The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed KingMuestra

The Divine Son

Kings in the ancient world often claimed the title ‘son of God’ to show themselves superior to their subjects. The Pharaohs of Egypt claimed to be sons of the Egyptian sun god Ra. Alexander the Great ordered that he be known as the Greek god, Zeus’ son. The Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar proclaimed himself Divi filius (son of god). However, the ancient Davidic Kings of Israel never presumed this title for themselves. Rather, it was given to them by divine decree of the High King of heaven. The Davidic King mentions that the LORD personally told him that he was his Son. The anointed one of God was no mere Prince of Israel, but the Son of God, begotten of the heavenly Father. The Davidic Kings and God shared an intimate father-son relationship. This relationship was founded upon the covenant God established with King David and his children. God promised David that he would establish the kingdom of his son forever. God said, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” (2 Samuel 7:12-14). This promise was inherited by every descendent of David who ascended Israel's throne.

The Nicene Creed states that our Lord Jesus Christ is “the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.” As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus was not made, but is the eternally begotten Son of God (John 1:1-5; 3:16). Jesus as the incarnate Son of God was born in the line of David as the greater Son of David (Matthew 1:1). Thereby he inherited the promises of the covenant God made with David. At Jesus’ baptism, the heavenly voice of God spoke to his Son, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11; Matthew 3:17). The Father publicly identified Jesus as His beloved Son superior to all creation!

Psalm 2:7 is often quoted in the New Testament. In his sermon at the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Saint Paul quoted this verse to prove that Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of the promises God gave to Israel’s fathers (Acts 13:33). The writer of Hebrews quoted it to establish the superiority of Jesus over the angels (Hebrews 1:5) and the superior High priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 5:5). Praise our King Jesus, the eternal Son of God!