This past weekend at our Saturday Night Live Worship Service (http://twwc.church/snl) I preached a sermon called The Scepter of God. A scepter is a ruling rod of a king and is symbolic of absolute authority, power, and sovereignty. We know that Jesus has absolute and complete authority in heaven and earth. Over kings, rulers, and nations. There are scriptures that give us insight on His authority and what His kingdom is built upon.
Numbers 24:17 (NLT)
I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.
The prophet Balaam prophesied in Numbers 24:17 that a scepter will emerge from Israel. He was declaring that some type of authority would emerge from Israel. This is a clue for us.
In the chapter of Genesis 49, Jacob prophesy’s to his 12 sons before he leaves the earth. He prophesied to his fourth son, Judah, these words:
Genesis 49:9-10 NLT
9Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.
I’m pretty sure that Jacob was not aware of how significant his words would be, not only for Judah, but in the plan of God. When Jacob said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah,” he was giving, in part, a prophecy concerning the children of Judah. Centuries later, Jacob’s descendent’s formed a nation (Israel) in the Promised Land and kings began to rule. It was the descendent’s of Judah that became the royal line. The royal line started with David, and continued through Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, and many others, all the way through Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. Jacob’s prophecy came to pass: the tribe of Judah possessed the scepter.
When you trace Jesus’ earthly origin, you will discover that both Balaam’s prophecy and Jacob’s (Israel) prophecy were referring to Him. Jesus had come from the nation of Israel and was from the tribe of Judah.
God spoke to King David through the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 7:12,13,16 and said that David’s throne will be established forever. Remember, David was a descendent of Judah (the scepter [authority] would not depart from Judah’s line). When God declared to David that his [David’s] throne will be established forever, he confirmed the prophetic word spoken to Judah.
Generations later, the prophet Isaiah shows up on the scene and gives the following prophecy concerning the throne of David.
Isaiah 9:6-7
6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness, from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Two things I want to point out in this prophecy:
- There will be no end to this government (rule, authority)
- He will sit on the throne of David
So, Isaiah confirms that David’s throne will be forever because of this person who will come. Isaiah was speaking about Jesus.
Centuries later, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced:
Luke 1:31-32
“Behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David”
Gabriel’s announcement to Mary marks Jesus as the Messiah and the One who will sit on the throne of David forever. From all of the scriptures mentioned in this blog, we draw the following conclusions
- Jesus possesses the scepter of God (absolute authority). In other words, Jesus is the authority by which the Kingdom of God is built upon. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). Salvation is given only through Jesus (Acts 4:12).
- Jesus is God. By virtue of the fact that He has absolute authority indicates to us that He is equal with the Father. Jesus said in John 10:30 that He and the Father are one. Which makes them equal in essence and perfections.
- Jesus reigns forever. What does He reign over? He reigns over All. Whether people believe it or not doesn’t discredit this truth. Jesus is the triumphant King that defeated the enemies of humanity – death, hell, and the grave. He is the Lord of nations and at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
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