Statolatry: A Recurring Biblical Theme

In my search engine's copilot, a number of interesting quotes were generated in association with this topic:

State worship, often referred to as "statolatry," is the veneration of the state or government, sometimes equating it to a form of idolatry, where the state is seen as the ultimate authority and object of loyalty.

State worship is closely related to king-worship, where the ruler is seen as the embodiment of the state. This relationship fosters a sense of unity among the populace, binding them to the ruler through a shared identity and loyalty. In such contexts, the achievements of the ruler are celebrated as collective victories, reinforcing the idea that the state's glory is synonymous with the people's glory.

The implications of state worship can be profound, leading to a culture where dissent is discouraged, and loyalty to the state is paramount. This can create an environment where critical thinking and individual rights are undermined in favor of collective identity and obedience to authority. In summary, state worship or statolatry represents a complex interplay between individual identity and collective loyalty to the state, often with significant historical and political ramifications. Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing the dynamics of power and authority in various political systems.

-Bing Copilot

Now, those are helpful in defining the parameters of our subject, but what about "statolatry" as a recurring biblical theme? Think In Christ has an excellent article entitled Modern King-worship and State-worship. In that article, we read: Since immemorable past, man has been worshipping “super”-man: kings, warriors, sages, and anyone extraordinary. King-worship can be found in almost every ancient civilization, from Egypt’s Pharaoh, Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar, Greek’s Alexander, Rome’s Augustus, to the Son of Heaven in China. Naturally the king is the most powerful man in the nation, and king-worship is always power-worship. Man worships the king not because the king has power, as many people have power, but because the king’s power is despotic and overwhelming, both of which makes him to bear a resemblance of divinity. The king is the lord, he looks like a god, and he claims a divinity.

The article continues: The king-worship is also connected to state-worship or nation-worship. The king is the glory of the nation, as Alexander gloried the Greek, and Augustus glorified the Romans. The king is the personification of the state, as a result of the fact that the people identify with the object they worship. Through state-worship, the king-worship binds the people together and binds the people to the king through a mystic religious union. The people are part of the sacredness epitomized by the king. They would not allow their king to be dishonored because they would not tolerate themselves be dishonored. They would celebrate the achievement of the king because they consider themselves as participating in this achievement. King-worship is the foundation of national solidarity, the sinew of social coherence, and the convergence of personal inspiration. People celebrate despotism and enjoy despotism, for a reason that is deep in human heart.

Indeed, from the Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel to the Beast of Revelation, we see this as the most prominent form of idolatry mentioned in the collection of writings we refer to as "The Bible." Moreover, it wasn't just the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans who were afflicted with this phenomenon. We can also see it in the history of the development of the nations of Judah and Israel.

At the end of the era of the judges, we read: Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army,[a] some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” (I Samuel 8:4-20, NLT)

Notice that, even after Samuel had warned them about the manner in which human kings rule over their subjects, the leaders of the children of Israel still wanted to be like the nations around them! He told them that the king would conscript them into his army and confiscate a large part of their resources to support his projects and wars. Nevertheless, the impulse to have a king like the heathen nations which surrounded them was strong - irresistible in fact!

Later, the children of Israel were themselves overwhelmed by yet another powerful manifestation of the phenomenon of statolatry - the Babylonian Empire of King Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed, we learn in the book of Daniel that this manifestation of statolatry would serve as the symbol of all subsequent manifestations of the phenomenon - Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon would be the "head of gold" on the image which represented all of the subsequent kings and empires prophesied to rule on the earth. Moreover, the imagery of Babylon would be employed in the final book of the New Testament - the Apocalypse or Revelation of John of Patmos!

We read there: Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority. I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?” (Revelation 13:1-4, NLT) Continuing there: Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die. (Revelation 13:11-15, NLT)

Later, in the same book, we read: One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.” So the angel took me in the Spirit[a] into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement. (Revelation 17:1-6, NLT)

Now, while John was clearly referring to Rome and its empire, the language of statolatry in these passages is clear. The state is supreme. The state is worshipped. The state has enough military power that no one dares to challenge it - "Who is able to fight against him?" Is this phenomenon dead? Did it disappear in the First Century or with the fall of Rome? Can you think of any modern nations of which we could employ similar kinds of language? Are there any modern nations where the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of the nation is glorified? Are there any modern nations which glory in their military might, wealth, and power? In short, is statolatry still something which afflicts human governance?

