4th July 2025
The Son of David
‘I, Jesus…am the Root and the Offspring of David’…The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ … Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:16-17 (NIVUK)
The name David (referring to King David of Israel) is mentioned over 900 times in the Bible, and 17 verses in the New Testament describe Jesus as ‘the son of David’. Yet for centuries, there were no extra-biblical references to him in either secular history or in archaeological records.
However, in 1993, a fragmentary 9th century BC inscription was discovered at Tel Dan, in northern Israel, which commemorates the victory of an Aramean king over his two southern neighbours: the ‘king of Israel’ and the ‘king of the House of David’. Unfortunately, the recovered fragments do not preserve the names of the kings involved, but most scholars believe them to be Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah. Although this inscription confirmed the essential historicity of King David as the founder of a dynasty, there was little consensus about the nature and extent of his rule. Some considered David to be just a local tribal chieftain. [1]
More recently, defensive fortified cities or strongholds situated on ancient Israel’s borders, and dating from the time of King David, have been identified and excavated. [2] The existence of King David as a real person, with a substantial kingdom as revealed in the Bible, is now beginning to emerge from the mists of time, in secular history and archaeology.
The central message of Christianity is that God offers salvation and redemption as a free gift through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But to be the redeemer, Jesus must be fully God (only God can save) and fully man. In the words of the church fathers, ‘What is not assumed is not redeemed.’ What they meant was if Jesus was not truly human – God made flesh – then humans are not redeemed.
Jesus, in the header scripture, from the last chapter of the Bible, asserts that in his humanity, he was a direct descendant of David. As such, he was the prophesied Messiah. The scripture continues with the core of the gospel to be delivered by the Spirit and the church.
King David established the ancient city of Jerusalem as his capital, but David’s greatest Son, Jesus, will establish the New Jerusalem.
The world’s religions can be summed up in the idea that we must bring something to give to the gods. Christianity is summed up in the idea that God invites us to take the water of life (salvation) freely. We can’t bring anything to save ourselves, but we can take the salvation he freely offers through Jesus Christ, the Son of David.
Prayer
Father, we thank you that your Son willingly gave up his power and glory to become a human being for the salvation of all humanity. Amen.
1 The Tel Dan Inscription: The First Historical Evidence of King David from the Bible, Biblical archaeology Society.
2 National Geographic confirmed evidence of the Bible! Archaeologist’s Discovery Shocks the world! Anil Kanda interview
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Study by: Eddie Marsh About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion Sheffield
The Showroom and Workstation
15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield
S12BX
Meeting time:
Church services take place on Sundays 10.30 am, twice a month. Please email the local congregational contact (see below) for dates.
Local congregational contact:
Christine Chamberlain
Email: sheffield@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church