+DEV+ By Grace: A Loving King [8 of 27]

Date: March 18, 2013 10:01 PM
Topic: +DEV+  By Grace: A Loving King [8 of 27]

By Grace: A Loving King [8 of 27]

"In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it - one from the house of David - one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5)
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 16:5; Psalm 89:14

In 2 Samuel 7:16, God promised King David, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." As you may recall, David's son, Solomon, reigned over Israel following David's death. Following Solomon, the kingdom split into two opposing factions - ten tribes in the North and only Judah and Benjamin in the south. The line of Judah ended with King Hezekiah in 586 B.C. when the Babylonians overran Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple.

Who then is the King of whom Isaiah and Nathan speak? It is, of course, the Lord Jesus. His will be an eternal reign, characterized by the four key words in Isaiah 16:5: "love, faithfulness, justice and righteousness." "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love" (Psalm 33:4-5). "Unfailing love" is "chesed" in the Hebrew. For me, it's the greatest word in the Bible, speaking of the grace of God to me.

Insight: When we think of "justice," we need to see it as helping the poor and the less fortunate, as well as judging rightly.




Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.