Jesus Christ preached about a different kind of kingdom and kingship. He preached about servant leadership and government that served the needs of its citizens. He preached about humility and peace. He spoke about love, cooperation, mercy, healing, forgiveness, and kindness. Are those qualities exemplified by any nation extant on the surface of the earth today? Is it possible that this is something that we might want to give a little bit more of our attention to? What do you think?

A Little Reassurance

Too many Christians have a very flawed view/understanding of Almighty God. They think of God as a harsh and exacting tyrant, instead of the loving, compassionate and merciful entity who is the reality. Unfortunately, for too many of us, God is perpetually pissed off and just itching to zap some miserable sinning human somewhere! For these folks, we are as loathsome insects before the Jolly Green Giant who might step on anyone of us at the drop of a hat and make us all squishy and very dead! Little human tenders dangling over the fires of hell, and the string holding us above the flames is on fire! Well, you get the picture.

There are also a large number of folks who have convinced themselves (often with a great deal of assistance from the judgmental self-righteous) that they are irredeemable - that their sins are simply too great to be forgiven. These folks are convinced that there is a limit to God's patience, and that they have exceeded it. They believe that their sins are simply too great - too awful - for God to forgive. Many of these folks believe that they are headed for the Lake of Fire, and no one is going to convince them otherwise. In other words, without meaning to, they diminish God and his power to forgive sins.

Jesus revealed to Nicodemus, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17, NLT Indeed, even in the Old Testament, God is portrayed as someone who wanted to redeem sinners. In the book of Ezekiel, we read: "Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’ As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?" - Ezekiel 33:10-11, NLT Likewise, in the book of Isaiah, we read: "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." - Isaiah 1:18, NLT Notice, in both Testaments, God is portrayed as someone who wants sinners to be saved.

In Paul's first epistle to Timothy, we are informed that God wants everyone to be saved (I Timothy 2:4). In the second epistle attributed to Peter, we learn that God doesn't want anyone to be destroyed and would prefer that everyone decided to repent (II Peter 3:9). This is consistent with a God who is described as the personification of love (I John 4:8, 16). After all, the Apostle Paul stated that love is "patient and kind" and "keeps no record of being wronged." (I Corinthians 13:4-5) He went on to say that love "never gives up...is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance." (I Corinthians 13:7)

The Apostle Paul had persecuted Christ's Church and wrote to Timothy: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life." - I Timothy 1:12-16, NLT In other words, if God could forgive Paul, "He" can surely forgive you!

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are informed that Peter once asked Christ about forgiveness. "How often should I forgive someone who sins against me? - Seven times?" - Matthew 18:21, NLT "'No, not seven times,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven!'" - Matthew 18:22, NLT In other words, you must forgive them every time they sin against you! And, if that is the standard which God expects of us, then how much greater must be God's capacity for forgiveness? Humans are limited. God is without limits. Indeed, earlier in this same account, Christ said that ANY sin was capable of being forgiven by God except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31). Why that one? Because the person who commits this sin has effectively declared that God doesn't have the power/ability to do something (like forgive a particularly obnoxious/bad sin)!

Paul told the saints at Philippi that the One who had begun a good work in them was able to finish it (Philippians 1:6). Likewise, Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome that "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NLT) The answer of course: NO ONE! Indeed, Paul went on to say that he was "convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love." (Romans 8:38, NLT) The clear message: God is able to make right ANYTHING that you have perverted, harmed, or ruined - ANYTHING! Get over yourself! You ain't all that, and God is!

A New Year Means a Fresh Start!

"Behold, I make all things new" - Revelation 21:5, NKJV

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14, NKJV

"But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:20-24, NKJV

Calculating the Date of the Messiah's Birth

For almost two millennia, Christians have celebrated the events of their Savior's life. To be clear, there are only two events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth which can be associated with a particular date on the calendar based on the scriptural evidence alone. They are his death just before Passover, and his resurrection which occurred on the following Sunday. Indeed, even in this instance, we find much to debate and haggle over! Moreover, Jesus himself only left instructions for his disciples to commemorate his death (the Eucharist). Even so, Christians have persisted in celebrating their Lord's birth, dedication, baptism, death, and resurrection.

