The Davidic Kingdom Covenant

In the 11the century B.C.E., Jehovah shed further light on the sacred secret when he made another covenant. He promised faithful King David: "I shall certainly rise up your seed after you . . .and I shall indeed firmly establish his kingdom . . .I shall certainly establish the throne of his kingdom to time indefinite." (2Samuel 7:12, 13; Psalm 89:3) Now the lineage of the promised Seed had been narrowed down to the house of David. But could an ordinary human rule "to time indefinite?" (89:20, 29, 34-36) And could such a human king rescued mankind from sin and death?

Under inspiration, David wrote: "The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: 'Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.' Jehovah has sworn (and he will feel no regret): 'Your are a priest to time indefinite according to the manner of Melchizedek!' " (Psalm 110:1, 4) David's words applied directly to the promised Seed, or Messiah. (Acts 2:35, 36) This King would rule, not from Jerusalem, but from Heaven at Jehovah's "right hand." That would give him authority not just over the land of Israel but over the whole earth. (Psalm 2:6-8) Something more was here revealed. Note that Jehovah uttered a solemn oath that the Messiah would be "a priest . . . according to the manner of Melchizedek." Like Melchizedek, who served as king-priest in Abraham's day, the coming Seed would have a direct appointment from God to serve as King and Priest! -Genesis 14:17-20.

Over the years, Jehovah used his prophets to make further revelations about his sacred secret. Isaiah, for example revealed that the Seed would die a sacrificial death. (Isaiah 53:3-12) Micah foretold the place of the Messiah's birth. (Micah 5:2) Daniel even prophesied the exact timing of the Seed's appearance and death. - Daniel 9:24-27.

Next time: The Secret Secret Revealed!

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