Matthew (Written)

Red hibiscus.

Friday, 2 August 2024

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea, in days Herod the king: Behold, magicians from sunrisings – they came unto Jerusalem” (CG).

Chapter 1 ended with the note that Joseph refrained from having physical relations with his wife, Mary, until she had brought forth Jesus. Now, the narrative continues in Chapter 2, beginning with, “And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea.”

The words are stated to confirm the prophecy of the Lord through Micah –

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” Micah 5:2

Matthew will deal with this prophecy in a few verses, but this confirms another prophecy that had to be fulfilled concerning Israel’s true Messiah. Next, it says, “in days Herod the king.” He is known as Herod the Great. Of him, Albert Barnes says –

“Judea, where our Saviour was born, was a province of the Roman Empire. It was taken about 63 years before his birth by Pompey, and placed under tribute. Herod received his appointment from the Romans, and had reigned at the time of the birth of Jesus for 34 years. Though he was permitted to be called king, yet he was, in all respects, dependent on the Roman emperor. He was commonly called ‘Herod the Great’ because he had distinguished himself in the wars with Antigonus and his other enemies, and because he had evinced great talents in governing and defending his country, in repairing the temple, and in building and ornamenting the cities of his kingdom. He was, however, as much distinguished for his cruelty and his crimes as he was for his greatness.”

It was at this time that Matthew next records, “Behold, magicians.” The Greek word is magos, a magician, astrologer, wizard, etc. HELPS Word Studies says of them, “one of a sacred caste, originally Median, who seem to have conformed to the Persian religion while retaining some of their old beliefs.”

Various opinions have been given concerning who exactly these magicians were and where they came from. What is possibly the case is that they were from the area of Iran. It is to the east of Israel, and it is where the great empire that replaced the Babylonians was. Daniel and others were exiled to Babylon. However, Babylon was destroyed by the Medes and Persians. This is detailed in Daniel 5, which ends with –

“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. ³¹ And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.” Daniel 5:30, 31

When Babylon was destroyed, the new empire would have received all of the ancient writings of the Chaldeans. They also acquired their wise men, such as Daniel. This body of knowledge would have been incorporated into their empire, and it is possible that this included all of the Jewish prophetic writings.

It appears from Isaiah 44 that they possessed the book of Isaiah. If so, it may be that they had copies of all of the writings. The coming verses will show that there was an awareness of the book of Daniel and Numbers. Thus, it seems that all of the Jewish writings were maintained in the archives of this eastern empire.

Therefore, the ancient prophecy of a coming Messiah would be known to these magicians. The word magos is likely connected to the Aramaic name of the Rabmag [Great Mag] found in Jeremiah 39.

This would confirm that these people once were a part of the Chaldeans and were assimilated into the empire of the Medes and Persians. Because of their libraries and training, these men were alerted to the ancient prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. Of them, Matthew next notes that they were “from sunrisings.”

Most translations say, “from the east.” However, the word is anatolé, a rising of light. In this case, it signifies the rising of the sun. Further, it is plural. Thus, these magicians are “from sunrisings,” and thus east of Israel. Whoever they were and wherever they were from, it next notes that “they came unto Jerusalem.”

These men had traveled from outside of the land of Israel. They had a specific knowledge from prophecy concerning the coming of Christ, and they came to behold what they were certain of. As Jerusalem is the seat of government, they first came there to proclaim what they knew and to ask for further details. This will be seen as the verses continue.

Life application: One interpretation of who these men were that has arisen is that these Magi were Jewish Rabbis who had remained a part of the exile. This has become a point of boasting among Jewish believers in recent times, but it hardly seems likely.

These Magi will ask about the King of the Jews, not specifically the Messiah. It is unlikely Jews would ask about a king first and foremost. Likewise, they will ask where the King would be born. However, a Jewish rabbi would know where to look for such information, as is evidenced by the verses ahead.

But most notably, if these were Jews, the text would have said so. The problem with this type of analysis is the same as with much else that is ascribed to the Jewish people today. Since the return of Israel to the land and with the modern messianic movement, everything Jewish has become fashionable.

Many deceitful people have arisen because of this, profiting off of their heritage. Many of them do not hold to the grace of God in Christ, but to their traditions and to law observance, in part or in whole. What has been sound theology, and a proper interpretation of Scripture for millennia, has been upended by such unsound teaching. The Judaizers that Paul warned of have come back like an overflowing flood.