There are a number of very good reasons for all of this. For Christians, the appearance and work of Jesus Christ is the most important occurrence in the history of humankind. For his disciples, his sacrifice for the sins of humankind means salvation and life. For them, his teachings and example underscore love, compassion, empathy, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, and peace. For Christians, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures - the culmination of God's plans for all of us. In short, Jesus is everything to his followers, and anything associated with him is worthy of celebration and remembrance.

That this impulse to celebrate their Messiah has been present from the beginning of the movement is beyond all question. Two of the Gospel accounts (Matthew and Luke) contain elaborate narratives associated with his birth. The Gospel of John celebrates Christ's existence prior to his human birth and Divine nature. Three of the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) relate events surrounding his baptism, and all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) have detailed accounts of the events surrounding his death and resurrection. In other words, the foundations for these celebrations of the life of Christ were laid by the authors of the canonical Gospels themselves!

We would also be remiss not to mention the fact that Christ himself said that he came to this earth to fulfill the Law and the Prophets of the Hebrew Bible! Indeed, the Gospels are literally full of passages from the Hebrew Bible which it is claimed that Jesus fulfilled. Moreover, in numerous of his epistles, Paul suggests that things in Torah pointed to Jesus Christ, and that he constituted the reality which they symbolically portrayed. And, finally, in the anonymously authored epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus is quite explicitly tied to the temple, priesthood, sacrificial system, and Sabbaths of the collection of writings known to us as the Old Testament.

Now, the rites of Baptism and the Eucharist are undoubtedly the oldest celebrations of the Christian Church (ekklesia). However, we know that the celebration of Christ's resurrection began almost immediately after that event. Indeed, in other posts on this blog, we have demonstrated that Christian worship on the first day of the week was well-entrenched by the conclusion of the First Century. Likewise, from the writings of a Christian Bishop named Hippolytus, we know that Christians had already begun giving serious consideration to fixing a date to celebrate Christ's birth.

According to the Biblical Archaeology Society, Hippolytus based his calculations on the widespread belief that God organized events throughout the cosmos to happen in conjunction with seasonal and celestial events. In this case, the calculation was that the date of Christ's conception had occurred on the vernal equinox of that year (March 25). Hence, nine months later would make December 25 the date of his birth! Moreover, as no one actually knew the precise date of Christ's birth by that time (early in the Third Century), the bishop's calculations seemed like a reasonable estimation to many within the Church (the Eastern Church made a similar calculation, but their starting point was in early April). At any rate, the date eventually caught on, and the rest is history.

Personally, I wish to make clear that I believe that it is completely appropriate to celebrate any and all of the events surrounding the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Moreover, I believe that Bishop Hippolytus of Rome's calculations regarding the date of Christ's birth were sincere and are fine (especially from the vantage point of longstanding tradition). Nevertheless, as I have already indicated here and elsewhere, I believe that Jesus was the fulfillment of Torah - including all things relative to the festivals which the ancient Israelites were commanded to keep.

Hence, while I agree with the presumption that God has organized significant events in "His" plans along a spiritual timeline, I now believe it is more likely that Christ's birth occurred sometime during the festival which portrayed him tabernacling in the flesh. The current celebrations are fine, and I participate in them. However, if we're taking an objective look at the available evidence, I would say that it is more likely that Jesus was born at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Temporary Dwellings. Anyway, that's my two cents. 

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

 Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King,

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

join the triumph of the skies;

with th’ angelic host proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored;

Christ, the everlasting Lord;

late in time behold him come,

offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

hail th’ incarnate Deity,

pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

born that man no more may die,

born to raise the sons of earth,

born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

Come, Desire of nations, come,

fix in us thy humble home;

rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,

bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;

stamp thine image in its place.

Second Adam from above,

Reinstate us in thy love.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,

Stamp Thine image in its place:

Second Adam from above,

Reinstate us in Thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,

Thee, the Life, the inner man:

O, to all Thyself impart,

Formed in each believing heart.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”

Lyrics for Christmas

Justin Martyr on the Birth of Christ

The first power after God the Father and Lord of all is the Word, who is also the Son; and of Him we will, in what follows, relate how He took flesh and became man. For as man did not make the blood of the vine, but God, so it was hereby intimated that the blood should not be of human seed, but of divine power, as we have said above. And Isaiah, another prophet, foretelling the same things in other words, spoke thus: A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a flower shall spring from the root of Jesse; and His arm shall the nations trust. Isaiah 11:1 And a star of light has arisen, and a flower has sprung from the root of Jesse — this Christ. For by the power of God He was conceived by a virgin of the seed of Jacob, who was the father of Judah, who, as we have shown, was the father of the Jews; and Jesse was His forefather according to the oracle, and He was the son of Jacob and Judah according to lineal descent.

