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MESSIAH'S DUAL SONSHIP
"Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land", (Isa. 32:1-2).
Israel's Messiah is identified in Old Testament prophecy as being both the "Son of God" and of the "seed, house and lineage of David". The New Testament reveals Him of whom the angel, Gabriel, declared: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end", (Luke 1:32-33). And He identified Himself to John as "the root and offspring of David", (Rev. 22:16). As the "root of David" He is DIVINE -- truly God; as the "offspring of David" He is HUMAN -- truly man.
Through the prophet Nathan, God revealed what is commonly called "the Davidic Covenant", (1 Chron. 17:7-15). Here is found the basis of the Messianic - Davidic idea which
(Continued on Page 2)
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IN A SMALL PLACE
Fret not because thy place is small
Thy service need not be,
For thou canst make it all there is
Of joy and ministry.
The dewdrop, as the boundless sea,
In God's great plan has part;
And this is all He asks of thee;
Be faithful WHERE THOU ART.
In thee His mighty hand can show
The wonders of His grace,
And He can make the humblest room
A high and holy place.
Thy life can know the blessedness
Of resting in His will;
His fulness flows unceasingly
Thy cup of need to fill.
His strength upon thy weakness
waits,
His power for thy task.
What more, 0 child of all His care,
Could any great one ask?
-- Annie Johnson Flint
DON'T FORGET THE BUSINESS MEETING!!
Let every member of Landmark be reminded of our Quarterly Business Meeting this Saturday at 7:00 P.M. The business of the church is the responsibility of EVERY member.
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MESSIAH'S DUAL SONSHIP....Continued
is developed progressively by the prophets. The account given in 2 Samuel 7:4-17 varies only in that it allows David's immediate offspring, Solomon, to build a house and claim the Davidic throne - prefiguring the ultimate glory, but falling far short of its majesty, righteousness and perpetuity.
In essence, the Davidic Covenant provided for Jehovah (the covenant name of Israel's God) to build a house for David. David's "Seed", which is "of thy sons", will build a house for the Lord. Nor is this a mere childish exchange of gifts. In one sense the "house of God" and the "house of David" are one. Yet, "house of God" is the larger term -- embracing the entire covenant community which is to be ruled by One descended from the house of David.
Jehovah becomes incarnate as David's Seed. Already referred to as "God" (Psa. 45), Son, and
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David's "Seed", is to be settled in God's house and Kingdom forever. However Judaism may have regarded this, it is clearly the idea set forth by psalmist and prophet, and is the evident meaning of one of the joyous Psalms still used in Jewish worship. "The LORD (Jehovah) hath sworn in truth unto David; He will NOT turn from it; of the fruit of THY body will I set upon thy throne", (Psa. 132:11). Jehovah HIMSELF will sit upon the throne of David.
Disobedience in David's posterity would be visited with the rod, and with stripes, but the covenant would never be cancelled. The royal line DID disobey; and chastisement fell. The Kingdom WAS divided under David's grandson (never to be fully re-united until the preeminent "Seed" ascends the throne, Ezek. 37:21-28), and both "houses" finally went into captivity among the heathen. The crown was "cast down" until He comes whose right it is to wear it, (Ezek. 21:31-32). The only Davidic King to be crowned since that day wore only a CROWN OF THORNS. While the Psalmist notes that God has "profaned" the crown by "casting it to the ground"; he still pleads for the trustworthiness of the covenant, (Psa. 89:3-4, 20-29, 34-37).
When, with divine wisdom, Jesus had met the Judaistic inquisition concerning the tribute money, the resurrection and the great commandment, He inquired of the Pharisees: "What think YE of Christ? Whose Son is He?" Without a moment's hesitation, the proud custodians, students and interpreters of the ora-
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cles of God gave the answer that was perfectly evident to one familiar with the Scriptures. They said: "He is the Son of David". Then Jesus asked a question that they have been unable or unwilling to answer to this very day. "He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" (Matt. 22:43-45).
Jesus clearly implied that David had understood the covenant as a promise to him of a unique son who would be MORE THAN MAN -- that He would be the embodiment of DEITY -- very God! And from that time forth the Jews dared ask Jesus no more questions.
When closely examined, the concept of Messiahship found in the Old Testament is the most emphatically "super naturalistic" concept in the whole of Biblical religion. It involves the creation of a new order of things. It is not only apocalyptic, but also eschatological in its outlook. It is NOT an evolutionary outlook in which one condition gradually blossoms into something better and higher. It involves a world, or age, of one nature being superceded by one of a fully different nature -- which demands the direct "intervention" of God in the natural process. Such an intervention WILL COME; righteousness, justice and equity WLLL prevail on this earth when King Jesus comes to reign.
"Even so, COME, LORD JESUS!"
-- E. Garner
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MISSIONARIES ON-THE-MOVE
EDGAR R. POTTER & Family are now on the field in Brazil. They visited briefly with the Ross family in Sao Paulo where he spoke, by means of an interpreter, to the Villa Sao Pedro church on Sunday evening, March 26.
They are now located in Santa Cruz. Until further notice all mail should be sent to them:
c/o Steve Montgomery
Caixa Postal 162
18.900 Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo
Estado de Sao Paulo
BRAZIL.
RICHARD L. FERRIS is now traveling among those churches that supported him while in Japan. He expects to follow a "tight" schedule and be ready to return to Japan by early Fall.
If YOU have not invited Bro. Ferris to visit with you DO NOT EXPECT HIM TO COME KNOCKING ON YOUR D0OR! But if you fail to hear this brother you will miss a blessing. He may still be contacted at:
6705 Fenton Street
Arvada, Colo. 80002
EDGAR D. SULLIVAN has already moved to:
Tokorozawa City
Tokorozawa Heights
House # 6231
Saitama Ken, Japan.
He has recently established a new mission in this community under the sponsorship of the Noborito Baptist Church. Let us remember him daily
(Continued on Page 4)
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MISSIONARIES ON-THE-MOVE..Cont'd.
as he undertakes to gain a foothold in this new area so that the Gospel of Christ may be declared to many who have not yet heard it.
ROLAND ALLEN, according to a recent letter, was due to leave Paraguay on April 11 for a brief visit in the States. He reports that Bro. Eldwyn Rogers has recovered from his back operation sufficiently to resume responsibility for the mission work there while he is away.
Bro Allen indicates that he is not making plans to travel extensively. But, if you want him to visit your church he may be able to do so. Write him:
c/o Pastor Melvin Gray
Route 4
Lancaster, Ky. 40444.
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BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU READ!
I read a book last week.
The author dipped his facile pen
in fire
And seared raw facts of life into
my brain.
Up from the mire he dragged dark
truth
And flaunted it. He made all yough
Abnormal, all love lust and God
a jest.
And, as I read, I knew his soul
was warped;
His mind must know despair;
thinking all truth
Was ugliness laid bare.
And then I read another book.
The author sat upon the very
throne of truth,
And used a pen far mightier than
a sword.
He wrote of youth triumphant,
clean and fine,
He wrote of sin, compassion in
each line.
He wrote of love -- it blossomed
like a rose
Sprung from good soil. He wrote
of One
Giver of that great Trinity of
Gifts,
Life, Love and Beauty, and when
he was done,
I knew somehow my stumbling feet
had trod
The trail he'd blazed for me to
his friend, God!
-- Author Unknown
May each of us learn to keep our minds on that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovable, high - toned -- on that which is excellent or worthy of praise.
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