Be sure to not get caught up in the hype of genealogy, culture, or tradition. Hold fast to the word of God as it has been revealed. And that revelation is one of God’s grace being bestowed upon undeserved sinners, not man’s effort to reconcile himself through an obsolete law that only God in Christ could (and did) fulfill.

To return to what is fulfilled is to say to God, “I know you did Your best, but I will take it from here.” What a slap in the face of God, who has done it all for us. Let us never mar the grace of God in Christ. Jesus alone is to be our hope, and He alone is our place of refuge.

Lord God, may we hold fast to the grace of God in Christ, never trusting in our own merit. We have no standing before You without Jesus. Help us to recognize this and to exalt You for what You alone have done for us in the coming of our Lord. All hail the glorious and exalted name of JESUS! Amen.

Pink hibiscus.

Thursday, 1 August 2024

and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:25

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And he knew her not until that she brought forth the Son, her Firstborn. And he called His name JESUS” (CG).

In the previous verse, it said that after his visitation by the messenger, he thoroughly aroused from his sleep and did as the angel commanded him, taking to him his wife. Now, Matthew continues the narrative, saying, “And he knew her not.”

This is a biblical euphemism, meaning that he did not have intercourse with her. The first of many times this is mentioned in Scripture is in Genesis 4 –

“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, ‘I have acquired a man from the Lord.’” Genesis 4:1

Joseph refrained from consummating his marriage to Mary until a certain point. However, at some point after that time, they would have come together as husband and wife. That is seen in the next words, “until that.”

The Greek says heós hu, until that. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says of this concerning the word heós, “with the genitive of the neuter relative pronoun οὗ [hou] or ὅτου [hotou] it gets the force of a conjunction, until, till (the time when).” In other words, up until a certain point, Joseph did not know his wife intimately. However, that certainly changed after the time “she brought forth the Son.”

The birth of Jesus was untainted by any hint of sexual intercourse between Joseph and Mary. She was a virgin, and her virginity remained until the birth of her Son, “her Firstborn.”

The words are a standard designation. They do not imply she had other children. It simply calls out that this Child, regardless of whether He had siblings or not, was the Firstborn of Mary. As He is also God’s only begotten, Jesus is also the Firstborn of God –

“For to which of the angels did He ever say:
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You’?
And again:
‘I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son’?
⁶ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’” Hebrews 1:5-6

Of this, the words of Exodus 4:22 should be reviewed –

“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.”’”

Israel, the nation, is said to be the Firstborn of the Lord. This means through adoption. God selected them to carry out His purposes, leading to the coming of the Messiah. However, Jesus is the Firstborn in the sense of being begotten.

A couple who could not have their own children might adopt a child who becomes their firstborn. However, later that condition could change, and they beget a child through the life-generative process. This is the difference between the two.

Next, and in accordance with the words of the messenger, Matthew notes, “And he called His name JESUS.”

It is Joseph who named the Child in accordance with the divine instructions. Mary was also told that His name was to be Jesus, but the text records that Joseph is the one who is credited with following through with what he was instructed. Mary, though the human mother of Jesus, is seen to otherwise portray a minor role in the events that take place in the gospel records.

Life application: Although the biblical record does not speak of any future intimacy between Joseph and Mary, the way that Matthew writes of Joseph’s keeping separate from Mary until a certain point is a strong indication that their refraining from intercourse was only temporary. For example, this is recorded in Genesis 38 –

“So Judah acknowledged them and said, ‘She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.’ And he never knew her again.” Genesis 38:26

When something is set and final in this manner, the Bible generally says so to highlight the matter. Not only is there no such statement concerning Joseph and Mary, but exactly the opposite is the case. This is contrary to the aberrant teaching of Roman Catholicism, which dogmatically states that Mary was a perpetual virgin.

There is no biblical support for this. The teaching was only decided upon in the year 553, hundreds of years after anyone could have known whether this was the case or not. In other words, it was a decision based on vapor and nothing else.

But why would the church want to make this claim? It is the same reason for innumerable decisions in the Roman Catholic Church: to direct people’s attention away from Jesus. Contrary to Scripture alone, the RCC holds to the Bible plus the authority of the church. Contrary to Christ alone, the RCC holds to the mediation of Christ plus the intercessory ability of Mary, the Pope, etc. Contrary to faith alone, the RCC holds to faith plus works in the process of justification. Contrary to grace alone, the RCC teaches merit apart from the grace of God. Contrary to the glory of God alone, the RCC uses exalted titles for the dead (such as Mary) and the living (the living pope at any given time), etc.

