdom give life, He is the real Lover drawing and transforming His seekers, and He is greater than Solomon (Matt. 12:42)!
Christ is greater than all the types and persons in the Old Testament, and He is the Lord of the Sabbath! If Christ wants to eat on the Sabbath, He can do so without breaking any law. Whatever Christ does is good, and there is no problem.
Hallelujah for such a Christ, greater than all the types and all the persons!
Christ brought in another age – He’s the landmark
When David came, the age was changed from the priesthood to the kingship – the priests had to submit to the kings, because the age of the kingship was here. It used to be that the leaders of the people had to listen to the priest, but with the coming of David the age was changed to the kingship.
As the real David and as the greater David, when Christ came He changed the age from the age of the law to the age of grace, where only Christ matters.
Now it is no more the age of law, we no longer have to obey the law and be according to the ordinances to please God – we now need to love Christ, enjoy Christ, obey Christ, look to Christ, and even become Christ.
When Christ came, He was the landmark – He terminated the age of the law and He said, Repent, for the kingdom of God is here (Mark 1:14-15)! When Christ came, the kingdom of God came!
And now Christ is leading us to eat of Himself as the spiritual food, the real food, the priestly nourishment, that we may live Christ in the kingdom of God. Oh, what a Christ. He’s the Real David, the Greater David, and He brought in the kingdom of God, the age of grace, the age of the church.
His name, the Lord Jesus’ name, is David! He’s the Real David! The Lord Jesus Christ is the real David!
Lord Jesus, we love You! We praise You for what You are! You are the root of David, the seed of David, and the son of David. Lord, You are the real David and You are even greater than David. You brought in the kingdom of God, and You are preparing us as materials for the temple of God, God’s building. Lord, we love being led by You to enjoy the priestly service that we may serve You and be in Your kingdom! We love You as the Real David, the Greater David!
References and Further Reading
- Sharing inspired from, Life-study of Matthew (msg. 32), as quoted in the Holy Word for Morning Revival on, Crystallization-Study of the Minor Prophets, week 7 (entitled, Christ Coming Back as the Real David to Restore His Kingdom).
- Further reading: Matthew 12:3 + note on David;
- Hymns on this topic:
# We from the law to Christ have turned; / To trust in Him by grace we’ve learned. / And since His glory we’ve discerned / We only care for Christ!
# Feed me, Lord Jesus, give me to drink, / Fill all my hunger, quench all my thirst; / Flood me with joy, be the strength of my life
# But Christ as life would so transform the saints / That they may be as pearl and precious stone, / As the materials suitable to build / Into His Church to make His Kingdom known.
amen!
Amen…in the age 0f grace Christ bec0ming 0ur law.