Focus Point # 12

When thinking of the Angelic Conflict and the never ending struggle that goes on between God and Satan, we know who will be the Victor. None other than our Heavenly Father and His Glorious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. But in time, in the historic past, there has been and there will continue to be, incidents and periods of history that will test our faith and loyalty to God and His Word.

Herewith is a true story (study) to encourage your faith and, I hope, cause you to rejoice at just one of the main victories of the Lord our Righteous (Jehovah Tsid-Kenu) Jeremiah 23:6.

As you read and study the Old Testament you discover the divine protection of the family and royal lineage that will eventually bring the Lord Jesus physically into the world. A good illustration of this was when the kingdom was divided by the sons of Solomon. Jeroboam took the ten tribes to the north and Rehoboam led the two tribes that stayed in the south. The two tribes in the Southern Kingdom were Judah and Benjamin. Eventually both kingdoms came under divine discipline. The Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians in BC 722. The Assyrians immediately scattered those ten tribes all over the area. For the most part, not all, but most of them lost their identity with the tribe clans.

Not so with the two southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin. They were carried off to Babylon in BC 586, 136 years later. But nevertheless they were carried away in divine discipline for 70 years. But to protect that royal lineage and blood line, the Tribe of Judah stayed in tact. God made sure of that! Had the Devil had his way, it would have been just the opposite. He wanted that royal line out of David and Solomon fouled up! Why? To nullify and discredit the promise of God that the Messiah King would be out of the seed of King David and that He would someday sit on His throne in the City of Jerusalem.

Well, that did NOT happen in those two captivities. Satan didn't get it his way. But later on, it ALMOST happened. And that brings us to the story of "The Jechoniah Curse." Now remember, Satan does not know the future - only as it's revealed to him in the Word of God. He can only control events and conditions to the extent that human beings allow him to control, or influence their lives.

If you'll read through Jeremiah 22, in verse 13 you'll read about Jehoiakim. This guy is about number 11 or 12 in the royal family line of Solomon (Matthew 1:11). He, Jehoiakim, was the son of Josiah who was a godly man and a great king. Just the opposite of his son Jehoiakim and his grandson Jehoiachin, also known as "Jeconiah" and also "Coniah."

Jehoiakin was a wicked man and God said of him, "He shall be buried out where they bury dead jackasses" (Jeremiah 22:19). But if you think he was a louse, look what God said about his son, Jehoiachin (or Jeconiah or Coniah)...whatever! Read what God said about him through the pen of Jeremiah in verses 24-29. But go slow through verse 30! "Write this man (Coniah) childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the Throne of David and ruling anymore in Judah." When it says "he'd be childless," it didn't mean he would never have any kids, it meant that as far as royalty on the Throne of David was concerned, it was over for Coniah and all of his male children to follow. Wow! But God promised and God prophesied through Isaiah, Jeremiah and others, that the Seed, the Messiah, the Eternal King of the Jews would come through the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren..etc., etc. of David. And just to underscore that biblical prophecy, read carefully in the next chapter of Jeremiah 23:5-8. (Living Bible) For the time is coming, says the Lord, when I will place a Righteous Branch upon King David's throne. He shall be a King who shall rule with wisdom and justice and cause righteousness to prevail everywhere throughout the earth. And this is His name:
The Lord our Righteousness (Jehovah Tsid-Kenu). At that time Judah will be saved and Israel will live in peace. In that day people will no longer say when taking an oath "As the Lord lives who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt," but they will say, "As the Lord lives, who brought the Jews back to their own land of Israel from the countries to which He had exiled them."

Is there any doubt as to God's clear intentions to keep His promises? I hope not! But it appears as though Satan has thrown a gear stripping wrench into the works. On the surface it appears as though the Devil has scored a real victory and that God's will has been defeated. It appears as though God makes a promise He will be unable to perform.

Don't let it even cross your mind!! After the Jews return to the land of their forefathers, after the 70 years of captivity under the Babylonians, they return. But not as a sovereign, independent nation with a king sitting on the throne. They are always under the rule of somebody else. From the defeat of the Southern Kingdom, when they were carted off to Babylon, to this very day (as I write this on January 7, 2007), there has been no divinely appointed king out of the family of David ruling Israel. And there won't be! Not until Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings returns in His glorified body to occupy that literal throne, in a literal Jerusalem.

But Jesus, when He was born, was called on many occasions, the Son of David. Question: How can that be since He was in the family line of wicked Jechoniah? Well, let's go back to those confusing calendar days of about 20 BC to about 4 or 5 AD.

Two young people both just happened to live in the City of Nazareth. They went to the same Temple school and maybe even the same Temple. Obviously, they knew one another, took a shine to each other and probably suggested to their parents that they just might be compatible should their parents like to set a marriage in motion. And so it was arranged. But before the date could even be set, Mary became pregnant. But not by Joseph! Obviously, I don't have to repeat any details, real or imaginary. You know the story.

The Holy Spirit impregnated Mary with whatever was necessary to bring about the birth of a male child without the involvement of another human being. Mary's intended husband was visited by an angel and was told what had happened to Mary. Joseph, by faith, believed the messenger, the angel, and married Mary and did not touch her until after the birth of Jesus.

Now get this! Joseph was of the lineage of David and Solomon. He was in line physically to be on of the kings in Israel. But Israel had no king and hadn't had for years. And besides, in Joseph's family line was none other than Jechoniah, the guy God told that none of his "kin" would ever sit on the Throne of David. But now...get this! Jesus was born in the family line of David, not through Joseph - but through Mary! But Mary was not in the line of royalty. Her kin was Nathan, not Solomon.

After the marriage, Joseph adopted the virgin born Jesus and Jesus became the legal son of Joseph...but NOT born in the family line of Coniah...by-passing the curse! Thus, the only human being ever born into this world with the legal right to occupy the Throne was...none other than JESUS. But...they crucified Him! Well then, Joseph and Mary had other sons. Yes, but they were disqualified because of the Coniah curse and they would be of the seed of Joseph. That leaves ....only Jesus. Not another human being is physically and legally qualified. But wait! He's in the grave. But wait! Three days later He's alive again! Resurrection! Hallelujah. But wait! He's gone back to Heaven for lo these 2000 plus years. But wait! He's coming back...and as Yogi Berra says..."it ain't over 'till it's over!

Until next time,

Bro. Bob