SON of DAVID

BY THE END OF THE LESSON, WE WILL:

RECOGNIZE how these three passages provide a portrait of the fulfillment of God's promise regarding the Messiah; PONDER how by grace, our actions do not hinder God's promises; and BE ENCOURAGED to live out God's higher purpose for ourselves and for the benefits of generations to come. 

FOCAL VERSES Psalm 85:35-37; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-21

KEEP IN MIND

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet" (from Matthew 1:21-22).

AT-A-GLANCE

1. God's Promise (Psalm 89:35-37)

2. God's Purpose (Isaiah 9:6-7)

3. God's Plan (Matthew 1:18-21)

IN FOCUS STORY 

Elder and Evangelist Waters smiled as they entered the banquet hall for the celebration of their 75th wedding anniversary. Everyone was there: 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and the newborn great-great-grandbaby. 

As they thought back to their wedding day, they remembered the vows made at the altar and the promises the Lord gave to them. Before the even met, God had promised each that they would find a saved mate and that their offspring would be a blessing to them and others. 

Despite their faith, they struggled in the first three years of their marriage when the doctors said that they would have any children. They continued to pray and God blessed them first with Clifton, their oldest son. After that, the other came like stair-steps: the twins, Margaret and Mary, Carlton, their youngest son; and Melonie, the baby.

 

As each family member showered them with kisses, the couple cried at the memory of Carlton's near-fatal injury while he was in the army. They recalled Melonie's rebellion, and the consequences of the drugs and violence that had claimed her younger years. They realized that they were blessed to have raised her three children and how God had helped those children grow and have good families of their own. Above all, they had forgiven their mother and made her part of their children's lives. God had kept His promise and today was a celebration of His blessings upon them all. 

Family matters. Through this lesson, we will learn that God's covenant with David was not only a blessing to David's offspring, but a promise of salvation to all who call His Name. 

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, and TIMES

Heavenly Bodies. In Psalm 89:36-37, David's enduring legacy is likened to that of the sun and moon. As David's seed, the birth of Jesus fulfilled the promise of an extraordinary lineage that would never expired. The significance was likely not lost on David. God made the sun, moon, and stars for specific purpose (Genesis 1:14-18; Psalm 104:19), and they serve as reminders of God's promises. For instance, in Joseph's dream, the sun, moon, and eleven stars (representing his brothers) bowed down to him-a prophetic dream signaling Joseph's future rule as second-in-command to Pharaoh (Genesis 37:9-11, 41:37-41, 42:6-9). 

BACKGROUND 

Saul, Israel's first king, forfeited his throne due to sin and disobedience. The prophet Samuel informed Saul that God had stripped him of his office saying, "But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14, NLT). That man was David. 

David was the youngest son of Jesse, a native of Bethlehem. While herding sheep, David had no idea that God planned for him to be not only a king of Israel, but the king whose descendant would prove to be the King of kings-Jesus.

During his reign, David learned that personal decisions can benefit or hinder his own life and the lives of others. His obedience to, and reliance on, God led to numerous military victories, as well as season of peace for his descendants, especially during his son Solomon's reign. Conversely, his sinful desire for Bathsheba caused his to commit adultery and the arrange her husband's murder. Those events contributed to the death of the child born from their adulterous union (2 Samuel 11, 12:1-18). God mercifully brings about the birth of Solomon. 

Despite David's mistakes and sins, he was quick to repent and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. Centuries later, he was still remembered as a man after God's heart (Acts 13:22). David's heart for God was rewarded with a promise of a perpetual kingdom. As God promised David and as Isaiah prophesied, Matthew reported that the birth of Jesus fulfilled the traditional expectation that a descendant of David would be coming as the Savior. 

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. What did God promise David (Psalm 89:35-37)?

2. How does Isaiah's prophecy clarify the original promise to David (Isaiah 9:6-7)?

3. What light did the angels' declaration shed on God's promise to David (Matthew 1:21)?

DISCUSSTHE MEAN ING

1. David's actions throughout his life both positively and negatively impacted his descendants. Nevertheless, God kept His promise. While we recognize that this was an act of God's grace, what lessons can we learn from Psalm 89:35 and Acts 13:22 about the natures of God and David?

2. Why did God change Joseph's mind about marrying Mary (Matthew 1:20-21)?

3. The In Focus story explains how Elder and Evangelist Waters were committed to God and grateful that the generations of their children were experiencing the mercy and love of God. How are you ensuring the same for your descendants?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY

1. Sometimes a family experiences both the death of an aged loved one and the birth of a child within the same season. As grief and joy mingle together, how can believers share God's purpose through both consolation and celebration?

2. Despite the fact that the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, has come to save us, our world is plagued by violence that claims the lives of innocent children, destroys families, and extinguishes hope. As Apostolic believers, what can our churches, council, and denomination do locally and globally to alter these outcomes?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. Each of us struggle in life, but our actions should not dishonor God's grace. First John 1:8 admonishes the saints to remember that we do fall short and must seek God's forgiveness for our sins. What is your response when you realize that you have failed God?

2. If you do not have the Holy Ghost, what is holding you back? Jesus has come. The promised Messiah has made it possible for you to follow God with your whole heart. What is hindering you today? Seek Jesus now. 

(Except from the Apostolic Light Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Inc.)