Divergence, Convergence, and the Remnant (Advent 28, 2022)

Today, we enter an interesting point of divergence in our look at the remnant through Jesus’ genealogy.  Yet we see God maintaining the remnant of faith and fulfilling Scripture.  After King David in the genealogy, there are no similar names in Luke’s gospel to Matthew’s genealogy until we get to Shealtiel, the father of the governor Zerubbabel.  It’s like a parenthesis of names. Don’t you find that interesting?

What happened to the Davidic Kingdom?

The Davidic Kingdom was once a world power with great respect and stature with the divine favor of God as His chosen people! It had been reduced to a humbled state of division and weakness, ultimately being taken over by Assyria (the fate of the northern tribes) and Babylon (taking Judah into captivity). 

It happened because God pronounced
that the Davidic Royal Line by physical birthright was over.  Very over. 

In a proclamation for Jehoiachin: “I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear– Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians. I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. You will never come back to the land you long to return to.” …  30 This is what the LORD says: “Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.” (Jeremiah 22:25-30)

Yikes. End of that line, so God tapped back into the holy stump of Jesse to raise up Zerubbabel to be a governor and to carry the Davidic line of ancestry to the One who would ultimately fulfill the reigning on David’s throne forever.

It would not be a matter of biology, physical inheritance, or job description.  The remnant would not be nationalistic, but one of faith and converge Jesus’ genealogies in the person of Zerubbabel who would restore worship to Jerusalem.

“14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, (Haggai 1:14)

Questions for further thought:

We read in Ezra 3:2-3 that worship in accordance with the Scriptures would happen despite their fear of the culture around them.  ”2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.  3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.“ 

How might their boldness to worship God in spite of opposition be a lesson for us all? “Do not fear” was a command given by angels to the shepherds regarding worship of the Christ Child. In what way does that same command apply to us who live by faith?

Why would it be important post-parenthesis to converge the genealogies back to fulfill Scripture in Christ? 

21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.  22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.  23 “‘On that day, ‘ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” (Haggai 2:21-23)

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, that Your salvation has always been by faith. We ask that You embolden us to worship You even in a culture which denies You and opposes You.  Let us be a light to the nations as we persevere in faith and remain so until the end.  We love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.