Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20020811.htm

JESUS CHRIST IN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY
Part IV: Christ's Rule By David's Line And Hope For The Oppressed
(Isaiah 11:10; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15 and Psalm 132:11)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

Almost anywhere we turn, we can see evidence of human suffering due to problems in leaders:

(1) While my wife and I drove to the office Tuesday so I could begin preparing this message, we heard on the radio that a nationwide survey has revealed that America's youth, ages 13-19 have been deeply affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Instead the more carefree outlook Americans their age used to have, they are pragmatic, and assume they will have to serve in the military to combat terrorism.

So, due to the oppression of leaders who sparked the terrorist attacks, America's teens are geared up to view the world as a place of oppression that needs relief from wicked parties.

(2) Earlier this month, two young women were forced at gun point to leave their respective dates who were tied up with duct tape by their abductor and travel off with their captor for a harrowing 12 hours of terror. They narrowly escaped death as police apprehended and killed their abductor shortly before he had planned to kill them.

As they described their ordeal on ABC television, one of the young women, obviously emotionally scarred from the ordeal, said that it was a shame the man died as easily as he had in view of what evil he had done.

As I watched her testify of the ordeal, I wondered how many other people worldwide have suffered personal oppression and longed for the relief of heart and mind that this young woman needs.

(3) Almost daily, we hear news reports of Palestinian homes being destroyed, or of Israeli families with their children being gunned down in what appears to be a state of war in Israel.

When we consider the teachings and decisions of leaders has led to such oppression of both Palestinian and Israeli peoples, we realize a great need exists worldwide for hope for subjects.



IS there an ANSWER to the oppression that subjects to errant and evil overseers seek regarding RELIEF from OPPRESSION? IF so, WHAT is it, and HOW can they obtain it?





(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )

