Looking Beyond What's Anticipated

Dear Faith Family,   

"But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.'" (Hebrews 1:8-9)

In the opening declaration of the wonder of Jesus Ascended*, the author of Hebrews quotes a song of worship. Specifically, the author quotes Psalm 45, "a love song" as it is titled in many translations. The song, penned by the Sons of Korah, was made prominent by the king who put them in charge of temple worship, King David. 

In the arrival of the now-famous David onto the scene of the story of *Jesus Awaited, the anticipation for "the anointed" reaches its clearest image. As we discovered on Sunday, in the anointing of David, we are given the picture of what the one covered in both the life of humanity and the life of God would be like: 

"Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince (leader) over Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel." (2 Samuel 5:1-3)

 

The anointed is the head of the body of God's people, a shepherd prince, and a covenanting king. This image is further solidified just a few chapters later, when God promises to bring peace and to perpetuate the line and anointing of David. 

"'Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son...And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'" (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

While it seems that the millennia of anticipation of the anointed had finally reached its fullness in the person and purposes of David, even David knew that the One awaited, though like him, was indeed "beyond" him. It is the under-realized hope in ones like himself that compels David to not only commission the sons of Korah to write of the awaited anointed, but to envision in his own psalms, the arrival of One who stood apart from even the best of his preceding images. 

"Who shall ascend to the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation... Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty... Who is the King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!" (Psalm 24:2-10)

"The word of God to my Lord: 'Sit alongside me here on my throne until I make your enemies a stool for your feet." You were forged a strong scepter by God of Zion; now rule, though surrounded by enemies! Your people will freely join you, resplendent in holy armor on the great day of your conquest, Join you at the fresh break of day, join you with all the vigor of youth. God gave his word and he won't take it back: you're the permanent priest, the Melchizedek priest.'" (Psalm 110:1-4)

These are but two of the "Messianic Psalms," the songs of the anointed. In them, David anticipates one who is beyond him. One "who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully," who is more than a King, but a king-priest of a different order, "the permanent priest, the Melchizedek priest," who draws people into a return, a resurrection of life, "the vigor of youth." No wonder David can only conclude that the answer to the question of "Who is the King of glory?", the anointed to restore the relationship between heaven and earth, but "The LORD" (Yahweh) himself. 

Now, we are still centuries away from the vision of the anointed becoming fully married to the vision of the divine anointed. Nevetheless, it is the image of the anointed as one beyond his companions, who, unlike them, is not bound by sin, not mired in deception, and who will be the head of his people, a shepherd of the flock, a covenant maker and keeper who brings peace through his life and leadership, that the anointing and worship of David provides us in the story. It is the same image of the anticipated anointed that fueled the faith of God's people, even as their leaders (their kings, priests, and prophets) failed to live up to their anointing: to serve as mediators of God's "heavenly wisdom," channels through which life could flourish and be safeguarded against evil, sin, and death's lordship. 

Perhaps today, amid under-realized hopes for something or someone different, we too need the image of One beyond his companions to be what we await. May our inclusion into this story of *Jesus Awaited in all the yesterdays fuel our faith and faithfulness today, even as we await forever:

"...Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
(Hebrews 13:8) 

Love you, faith family. God bless!