The Coming Kingdom: Matthew 1.1-17 (4)
Pray Psalm 137.4, 5.
How shall we sing the LORD’s song
In a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget its skill!
Sing Psalm 137.4, 5.
(Gift of Love: Though I May Speak)
How can we sing, exalt Your Name, or praises bring amid our shame?
If we forget Your Church’s fame, O LORD, then let our hands grow lame.
Read Matthew 1.1-17; meditate on verses 7-11.
Prepare.
1. This part of Jesus’ genealogy begins in captivity in Babylon. How does it end?
2. How does Mary fit into this genealogy?
Meditate.
Matthew supplies us with the kings of Judah, from first to last. This part of Jesus’ genealogy shows Him to be the Son of David and heir to the throne of Israel, as promised in 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 132. We note that this genealogy begins in a time of glory—the kingdom as it existed under David and Solomon. However, even at this high place, Matthew spun the genealogy to point at David’s sin, and to suggest the trend that would devolve from him: David’s sin with Bathsheba would be a fly in the ointment of God’s promise of a King and a Kingdom.
It’s mostly downhill from there, though with intermittent periods of revival. This part of the genealogy, in knowing readers, would have created a tension of discouragement and anticipation, as readers looked back to David and longed for the fulfillment of God’s promise to him.
We observe that many of the names of the kings of Judah contain morphemes of the divine name: -jah and jeho- in particular. Kings of Judah thus expressed their hopes for their first-born sons, that the Presence and blessing of God would be upon them, and that even their names would cause them to remember that they belonged to Him.
This section of Matthew’s genealogy would have reminded readers of Israel’s (Judah’s) former greatness, perhaps to spark the hope that such might be the case again. Yet this part of the genealogy ends with the people captive in Babylon, and no new king in sight. Something would have to happen to remove the fly and purify the ointment. And it would not be another kingdom of men.
Matthew will show us that Immanuel is the long-expected and sincerely hoped-for King over God’s people.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The psalmist Asaph wrote during the prosperous reign of Solomon.
And yet, he could see the handwriting on the wall. He knew things would fall apart, because, no doubt, he could see the signs in his king’s life—the small deviations that became huge deviations—that God would not honor the treachery of Solomon serving other gods. Asaph also knew that God had another plan. As Isaiah wrote: “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off” (Is. 33.17).
“In Judah God is known; His Name is great in Israel.
In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion…
You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey…
You, Yourself, are to be feared; and
who may stand in Your Presence when once You are angry?
You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
the earth feared and was still,
when God arose to judgment,
to deliver all the oppressed of the earth…
Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them;
let all who are around Him bring presents to Him Who ought to be feared” (Ps. 76.1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11).
Travelers from the East—who had come to worship “He Who has been born King of the Jews”—when they found Him “fell down and worshiped Him”, then gave Him presents, their treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matt. 2.2, 11). Gifts for Him Who ought to be feared.
“Kiss the Son, lest [His Father, the LORD] be angry, and you perish in the way” (Ps. 2.12).
All the earthly kings preceding the arrival of This One proved to be fallible, untrustworthy, and vain.
All the prophets saw it, the psalmists saw it, and God, most importantly, saw it.
But instead of destroying humanity as in the days of Noah, He instead chose to perfectly save us.
Through the Final Ultimate King Who reigns forever and ever.
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2.9-11).
JESUS—KING of Kings and LORD of Lords (Rev. 19.16).
Reflect.
1. Why does it matter that Jesus came as our King?
2. What do we mean by saying that His is not a Kingdom made by men?
3. Whom will you encourage today in seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God?
Solomon symbolizes the Christian people who were just beginning to flourish. Rehoboam, however, symbolizes a people in decline. When Solomon sinned in old age, the Lord let loose Satan upon him, and a crucial part of his kingdom was cut away. Anonymous (no date), Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 1
Pray Psalm 137.1-3, 6-9.
The Kingdom of God has come and is coming on earth, as it is in heaven. Does anything hold you captive or keep you from entering more fully into the Kingdom? Confess, repent, and call on the Lord to deliver and restore you.
Sing Psalm 137.1-3, 6-9.
(Gift of Love: Though I May Speak)
We sit beside the waters deep in broken pride, to mourn and weep
for Zion’s woes and all our sin: How great our foes, without, within!
No songs have we of joy to sing. Our enemy, to taunt and sting,
bids us rejoice, as they oppress: We have no voice to praise or bless.
If ever praise forsake my tongue, if Zion’s ways no more be sung,
if greater joy by me be found, my lips destroy, no more to sound.
Remember, LORD Your boasting foes, who hate Your Word and visit woes
on your dear sheep that they may die: Cause them to weep and mourn and sigh.
How blessed are You, our sovereign LORD, Who judgment true shall soon accord
to all who seek Your sheep to kill. Preserve the meek who serve You still.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast invites you to bring Joy to Your World!. And our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
