p. 6 | DAVID AND CHRIST by J. E. Evans

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 41.

DAVID AND CHRIST.

By J. E. Evans

CHRIST is the central figure of the Psalms, as he is of all the other scriptures. Even the term David is used for the Son of David. Note the following passages:—

"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days." Hosea 3:5. "But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them." Jer. 30:9. "And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them." Eze. 34:24. "And David my servant shall be king over them. . . . And my servant David shall be their prince forever." Eze. 37:24, 25. The prophecy of Hosea was written a little before the captivity of the kingdom of Israel, or about 300 years after the death of David. Jeremiah began to prophesy in the latter part of the seventh century before Christ, and continued his work into the sixth. Ezekiel followed, and prophesied for more than twenty years, while David was born B.C. 1085, and lived seventy years.

Thus is it made clear to all that the scriptures quoted above apply to Christ, who is yet to sit upon the throne of his father David. Luke 1:32. It will be seen that the reference in Ezekiel tells of that which is to be after the resurrection. The question naturally arises, Did Christ recognize this relation? Let us read: "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ? whose Son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word; neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." Matt. 22:41-46. They did not understand the Scriptures. We see that they knew he was to be called the Son of David, but they did not understand the scriptures which taught it. So it is to-day.

Even those disciples who walked and talked with the Lord did not then fully understand those scriptures. "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures."

J. E. EVANS. New Orleans, La.