Psalm 34:1 -- I will bless the Lord at all times -- REALLY?

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Do you ever find yourself singing a song with lyrics that convict you a bit. When you consider the words, you can't sing them with real honesty because you feel it isn't really  true? For example, perhaps the lyrics sing that you will never  turn away from God. But, don't we all turn away from God when we sin? Perhaps the lyrics claim your heart is totally  tuned into God, or that your eyes are totally fixed on Him, always. But, how many times in your life is this actually true, compared to the times it is not true? Or, perhaps lyrics that sing you will never forget God. But, I start to think, "Oh Lord, how quickly I do forget? How can I sing this song right now? You get the idea, I think.

The problem is, I know my nature and my heart just a bit, and I know that God knows it much better than I do. I can't hide my hypocricy from God. How can I sing praises to Him with words that claim I walk so perfectly, so blamelessly, and so continually before Him? Give me a song like, "How quickly we forget"--now that's a song I can sing with honesty!

David offers a pretty high claim in his song, starting off in verse one with, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Really, David--at all times? I can probably think of at least one time after this where you didn't bless the Lord. Yet, God speaks to us through many Psalms of David, prophetically at times, still today.

Here is something I came to understand awhile back that has really helped me with this issue feeling like a hypocrite singing songs with words like Psalm 34:1. And, I think the key to this issue is found at the end of Psalm 34 in verse 22: "The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned."

Someday, we'll be in heaven. Sing like you know it; someday in heaven when you are rescued and not condemned. Put yourself before the throne of grace, as you know is God's will, where you can come boldly because of the completed work He has done. Bring your emotions subject to the promise of God that someday, you will be with Him forever. And, His praises will indeed forever be on your lips; you will indeed bless the Lord at all times because the Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Now, it's true if there is sin we need to repent. If we have our gift before the alter and remember our brother may have something against us, we should leave our gift there and go to that brother/sister first (Matthew 5:23-24). However, if that's all taken care of, then bring your gift. Put yourself in heaven and realize that someday all of those songs you sing about continually praising God, will be absolutely true. It is His will to save you. Submit to that will, and praise God like you know He desires. He died to make such a thing possible for you.

John 4:23

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

The Tithe: A Command With a Special Challenge and Blessing

Let's get to it... the only place God ever told anyone to test Him—in all the verses in all the chapters in all the books in all Bible.  God's challenge is specific, regarding the tithe.

Malachi 3:6-12 (bolding added)

⁶“For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
⁷ Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’

⁸“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

¹¹“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts; ¹² “And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts. 

They robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings.  What's the difference between tithes and offerings?  The tithe was a tenth, and offerings are anything beyond the tenth.  Robbing God is a strange idea, really.  Who can steal from the Almighty?  How can someone pickpocket God? Who can break into God's house and take His things? How will mortal man rob God?  You can, and I can.  God said this was done by not returning to Him what is His in tithes, as well as offerings.

TEST ME.  God says to test Him.  If you or I were to do a word search on testing God, we will find enough to say about not testing, or not trying God.  We would find a lot to say about God testing us. Testing and trying God, though, is generally something pointed out as a bad thing to do.  Generally, I say, because there is this one acception.  Malachi chapter 3, regarding tithes and offerings.  God challenges them (and I believe us) to TEST HIM.  I want to highlight some aspects of that promise, below.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it. -Malachi 3:10

Notice here that in verse 10, nothing is mentioned about any "offering"; only the tithe is mentioned. "Bring all the tithes to the storehouse." And God promises, if we accept this challenge, for us to watch and see, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

So How does this promise come to fruition, exactly?  What should that look like when God answers?  I don’t know, exactly, if I have an answer for that.  I do have some suggestions, and perhaps only God can reveal to you what that will look like in your life individually.  Simply stated, God offers a promise that you will experience a return greater than your investment, more than you alone can store. Your cup will overflow.

• One thing I know, is that there is a storehouse in heaven (Matthew 6:19; Mark 10:29-30); certainly this truth of treasure in heaven applies to many circumstances besides the tithe, too.  We should always be looking for ways to store up treasure in heaven, by the things we do and say on Earth.  Perhaps the blessing from God will just be the satisfaction and joy that comes from building up His Kingdom by making financial sacrifice on Earth, knowing you are putting treasure in heaven.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• We also have churches (the house of God) that stores tithes and offerings for distributing wherever there are needs.  When we give at our churches, that's very much like what we're doing.  We've giving it to the House of God... to the storehouses.  Many people are served because of the contribution made to the storehouses so that there is food (both physical and spiritual) in His house.

