Genesis 49 tells how Israel, formerly Jacob, son and heir of Isaac who in turn inherited the promises made by God to his father Abraham, gathered his sons about him. He passed on the main birthright to Joseph, but there was a special bequest and prophecy for Judah:
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)
‘Shiloh’ is rightly regarded as a reference to the Messiah. It is variously said to mean “sent” and “peace”. I’ve looked at various sources including dictionary.com and reference.com. I don’t know of any other serious interpretation. When the Messiah comes, he is to receive the sceptre of Judah. Where is that sceptre now? The Messiah will also be King of Israel: “unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
In time the inheritance of Judah passed to David, the first King of Israel chosen by God. His predecessor, Saul, was the people’s choice. God directed Nathan to speak to David. The message included promises of a new home for His people (they then lived in the land promised through Moses) and of an everlasting kingdom:
Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, …
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. (2 Samuel 7: 10, 12-16)
The scriptures record that David’s son Solomon did indeed build the temple in Jerusalem. Where is the appointed place? Where is God’s “people Israel” planted? Who now holds the sceptre? How does Israel feature in God’s plan? Which throne does the Messiah inherit? These are among the questions I intend to consider in this blog.