And hear again how Isaiah in express words foretold that He should be born of a virgin; for he spoke thus: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bring forth a son, and they shall say for His name, 'God with us.'  Isaiah 7:14 For things which were incredible and seemed impossible with men, these God predicted by the Spirit of prophecy as about to come to pass, in order that, when they came to pass, there might be no unbelief, but faith, because of their prediction. But lest some, not understanding the prophecy now cited, should charge us with the very things we have been laying to the charge of the poets who say that Jupiter went in to women through lust, let us try to explain the words. This, then, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, signifies that a virgin should conceive without intercourse. For if she had had intercourse with any one whatever, she was no longer a virgin; but the power of God having come upon the virgin, overshadowed her, and caused her while yet a virgin to conceive. And the angel of God who was sent to the same virgin at that time brought her good news, saying, Behold, you shall conceive of the Holy Ghost, and shall bear a Son, and He shall be called the Son of the Highest, and you shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins, Luke 1:32; Matthew 1:21 — as they who have recorded all that concerns our Saviour Jesus Christ have taught, whom we believed, since by Isaiah also, whom we have now adduced, the Spirit of prophecy declared that He should be born as we intimated before. It is wrong, therefore, to understand the Spirit and the power of God as anything else than the Word, who is also the first-born of God, as the foresaid prophet Moses declared; and it was this which, when it came upon the virgin and overshadowed her, caused her to conceive, not by intercourse, but by power. And the name Jesus in the Hebrew language means Σωτήρ (Saviour) in the Greek tongue. Wherefore, too, the angel said to the virgin, You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. And that the prophets are inspired by no other than the Divine Word, even you, as I fancy, will grant.

And hear what part of earth He was to be born in, as another prophet, Micah, foretold. He spoke thus: And you, Bethlehem, the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Governor, who shall feed My people. Micah 5:2 Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, thirty-five stadia from Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in Judæa.

                                                             --Justin Martyr (100-165 C.E.), First Apology, New Advent

The FIRST Advent of the Messiah, and What It Made Possible

In a message to King Ahaz of Judah (from David's dynasty), the Prophet Isaiah assured the monarch that better days were ahead. God even offered to give Ahaz ANY sign he asked for to confirm God's plans, but the king refused to designate a sign. As a consequence, Isaiah wrote: "Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted." Isaiah 7:13-16, NLT)

Indeed, God continually warned the children of Israel away from their sins through Isaiah, but the people refused to listen. As a consequence, God made clear that the Promised Land would be invaded and the people would be scattered. Even so, Isaiah also wrote: "Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! (Isaiah 9:1-7, NLT)

A little later, the prophet also wrote: "Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people—those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands. He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 11:1-12, NLT)

Isaiah continued: "Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels." (Isaiah 53:1-12, NLT)

Likewise, the Prophet Jeremiah wrote: "What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people—the shepherds of my sheep—for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,' says the Lord. Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds: 'Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them. But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken! 'For the time is coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. 'In that day,' says the Lord, 'when people are taking an oath, they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land." (Jeremiah 23:1-8, NLT)

Jeremiah continued: "The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. 'In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ For this is what the Lord says: David will have a descendant sitting on the throne of Israel forever." (Jeremiah 33:14-17, NLT)

In similar fashion, the Prophet Ezekiel prophesied: "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!" (Ezekiel 17:22-24, NLT)

Finally, in the New Testament account of Christ's birth, we are informed that Joseph considered divorcing Mary when he found out she was pregnant with our Savior. We read: "As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. 'Joseph, son of David,' the angel said, 'do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 'Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us." (Matthew 1:20-13, NLT)

Likewise, in the Gospel of Luke, we read: "In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!' Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 'Don’t be afraid, Mary,' the angel told her, 'for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" (Luke 1:26-33, NLT) Then, in the following chapter, we read: "That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. 'Don’t be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-12, NLT)