• You will overflow in a special way that otherwise you will not.  Really, I don’t know for sure what it will look like.  Maybe that's for each one of us to find out for ourselves as we act in obedience.  Bring it, and He will overflow.  You may simply be happier (blessed) and more satisfied knowing that you have been obedient. I think we can all relate to that, but specifically I speak in regards to the tithe.  Bring your tithe, and test God in this.  It's the only place in all of the history of God's people where God challenges us to do this.  And, there is no other investment in this world that can give you that kind of guarantee.

God can answer in a monetary way on occasion.  Ultimately this will not be for your own luxury, but for His glory.  I believe, in faith, that we have experienced this kind of blessing fairly recently.  We were at a crossroads of sorts, moving between churches.  We had a good amount of money stored up (the tithe), and I was personally trying to decide if maybe I should juts hold onto it.  Or, not give it all away.  Maybe my understanding on the tithe was wrong.  Maybe I don't need to give ALL 10%, legalistically.  Maybe we were wrong.  I'd sure like to hang on to this money.  God really wants me to have it.  Why would God want to take 10%, really?  Doubt came along, and chirped.  Maybe we'll just give up a little bit, as we see fit in our own hearts.  God knows the heart, though... in our heart of hearts we knew too.  We believed God spoke with specificity about the tithe.

All of these things so far mentioned came to mind, and we decided to just give it up, and not rob God.  "Lord, we're just going to honor you with the tithe, because we know what your Word says and what your promise is."  We believed it would ultimately be better for us if we did, so we let it go, and sent it out.  The very next day we received a notice in the mail that a certain amount of capital was coming back to us in a very unexpected turn of events, with something that wasn't even on our minds; the value of which was about 80% the tithe we just released the previous day.  Now, could that have been chance?  Oh, many would say it was.  I do not.  I do believe this was a special circumstance of God answering us in a way that was clear, but is certainly not to always be expected.  I think we all have times in our lives where God has answered us in such a way.  And, as further proof that this is a not a prosperity Gospel I'm trying to convey, let me point out that a negative 20% return would not be a good financial investment :).  Yet, there are other benefits... in obedience.

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts; -Malachi 3:11

God will rebuke the devourer.  That’s a very practical promise that I believe applies to the material world.  Things you own will last longer, go further, and stay functional for a greater period of time than they would have otherwise.  When you tithe, what you plant will yeild a better crop than had you kept back that 10% and put it in the ground.  What do you do with all that extra yeild?  Well, you'll tithe off of that of course and put a little more in the ground than you would have otherwise, next time.  No matter your "crop", it's a never ending cycle, see.  It's just God's Word as I simply see it, and experience it.  Something I'm certain you will experience too if you accept His challenge.  The things God has lent you in this life—things that should be used to bring Him glory anyways—will last longer.

But, how will I know?  Here is the problem.  Really, how will you ever know if God rebuked the devourer?  Everything eventually falls apart.  How will you ever know if your car lasted an extra month?  How will you ever know if you got 20 more uses out of your blender?  How will you even know if God is fulfilling His promise?  How will you know if the yield was more plentiful?  How will you know if your work bears more fruit?  Here is the exciting part--you won’t know!  That is, apart from faith you won't know.  All the speculation in the world and you will never know.  You’ll just have to accept that God did what He said He would do, on faith.  The tithe can be, should be, and always has been an instrument of God that causes us to walk by faith, and not by site.

Not of the law... but before the law... of faith.

As we conclude some final thoughts to some questions that may arise regarding the tithe.

Was the tithe just something Abram purposed in his own heart?  This is a fair question, and I don't believe it was.  Why?  Because if the tithe was merely something Abram purposed in his own heart, why is it mentioned later with a special promise and specificity regarding the tithe (a tenth)? Why does God not, when mentioned later in Malachi chapter 3, just say “Purpose in your own heart as Abram did”? No, the tithe/tenth is mentioned specifically, with a promise.  Why does God later say to tithe, and not, "Do what seems good to you"?

