JESUS CHRIST holds the KEYS of the HOUSE OF DAVID!
July 23
Bible Reading: Isaiah Chapters 22-24
JESUS CHRIST holds the KEYS of the HOUSE OF DAVID!
"Then it shall be in that day that I
will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your
robe and strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into
his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem And to the house
of Judah. The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall
open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open." (Isaiah
22:20-22)
The above
passage refers to a high official by the name of Eliakim, whom God would honor
in place of the arrogant Shebna (v. 15). Eliakim, the steward of Hezekiah, would
hold the key to the palace in Jerusalem. God regarded Eliakim (36:3, 11, 22;
37:2) as His servant, a special designation for one close to God!
Eliakim had the
key that gave him an audience with the king (Matt. 16:19). The key of the house
of David refers to the responsibility of protecting the Davidic line. As the
steward “over the house” of Hezekiah,
Eliakim would determine who would be allowed to see the king, a position of
great authority and trust. He would also make decisions that only the king
could overthrow. He would be a person upon whom people could rely in Jerusalem.
The process of opening and shutting refers to his absolute authority in civil
affairs. What an honor to be called My
servant by God Almighty! (v. 20)
Eliakim was
a type of the Lord Jesus, who would be a responsible and compassionate ruler
with full authority. The passage here is a quotation of Isaiah 22:22, a
characterization of Eliakim. The significance of the statement is that Jesus,
the Davidic Messiah, is the key providing access to God.
To the Philadelphia
church the Lord Jesus appears as holy, true, having the keys of the house of
David, as one who opens and no one shuts, and one who shuts and no one opens
(Rev. 3:7). In other words, He has
administrative power and uncontestable control. The key of David is an Old
Testament allusion to the absolute sovereignty of God (see 5:5) in opening
doors and shutting mouths, and represents authority as the One who opens and
shuts the door in the Davidic kingdom, a prerogative that is Christ’s as the
rightful “Son of David” (see Matt.
1:1).
Jesus Christ
is also the key to the God’s Holy Word. His administrative authority is
revealed here as well; He opens and shuts doors of ministry (Acts 16:6–10).
Connected with David, He is depicted in His messianic kingly office, and holds
the keys to the house of David. Let us remember to faithfully serve Jesus today
and in the days to come for He will be the absolute authority one day in the
near future!
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it." (Rev. 3:7-8)