There is nothing acceptable about the doctrines of the RCC. Everything taught is tainted with the machinations of man. Whether Joseph and Mary came together or not after the birth of Jesus is not specifically addressed in Scripture because it has no bearing on where our eyes should be directed, which is to Jesus. Let us not get caught up in strange teachings that misdirect us from this key doctrine.

Lord God, may we be faithful to hold to Scripture alone for our doctrine concerning You and the theology that we pursue. Keep us from those who would misdirect us and confuse us in our walk. Thank You for Your word which is sufficient to instruct us. And thank You for Jesus who is the central figure presented in Your word. Amen.

Matthew 1 (CG)

1 Scroll: Genealogy Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham.

² Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. ³ And Judah begot Perez and Zerah from Tamar, and Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. ⁴ And Ram begot Amminadab, and Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. ⁵ And Salmon begot Boaz from Rahab, and Boaz begot Obed from Ruth, and Obed begot Jesse. ⁶ And Jesse begot David, the king.
And David, the king, begot Solomon from the of Uriah. ⁷ And Solomon begot Rehoboam, and Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. ⁸ And Asa begot Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. ⁹ And Uzziah begot Jotham, and Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. ¹⁰ And Hezekiah begot Manasseh, and Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. ¹¹ And Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers upon the Babylon deportation.

¹² And after the Babylon deportation, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. ¹³ And Zerubbabel begot Abiud, and Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. ¹⁴ And Azor begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. ¹⁵ And Eliud begot Eleazar, and Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. ¹⁶ And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom birthed Jesus, being called the Christ.

¹⁷ Therefore, all the generations from Abraham until David, generations fourteen. And from David until the Babylon deportation, generations fourteen. And from the Babylon deportation until the Christ, generations fourteen.

¹⁸ And the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: For his mother Mary, having been betrothed to Joseph, rather before they came together, she was found – from Holy Spirit – having in womb. ¹⁹ And Joseph, her husband, being righteous and not willing to expose her to disgrace, intended to send her away secretly. ²⁰ And him, having pondered these, behold a messenger of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, you should not fear to receive Mary your wife, for that having been begotten in her – from Holy Spirit is. ²¹ And she will bring forth a son, and you will call His name JESUS. For He will save His people from their sins.”

²² And this all has come to pass that may be fulfilled that having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ²³ “Behold, the virgin will have in womb, and will bring forth a Son, and they will call His name Emmanouél,” which is being translated, “With Us: The God.”

²⁴ And Joseph, having thoroughly aroused from the sleep, did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him, and received his wife. ²⁵ And he knew her not until that she brought forth the Son, her Firstborn. And he called His name JESUS.

Hibiscus.

Wednesday, 31 July 2024

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, Matthew 1:24

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Joseph, having thoroughly aroused from the sleep, did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him, and received his wife” (CG).

The previous verse finished the explanation of the words of the messenger that Joseph received as he dreamed. With these things complete, Matthew now records, “And Joseph, having thoroughly aroused from the sleep…”

There is a slight difference in texts here. Some use the word diegeiró, to arouse completely. Others use the word egeiró, to arouse. The difference is the prefix dia, or through, which intensifies the word egeiró.

Further, the Greek has an article before the word “sleep.” It wasn’t just a regular sleep but a personal sleep that included a formal visit from the messenger of the Lord. As such, it seems likely that Joseph wasn’t just aroused but fully aroused from the sleep in order to take the next action recorded by Matthew. He “did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him.”

In the words of the angel, Joseph was told to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus. Implied, although not specifically recorded, was that he was not to consummate the marriage until after the birth of Jesus. That will be seen in the next verse. For now, it records, “and received his wife.”

Joseph had thought to put away Mary secretly for what he supposed she had done. Now, he rather openly confirms the marriage, ensuring that those who are close to Mary would not inappropriately judge her for being pregnant before the marriage was formalized.

The message of the dream was sufficient for Joseph to know for certain that the hand of the Lord was involved in what was taking place. Therefore, he obediently complied with all that he was instructed to do.

Life application: Since the time of Christ’s incarnation, other women have made similar claims concerning being pregnant without male involvement. No such claims are to be accepted. At one point in human history, God directly intervened in the human experience by uniting with His creatures in the Person of Jesus.