What about the circumcision that predates the law as well?  Another fair question.  The circumcision also predates the law (Gen 17).  To that I would point out things previously mentioned, and things to be mentioned next week, making the tithe different.  The tithe comes with a special blessing as mentioned in this post.  The tithe was given to Melchizedek (the circumcision was not), sharing the same priesthood with Jesus.  The circumcision doesn't have these things alike with the tithe, and we're also told specifically that the circumcision is not necessary in the New Testament.  Whereas the tithe, when mentioned in the New Testament, is not actually spoken against, but on the contrary it is spoken for.  The tithe is actually mentioned with approval, by Jesus Himself.

Not to get ahead of myself, because that’s next week...

On my almost-daily trek to Hy-Vee over my lunch, I observed a toddler fighting to hold his mom's hand. Mom, for safety sake said, "You need to hold my hand" as they crossed the parking lot.  The little boy fought, whined, and struggled to hold Mom's hand. Mom understood why he needed to hold her hand... and I, being a witness of it also understood... but the little boy did not.  Sometimes, many times... children can be childish.


But, it made me wonder what our Father, saints before, and the angels in heaven understand... when He says "Hold my hand", for our own safety.  And yet, we struggle and fight, and sin, because we think we know best.  Let's not be childish.  We are surrounded by many onlookers.


Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Tithe: It Predates the Law

This post is going to appear very long; however, be of good cheer... it's not quite as long as it seems :).  About half of it is all Scripture (some bolding added for emphasis). Rather than just reference it, I am going to post it here in full to read (NKJV).

The "First Mention Principle" is a principle of Bible interpretation in "hermeneutics". Hermeneutics (a fancy word) basically means the art of interpreting texts; in this case, the Bible. When is the first time the word or event appears in the Bible?  Go there, and see what the context is.  What is it telling you about it.  Find the place that this particular thing is spoken of for the very first time. Finding this can often be a gateway to understanding the topic at hand when it appears later.  There, don't you feel scholarly now?  I believe this principle is important in understanding the tithe.  That's what I'm going to do now, as I seek to convince.  Let's go to the first place the tithe is mentioned.

Genesis 14:14-24

Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.  And he blessed him and said:
 

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he gave him a tithe of all.
 

Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
 

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
 

So Abram (before he was called Abraham) comes back from winning a battle, with goods from the victory.  It is important to note that Abraham's tithing was in no response to any command from the law, as the law was not yet given.  Abraham wasn't acting out of obligation (1 Cor 9:17) or being legalistic.  On the contrary, it was in faith!  Again, this was before the law, and that's one of my main points.  Also, along with a tenth of all the plunder given to Melchizedek, Abraham received bread and wine from Melchizedek in return.  Where else does bread and wine come into play in the Christian life?  Does it remind you of anything?  Sure it does--communion!  It is in communion, brought to us by Jesus, where we receive bread and wine/juice in remembering Him.  Here the king of Salem (Salem means peace, by the way... he was the king of peace) shows up a bit mysteriously (as Hebrews will go into later), providing bread, wine, and collecting a tenth of Abraham's profit (in faith).  Interesting.

Psalm 110:4

The Lord has sworn

And will not relent,

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek.
 

The Lord has sworn, and will not relent.  You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.  Interesting enough, I thought it worthy of repeating.  This is the second time Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible.  Who is he?  He is not mentioned again until the NT, in Hebrews chapters 5-7.  In Hebrews Melchizedek is called a forerunner of Jesus (as you will see) saying that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek like in the Psalm above.  Jesus is a priest from the same order of Melchizedek who shared wine with bread, and collected a tithe (specifically) out of faith, not according to the law.

Now to the New Testament passages speaking of Melchizedek, and the tithe that predated the law.  Pay attention to where Melchizedek is mentioned here--it is several times.

Hebrews 5:6-11

As He also says in another place: You are a priest forever. According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

 

 

I find it interesting that God tells us in Hebrews that there is much to say about Melchizedek, but it is hard to explain.  Why?  Since you have become dull of hearing.  Let's not be dull of hearing.  If you do feel you are finding this character and topic to be dull, pray about it.  Ask God why this might be.  If you are finding the topic uninteresting or dull, God's Word tells us it's a personal problem.  We're the ones that are dull--it's certainly not His Word that is dull.  If you don't consider this to be dull, then you're ready for what is otherwise hard to explain.  Let's go on!

