THE WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS THE ONE WHOSE NAME WE DARE NOT MENTION Matthew 1:5-6 and 2 Samuel 11:1-15 Dave Sturkey Should this surprise us? 1
MATTHEW MENTIONS 4 WOMEN BY NAME WHO ACTED IN FAITH TOWARDS GOD Tamar PRETENDED to be a prostitute to get Judah to do what he was required to do by Jewish law. Rahab was a prostitute BEFORE she joined herself with Israel and became a faithful follower of God. Ruth was shamed by the circumstances of her life, through no fault of her own. Mary, too, was accused of immorality by the claim of the virgin conception, through no fault of her own. BATHSHEBA IS DIFFERENT The biblical debate is 1) Bathsheba sinfully had an affair with David (maybe even seducing him by bathing in the open below the palace walls), and was complicit in the killing of her husband to cover-up the sin. OR 2) Bathsheba was an innocent victim of the powerful King. She had no choice but to follow along 2
I. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROMISED KING OF ISRAEL? Bathsheba s claim-to-fame is simply her connection to King David, the most important figure of the Old Testament. The Old Testament promised a Messiah (anointed one) who would rule RIGHTEOUSLY over God s people and bring blessing. WAS DAVID MESSIAH? In contrast to Saul, David was a man after God s own heart. David was unexpected and humble David was brave and a man of war David was ever faithful to God even as a servant of Saul David defeated all of Israel s enemies and brought peace, prosperity, and unity to the people of God. 3
2 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 4
MODERN JEWISH WRITER S PERSPECTIVE ON MESSIAH The Prophets have written a great deal about what the Messiah will do when he comes. Likewise, the Oral Torah has much to say about this as well, of course The Messiah will be a human being, the child of two human parents. He will be by unbroken patrilineal descent the undisputed heir of King David. The Messiah will be the unchallenged king of all Jews everywhere in the world He will be anointed with the special anointing oil that the Prophets used when appointing kings. The King Messiah will reinstate the royal dynasty of David to its ancestral regal status. He will be king, and his son will be king after him. The King Messiah will live a very long life. When he dies, his son will become king. When his son dies, also after a long life, the grandson will be king after him. After the grandson's reign, this world will come to an end. The world will be dormant for one thousand years, and then the World to Come will begin and last for all eternity. We will be resurrected, which means that our souls will return to our bodies, and we will live forever on this, earth, which will also be renewed. There will be utter peace in the world. MODERN JEWISH WRITER S PERSPECTIVE ON MESSIAH After the King Messiah has been victorious, not a single nation will dare consider waging war, and no nation will rule over any other. People won't even study warfare or battle tactics anymore. And no one will have any reason to fear anyone else, ever again. There will be no racism or other forms of oppression, ever again Good things will be easily available to everyone. When the Messianic Era comes, there will be no poverty, no war, no hardships, no reason for jealousy or competition, and no boredom. Everything anyone needs will be easily and quickly available, so that good things will seem to grow on trees In every generation, the potential exists for the Messiah to come. The Torah says, in speaking of the coming of the Messiah, "In its time I will bring it quickly" (Isaiah 60:21). The Talmud explains that there are two ways the Messiah can come. Hashem (God) has established a final time, a deadline. If we repent, the Messiah will come quickly, before the deadline. If we do not repent, the Messiah will nevertheless come at the deadline (Sanhedrin 98a) In each generation there is one (or more) righteous person who is worthy of being the Messiah, if the generation repents and the time is right for the Messiah to come. In every generation, since we have not all fully repented, the potential Messiah of each generation has lived his life, and passed away, as do all people, whether righteous or not, completely unaware that he would have been the Messiah. Some people think that the greatest person, the most righteous person of each generation is the potential Messiah of that generation. (Kressel s Korner website) 5
JEWISH WRITER RIGHT ABOUT SO MUCH Messiah will be a King Messiah will be a descendent of King David Messiah will re-enact David s royal throne Messiah will bring about peace and prosperity Messiah will lead to a time where there is no war, no racism, no poverty, no jealousy, and no boredom. Messiah will lead to a renewed earth, which will be heaven. Messiah will be UTTERLY RIGHTEOUS WAS DAVID MESSIAH? Absolutely not. And if he is the model (type), then we have much to fear. 6
1 John 1:8-10 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Becoming a Christian means that we become keenly aware of our own sin and weakness, and dependent upon God for forgiveness and strength. 7
II. WHAT DOES THE INCLUSION OF THE ONE WHOSE NAME WE DARE NOT MENTION MEAN FOR THE CHRIST STORY? Matthew does not mention her name, because his main point is to get us to consider David not her. David is not only a type of Christ, he is also an antitype Only God come in human flesh can be the messiah because all men will fail to produce the righteousness that is required. 8