“He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end”
“the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: 17 I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead[d] of Moab and strike down[e] all the Shethites.[f]
18 Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. 19 One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city’s survivors.”
“44 “In the days of those kings, the God of the heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever.
13 I continued watching in the night visions,
and suddenly one like a son of man
was coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him. 14 He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;
so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.”
“The scepter will not depart from Judah
or the staff from between his feet
until he whose right it is comes[a]
and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him.”
“27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’”
“14 Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.”
Thursday, December 7
Son of a Chosen People
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:33; Numbers 24:16-19; Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14; Genesis 49:10; Daniel 7:27; Hebrews 7:14
Read Luke 1:33, Numbers 24:16-19
The Old Testament recounts God’s endless commitment to the Israelites, His chosen people. The Savior of the world was born into a Jewish family. That was no accident! Despite the consistent rebellion and unworthiness of Israel, God's every action aimed to set them apart and make them holy. Generation after generation, the Jewish people lived in the tension of God’s discipline and mercy, and often lived in slavery or oppression under other nations. But God continued to promise a coming Messiah who would rule over them in love and set them free from all oppression.
Read Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14; Genesis 49:10
Imagine living as an Israelite before the coming of Jesus, knowing the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. Now, imagine that all of those prophecies have come to fruition in a helpless baby born in a small town. It is no surprise that some Jewish people could not recognize Jesus as the promised king.
Read Daniel 7:27; Hebrews 7:14
The life and ministry of Jesus pointed unmistakably toward His death on the cross, through which God revealed a new covenant for His eternal kingdom. By God’s amazing grace, through the blood of Jesus, we now have the opportunity to share in the inheritance as part of God’s holy, chosen people. The Bible tells us that when we trust in Christ, we are adopted into His family as sons and daughters. We are now part of the holy kingdom of God, regardless of our earthly heritage.
Reflection & Prayer:
- Have you ever struggled with the reality that God has a chosen people? What are some reasons God has the freedom to choose people for Himself and why might some people dislike that?
- In your own life, have you failed to acknowledge Jesus as the all-powerful king of the universe? Have you regarded Him as something less?
- Pray that God would give you proper sight to see Jesus for who He is, – and to see yourself properly as part of His eternal family.