Hebrews 6:19-20

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek
 

The forerunner has entered for us, Jesus... our High Priest FOREVER, according to... the order of Melchizedek.  Very interesting.  This same Melchizedek who brought bread and wine, and whom received a tithe from Abram well before the law was given.

Now, the "big" one... this one may take some digesting.  Pray that we would not be dull of hearing.

Hebrews 7

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
 

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
 

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies:
 

"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
 

For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
 

The Lord has sworn and will not relent,‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
 

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
 

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
 

Speaking of Melchizedek ("first being translated, 'king of righteousness'"), "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."  Who was this Melchizedek, really?  Some say he was Jesus, before the time He came fulfilling prophecy, to die for the sins of the world.  I don't know what to believe, regarding who he was really.  No matter your belief on who he was, suffice it to say he was "different", and there are some interesting things here to discuss.

Speaking of the tithe, consider where we're told "but he whose genealogy is not derived from them" (the Levites) "received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises".  Melchizedek was not from the genealogy of the Levites who received the tithe according to the law.  He was apart from any genealogy that handled the law.  We see then in turn that Melchizedek "blessed him" (blessed Abraham, who was operating on faith) "who had the promises."  Abraham had the promises of God.  You know who else does?  The born again believer does.

This passage in Scripture form the NT comes to mind from 2 Cor 1:20, which says, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."  Did you know that because you have been born again, and all of your sins dealt with, all the promises of God for you are who are in Him and He in you, are YES and AMEN.  Here we're told that Abraham, who had the promises of God, was blessed upon giving the tithe to Melchizedek.  We have access to any and all the promises Abraham would have had.  We have the promises of God.

Furthermore we're told, "Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives."  Mortal men receive tithes, this is true.  BUT, we are more than mortal men and women if we've been born again.  We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) with eternal--not mortal--life.  Melchizedek received tithes of whom it is witnessed that he lives.  Well, have we been born again and not witness that He lives?  Sure we have, otherwise we would not be born again.  We have become witnesses for Christ that He lives!  He is Our Witness to the truth  (John 18:37).  How should we not tithe in faith as Abraham did?

Just consider these things.  If you haven't tithed (given a tenth, specifically) back to God, consider God's Word and really consider doing so.  As I've pointed out, the tithe predates the law and the Levites.  It was first given to a priest who was not after the order of the Levites, but before the Levites and of a different order entirely.  This tithe that many brush off (as I have in times past), is far more than just a ritualistic or legalistic act to give a specific 10%.  There is a Biblical reason for it, and a promise (which we will discuss next time).  We should not be dull of hearing regarding the mysteries of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:11).  He was of a priestly order, of whom Jesus Himself is also a part!

Point number one done--the tithe predates the law.  A tenth of all of Abraham's spoil was given to this king of righteousness!  This king of peace, a forerunner of the priesthood of Jesus, our High Priest; before and apart from the law.  It was done in faith!

Next week: The special blessing that goes along with the tithe, and a unique challenge from God to do it.  We'll discuss how releasing a tithe (again, a tenth, specifically) from all our profit carries a weighty challenge and promise from God.

The Tithe: It's For Today

There was a time in years past where I didn't tithe.  I was without knowledge of the true origins of the tithe, and felt keeping the tithe was merely a religious, possibly legalistic ritual that was not in line with the completed work of Christ.  However, I believe the opposite today.  And, over the next few weeks on each Sunday morning, I am going to explain why, using three main reasons to show the literal 10% tithe is still for today.  That's what a tithe is--it's 10%.

Some will say/ask, as I did some years past, "Hey, don't you know this isn't Old Testament times?  What is this OT stuff about keeping the tithe?  Why be legalistic?  Just give with your heart like stated in 2 Cor 9:17."  I have personally made those statements and questions regarding the tithe, before I actually understood the tithe and its blessing.  It's a good Word (it's God's Word, of course it's good) and I would in no way seek to undermine, change, or discourage anyone from doing what it says, whatsoever.  I've noticed, however, that many people misuse the word "tithe" by applying it to freewill giving.  That's really not what the tithe is at all.

