Advent Reader: God's Promise to David

Matthew 1:6b-11

In our time there has arisen a considerable interest in genealogy. Many people struggle with identity and for some this leads them to investigate their lineage. For others it is just a fascinating journey into the past. Websites like Ancestry and programmes like “Who do you think you are?” have become very popular with people from all walks of life.

The verses we are looking at here come from the middle section of what Matthew in his gospel calls the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah. The first section traces the lineage from Abraham to David. Then our verses carry it forward from David to the Exile, and the final section takes us from the Exile to the birth of Jesus.

Focusing on this middle section, we see that it is a royal lineage. Saul was the first king of Israel but he is not mentioned. David who succeeded him was called by God “a man after my own heart” and to him was given a specific amazing promise by God.

2 Samuel 7:16, “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time and your throne will be secure forever.”

As we look at the list of kings in our short passage we see that half of them were described as wicked. Nevertheless, true to His Promise, God preserved the royal line that would lead to the Saviour, the Messiah, Son of David, who would bring in the true everlasting kingdom.