Several hundred years after King David prophesied about the coming Messiah (or Christ in Greek) in the Psalms, the Lord also spoke through the prophets Isaiah and Micah to give additional information about Him. We learn through them that Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, and will be known as God Himself, the everlasting Prince of Peace.
Later, Messiah will minister by the Sea of Galilee, shining a great Light in a land of spiritual darkness.
All these prophecies point to Jesus as the coming Messiah. The prophecies are scattered throughout the Old Testament and written hundreds to thousands of years before the time was right for Christ to come.
Starting in Isaiah Chapter 9:
1 …In Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:1-2,6-7 (NKJV)
Isaiah also tells us that Messiah will be born of a virgin:
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)
“Immanuel” means “God is with us”.
The prophet Micah then tells us that the Christ will be born in Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, in David’s hometown and in his lineage. Messiah will be Ruler in Israel, and His origins will be from the beginnings of time:
2 “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 (NKJV)
Ephrathah is another name for Bethlehem, first mentioned in the book of Genesis.
The prophet Isaiah, as well as the prophet Zechariah, had more to say about this coming King. As Jesus explained to two of his disciples while walking with them on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, the scriptures clearly tell us that the Messiah must suffer before being glorified as King. Specifically, Isaiah points to the severe scourging He must experience before being crucified and, like David in Psalm 22, Zechariah refers to Jesus’ hands and feet being pierced during His crucifixion.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV)
The innocent Lamb of God bore our sins and transgressions on the cross, taking all the punishment we deserve, so that we may have complete peace with God. By the stripes of the lash upon His back, we receive complete healing from our many sins.
Most of those He came to save did not recognize Him. Many of us were like that throughout much of our own lives. But when our eyes finally do open, we see Him for who He is, and recognize that the suffering He went through was strictly for us. We may initially mourn our failure to see Him, but we quickly rejoice, for His outstretched hand remains extended to us in love.
We are imperfect in so many ways, and in great need of God’s tender mercy each day. Even King David, upon whose throne Messiah will one day return to reign upon, had many sins and shortcomings that needed God’s gracious forgiveness.
David’s successes and failures are spelled out for us in black and white in the word of God. Yet because of his faith, the Lord forgave him, and used him as the anchor for the regal line of Christ. David had a heart for God even though, like us, he often got sidetracked by his humanity. When he strayed, he always returned to the Lord in repentance, and made an earnest attempt to love, serve, and obey Him. Like with us, the Lord loved David, whether He approved of all of his actions or not. God’s forgiveness and love are always there for the asking, and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and His subsequent resurrection covers all of our sins and failings when we choose to confess our sins and follow Him.
God’s Old Testament prophecies about the first coming of Christ have all been fulfilled. But there are many Old and New Testament prophecies about Jesus’ second coming to rule and reign on David’s throne which have yet to happen. One day, they, too, will come to pass. It is up to us, with God’s loving help, to be ready when He comes. Let us seek to walk in His presence today.
Reflection
Which prophecies about Christ speak to your heart?
Why do you think God gave us prophecies about the coming Messiah? Do you believe the prophecies about Christ’s return?
Father God, thank You for the many prophecies about Your Son’s first coming, Speak to our hearts and help us to be ready for His return, and use us to build and grow His kingdom. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen,
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 