What many people actually do (as we all should do) is 2 Cor 9:17.  Again, this is good, but then we should not call it the tithe--because it is not tithing.  Tithe has a specific meaning, command, and blessing.  It isn't giving as we purpose in our own hearts.  The tithe is giving 10%, as best you can humanly calculate.  I will seek to convince, to the glory of God and the edification of His body, that a literal 10% tithe should be observed by all believers, and that it in no way negates or changes the will of God stated in 2 Cor 9:17.  God loves a cheerful giver!

Looking to the future, here is a little preview...

1. The tithe predates the law and is therefore not nullified by any end or completion to the law

2. There is a special blessing that goes along with the tithe.  You will miss it if you don't tithe.

3. Lastly, simply, Jesus approved/approves of the tithe.

The Son of David -- WAS He... or IS He...?

Have you believed Jesus *WAS* perhaps a powerful man and a wise man; perhaps even a Godly man protected by God? Are all of your thoughts about Jesus regarding what Jesus *WAS* in the flesh, or *WAS* in the past?   Or, do you consider and believe what Jesus *IS*, right now? *WAS* He a good guy, or *IS* He at the right hand of God? That's a major difference, really. Do you believe Jesus *WAS* many things... or do you believe He *IS* many things?  Did God raise Him from the dead; if so, where did He go? Did Jesus speak some good things then, back when He was alive, or is He speaking in the present while being alive right now?  What do you believe about Jesus being the "Son of David"?

If you read though the Gospels you will notice that Jesus is sometimes referred to as the son of David (Matthew 9:27-31, for example). Both Matthew and Luke give us the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23–38 and Matthew 1:1–17) showing us that He is a direct descendant of David. It was understood by the Jews and should be understood by us that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. Jesus is called the son of David because He was a descendant of David. But David would have had many descendants, Jesus just being one of them.

Being a descendant of David alone did not make you The Son of David, of course.  What did it really take to be the Son of David?  It was being the Son of God, as Jesus claimed to be.  The blind Pharisees were looking for man... a man's man (not a Godman), descended from David and raised up by God to be given special protection by God; perhaps much like David, conquering armies, ruling, and reigning. Someone who, coming from the righteous bloodline of most Jewish of Jews, would establish them as a powerful rule on Earth. But, they were missing a huge part of the puzzle. Is that what it meant to be the Son of David? Jesus says otherwise. Jesus says it's much deeper than that... and much more spiritual, powerful, and eternal. Here is a discussion between Jesus and some Pharisees regarding this.

Matthew 22:41-44

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴² “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.

⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’

⁴⁵ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”

⁴⁶ No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Who is Jesus to you? Jesus asks how can the Messiah be merely David's son, if David calls Him Lord? These Pharisees were still just looking at the physical; looking for a strong man descended from king David, who could lead them into battle and conquer the nations of this world--as in days of old. Jesus points out that the Son of David must be more than this--much more--because David calls Him, the Messiah, "Lord". How can a person, who comes after David, be called Lord by David? That is of course, unless this Messiah was before David and above David. The Messiah Who comes after David as "The Son of David" must actually be *before David*.  That's what Jesus is saying here.

Jesus is pointing out here that there is more going on than just being related as a blood descendant of David; something they had not or would not consider.  God was doing something new that had never been done before.  The Messiah would be much more than a man of flesh and blood, or even a prophet. The Messiah would supersede time and authority in any normal way of decent they thought of or had seen previously.  He would not just be a man... but much more.  David called Him Lord... and this perplexed those whose minds were not actually tuned in to the spiritual truth God's Word reveals.  God in the flesh would come, bear our burdens and take away our sins.

Isaiah 29:13-19

¹³ Therefore the Lord said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
¹⁴ Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

¹⁵ Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,
And their works are in the dark;
They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
¹⁶ Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
“He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?

¹⁷ Is it not yet a very little while
Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?
¹⁸ In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
¹⁹ The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord,
And the poor among men shall rejoice
In the Holy One of Israel.

 

Acts 2:29-39

²⁹ “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,  ³¹ he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

³⁴ “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
³⁵ Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’

³⁶ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

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If Jesus was just a good guy, descended from a king who once was, but is no more... then we are without Hope. He is dead, and gone.  Let us move on, to the next man or woman who can provide us with the words that move us for today.  On the other hand, if Jesus right now IS and WAS and IS TO COME, then that's an entirely different Son of David.  The Words He spoke are eternal, they are THE Words of Life, and they are good for every day past, present, and future.