Need: "As our world is often a dangerous place where evil leaders oppress vulnerable subjects, IS there any HOPE for oppressed subjects in our world today? Where and how can this relief come?"
  1. Jesus explained to the disciples on the road to Emmaus how He fulfilled Old Testament Messianic prophecies, Luke 24:25-27.
  2. As these men were edified by Christ's exposition of those passages (Luke 24:32), we also view them, following the list of prophecies named in the Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, s. v. "Messianic Prophecies."
  3. The prophecies of Christ's LINEAGE through Israel's king DAVID reveals Him as the HOPE of ALL OPPRESSED subjects:
    1. God raised up David to rule to offset Israel's lack of blessing under Saul's wicked, tragic reign, 1 Samuel 16:1,7 with 1 Samuel 31:1-7.
    2. Thus, God gave a pledge, "The Davidic Covenant" promising eternal blessings on Israel through David's lineage, 2 Samuel 7:1-17.
    3. However, sin in David's royal descendants led to oppression for their subjects, and to God's judgment on the nation as a whole. Thus, God graciously supplied promises of the SINLESS descendant of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom not only Hebrew but also Gentile believing subjects could hope for deliverance from oppressive, sinful administrators:
      1. Isaiah 11:10 promised hope in Christ's Davidic line for oppressed people as Judah was threatened with God's judgment for sin:
        1. As David's son, Solomon fell into idolatry, God judged his son, Rehoboam to be left ruling the Southern Kingdom of Judah consisting of only two of Israel's tribes, 1 Kings 11:1-12:24.
        2. However, the other tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell into idolatry by the wicked influence of its kings, so God condemned Israel to be captured by Assyria, 2 Kings 17:1-23.
        3. At this time, Isaiah foretold of ISRAEL'S capture by Assyria and of JUDAH'S survival of it as a wake up call for JUDAH to repent of idolatry, Isaiah 9:8-10:34.
        4. In this context, God promised a ROOT out of Jesse, king David's father (1 Sam. 16:1, 13), would rule with glorious rest not only for the Hebrew people, but also for Gentiles who would trust in Him as their Savior, Isaiah 11:10.
        5. As Isaiah 11:10 reveals Messiah is David's DESCENDANT as well as the ROOT of his FATHER, Jesse, Isaiah 11:10 reveals Messiah existed BEFORE His physical birth as God!
      2. Jeremiah 23:5 predicted hope in Christ's lineage through David for oppressed subjects as Judah was failing in apostasy and headed for God's judgment for its leader's spiritual failures.
        1. As Judah began to fall deeper into sin, God claimed its leaders had failed to instruct Judah's subjects in the truth of Scripture, and so promised one day to set up shepherds who would lead them in the truth for their blessing, Jeremiah 23:1-4.
        2. Specifically, God would raise up a Righteous Branch or descendant from the Davidic line. That Branch, being Christ, would execute just verdicts in the world's peoples, Jer. 23:5.
        3. Thus, in the Messianic Kingdom to COME, Jesus Christ, the OFFSHOOT of DAVID as His HUMAN SON, would RULE the WORLD with JUST VERDICTS for all of His subjects OPPOSITE the errant leaders of Israel's past!
        4. As Jesus is David's BRANCH from his STUMP, He is the DESCENDANT of David as a MAN. Hence, with Isaiah 11:10, Jesus is BOTH GOD and MAN (the Incarnation)!
      3. Jeremiah 33:15 predicted hope in Christ's lineage through David for oppressed subjects as Judah was under siege by Babylon as God's judgment actually fell on the nation.
      4. Finally, Psalm 132:11 recalls God's promised blessing through the Davidic Covenant for Israel as a vehicle of encouragement of renewal they faced [possibly following the Babylonian exile], cf. Bible Knowledge Commentary, O.T., p. 887.
Application: If longing for RELIEF from OPPRESSION as a human SUBJECT to GODLESS overseers, (1) we must believe on Jesus Christ as personal Savior from sin to become a member of His kingdom, John 3:16; Colossians 1:12-13. (2) Then, we can (a) HOPE in the promises of Christ relative to David's LINE, and (b) encourage other oppressed people to trust in Him. (c) As we AWAIT the EARTHLY reign of Christ, we can enjoy His INNER rest from oppression by heeding His Word, Jn. 14:21, 23. We thus enjoy His RULE in our HEARTS en route to His rule on EARTH!

Lesson: Though subjects are oppressed from the EVIL in RULERS, GOD promises the HOPE of JUSTICE and REST from OPPRESSION in the coming Messianic Kingdom ruled by the SINLESS GOD-MAN and KING on DAVID'S THRONE -- the LORD JESUS CHRIST! >

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 As we began this message, I noted the affect the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has made on America's teens. You recall a nationwide survey has found this group of teens is less carefree and more pragmatic about the world in which they live than former generations of America's teens. The terror of those attacks have sobered them about the world in which we live, and many of them expect to have to serve in the military to combat terrorism.

The answer we shared in this message to what apprehension teen Americans face is illustrated in the people in our Church who will be baptized today: all those I will baptize are either younger or are in the 13-19 age group in that nationwide survey. Nearly all of them have repeatedly approached their parents asking permission to be baptized.

On top of that, they have all answered these questions I posed:

(1) I first asked -- and keep in mind what death now means to these young people in our post-September 11 world -- I asked, "If you were to die (heaven forbid) before I baptize you on August 11, would you go to heaven?" They all candidly answered, "Yes!"

(2) I then asked, "Why?" and they each replied, "Because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior!"

(3) I then asked, "If baptism doesn't save your soul, why do you want to be baptized?" They all answered, "This is what God wants me to do" or "It's my testimony," or some other similar remark.

Unlike many others in THEIR generation, THESE young people who will be baptized today are able to look BEYOND the LETHAL terror of September 11, 2001 to find in CHRIST all the HOPE and BLESSING they need not only to function NOW, but to function in their FUTURE and on to ETERNITY!



Then, one month from today, on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks, they will STILL be able to face the FUTURE with HOPE opposite languishing in the past as so many will probably do!