Today, women can be artificially inseminated, but this still means that a man is involved in the process. The generation of human life is not possible without this, except in the case of Jesus.

What God has done in Christ is the single most important aspect of human existence. From the conception and birth of Jesus to His crucifixion and resurrection, nothing in all of history even comes close to this. Without Jesus, we are fallen and separate from God, condemned by the sin we have inherited.

However, in the coming of Christ, the line of sin is cut. We can now have full restoration with God through simple faith in what He has done. If Mary’s child was not born of God, there would be no hope for humanity. To deny the virgin birth is a point of heresy that cannot be overcome by those who hear and accept it.

Either Christ Jesus is God, or we stand condemned. When Paul says in Romans 10:13, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,’” he is not saying, “Lord” meaning “Master.” He is telling us that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Yehovah, of the Old Testament. Thus, to not call on Jesus as the incarnate Lord God means you will not be saved.

Calling on a created savior is idolatry. It is placing a part of the creation as the means of salvation, but we are told that “salvation is of the Lord (Yehovah)” (Jonah 2:9) and that Yehovah is Israel’s Savior (Isaiah 43:3 & 45:15). Be confident in your understanding of who Jesus is. He is the Lord God, our Savior.

Glorious Almighty God, thank You for what You have done to bring us back to Yourself. It is incredible, and yet it is certain: You have come in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, honor, and power to You alone. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

Gardenia.

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“‘Behold, the virgin will have in womb, and will bring forth a Son, and they will call His name Emmanouél,’ which is being translated, ‘With Us: The God’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Matthew noted that the things that were conveyed by the messenger to Joseph were done in order that a prophecy of the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled. Now, Matthew cites that prophecy so that we can understand what is being referred to. And so, he writes –

“‘Behold, the virgin will have in womb, and will bring forth a Son, and they will call His name Emmanouél,’ which is being translated, ‘With Us: The God.’”

It is a literal translation of the name and the title. In a case like this, the article before “God” does not need to be included as it is understood that there is one God. Further, the prophecy from Isaiah doesn’t include any article. However, because of the words of Isaiah to the House of David, the One true God, Yehovah, was understood to be who he was referring to. He said –

“Then he said, ‘Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?’” Isaiah 7:13

Isaiah had just cited the words of the Lord (Yehovah) in verse 7:10. Therefore, the inclusion of the article from the Greek is not inappropriate. Yehovah is the One and only true God. This is why Isaiah said, “weary my God.” A point is being made about the nature of the One to come. After saying his words to the house of David, Isaiah continues with his words of prophecy –

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

The name Immanuel comes from im, with, and el, God. The form of the word Immanu, having a pronominal suffix, indicates a plural marker. Thus, it means With Us, God. Matthew gives a direct transliteration from the Greek – Emmanouél.

In the words of Isaiah, he uses the term almah, translated as “virgin.” That signifies a young woman. Using this word generally signifies a virgin, such as in the account of Rebekah in Genesis 24, but it does not necessarily mean it is so. It is the feminine form of elem, a young man. Because of this, Jewish rabbis and scholars dismiss that this is a future prophecy of the coming of Christ Jesus.

However, this flies in the face of Jewish history, which always understood it to refer to a virgin who would bear a child. This is confirmed by the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, which predates the coming of Christ by about two hundred and fifty years –

ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει, καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Εμμανουήλ (LXX).

Idou hē parthenos en gastri hexei kai texetai huion kai kaleseis to onoma autou Emmanouēl.

In their translation, the rabbis used the word παρθένος, parthenos, a virgin. It is this translation that Matthew refers to for his words. His citation is almost a letter for letter translation of Isaiah 7:14.

His use of parthenos was to clear up any ambiguity in what was being conveyed. Even if a pregnant young woman in Isaiah’s time was used as a reference to the fulfillment of the immediate prophecy given by the Lord, the rabbis clearly understood that a greater fulfillment of the prophecy (this time requiring a virgin) was ahead in the coming of the Messiah.

As human biology demands that virgins cannot have a child on their own, then there must be something coming that defied the understanding of those who anticipated their Messiah. Only in the pronouncement to Mary in Luke 1 can the concept of a virgin bearing a child without the seed of a man be understood –

“And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:35

As Mary will be the mother of the Child, and because she is a human, the Child will be a human male. As God is the Father of the Child, the Child will be The God. Thus, the pronouncement of the prophet of the words of the Lord finds its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of the Messiah – Immanuel: God With Us.

Because Isaiah referred to his God, Yehovah, then the words of Matthew are fulfilled – Meth’ hēmōn ho Theos: With us: The God. Though the Hebrew word elohim can mean God, god, gods, or even spirits or people, the term ha’elohim, the God, is only used when referring to the true God. Jesus Christ is very God of very God. He is the Incarnation of Yehovah in human flesh.

Life application: Despite two thousand years of Jewish attempts to deny the incarnation of God in Christ, this is exactly what their own Scriptures speak of from beginning to end. If you encounter a Jewish rabbi or scholar who adamantly denies that Jesus is the Lord, you have your work cut out for you. But if you know what you are talking about, you can easily defend the truth of Scripture.

Others, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, deny that Jesus is God. In this, they proclaim another (a false) Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), and thus they proclaim a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Therefore, they stand accursed before God.

Be sure to speak about what you know to be true. And be firm in your convictions. God has come to dwell among us! All hail the name of our Lord, our Savior, and our God – JESUS!

Lord God, may we continue to pursue a right understanding of who Jesus is all our days. We proclaim Jesus is Lord! Our God is among us, having come in human flesh. Praise You, O God, for what You have done for us. Hallelujah and Amen.

Orchid.

Monday, 29 July 2024

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Matthew 1:22

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And this all has come to pass that may be fulfilled that having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying…” (CG).

In the previous verse, the messenger noted to Joseph that the Child’s name was to be Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And this all has come to pass that may be fulfilled that having been spoken by the Lord.”

Matthew will now cite an Old Testament prophecy. It is one that was uttered by the Lord, Yehovah, to King Ahaz in Isaiah 7. The words of prophecy, as recorded by Matthew, are said to be fulfilled (has come to pass) in the coming of Christ Jesus. And yet, it was a prophecy given to Ahaz about a matter that would be fulfilled at his time.

As such, it is a prophecy with a dual significance. This is not a stretch by Matthew, looking to shove the coming of Christ Jesus into an obscure and already fulfilled verse. Rather, it is a prophecy that was understood all along to be messianic in nature.

That is evidenced in the words of the coming verse. That we can know this was anticipated to refer to the Messiah will be explained then. For now, Matthew continues by saying that the prophecy was spoken by the Lord “through the prophet, saying…”

The Lord spoke to Israel, but He did so indirectly through Isaiah. The words that lead to the prophecy say –

“Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, ^11 ‘Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.’
¹² But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!’
¹³ Then he said, ‘Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?’” Isaiah 7:10-13

The Lord first spoke to Ahaz directly. The words are in the second person, singular. When Ahaz punted and refused to ask for a sign, the Lord, through Isaiah, responded to the “house of David.” Though Ahaz was the king, the address by Isaiah is made in the second person plural.

The meaning is that not only will there be an immediate fulfillment of his words to Ahaz, but the words are intended to extend to the House of David in a more relevant way. This is only implied, but the implication was understood to be there, nonetheless.

Life application: When reading the Bible, there are themes that may repeat, even if it seems that what was prophesied was already fulfilled in the past. For example, the prophets speak of the fall of Babylon in the Old Testament, something that actually occurred in the past.

Babylon came against Israel according to prophecy. The Babylonians destroyed the land and took the people captive to Babylon. Eventually, Babylon was destroyed according to the prophecies stated in the Old Testament.

One could wipe his hands and say, “Wah-lah, that’s the end of that.” However, the New Testament also refers to the destruction of Babylon, even citing the Old Testament. For example –

“‘And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!’
Then he answered and said,
‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen!
And all the carved images of her gods
He has broken to the ground.’” Isaiah 21:9

“And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’” Revelation 14:8

The Lord is repeating themes and historical events to show that there is a system by which things are accomplished. Nothing is random or haphazard. The Lord works out events in a physical realm while also repeating these things in the spiritual realm.

A way that this occurs is through typology. To understand this more fully, you can go to the sermons from the Superior Word and see where typology from one story directs the flow of events in future accounts. The Lord explains this through Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes –

“That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

Things will repeat so that when they occur, we can know that the directive hand of the Lord has brought them to pass.

Lord God, help us to see the wonderful things that You have laid out in Your word, even things that are still hidden and waiting to be uncovered. May we look for Your guiding hand in the unfolding of history by looking back to what has been. In doing this, we can know that You are directing us and all events according to a wise and detailed plan. All is well because You have it all under control. Amen.