{UAH} Advent Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron - Day 22

Advent Day 22

The New David

Along with Moses and Abraham, David was the most important figure of the Old Testament. His kingship represented the fulfillment of so many of the expectations of Israel, and his reign became synonymous with peace and empire. Moreover, David had received an extraordinary promise, which is recorded in the second book of Samuel. Through the prophet Nathan, God informed David that his line would last forever, that a son of his body would rule forever. During the long years that followed the time of David, Israel remained haunted by this great king and by this even greater promise. Soon after David's reign, his united empire fell apart, and the kings of both north and south proved to be pretty pathetic characters. Still the people, prompted by their prophets, hoped that the definitive king would emerge from David's line. This is precisely the hope articulated by one of the minor prophets, Micah, a seer who lived and wrote in the eighth century BC, some 250 years after David. Channelling the words of the Lord, Micah says, "You Bethlehem-Ephratha, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to ruler in Israel; whose origin is from old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:1). Why Bethlehem? Because that was the city of Jesse, the city of David. It was, across Israelite history, a tiny place, an insignificant "suburb" of Jerusalem, but it was David's city, and the promise was that a descendant of David would be the great ruler. Under David, for a brief and shining moment, Israel was united, but soon after David's death, the nation fell apart. The dream then was that the new David would bring the tribes back together.  But then there was an even greater dream. Listen again to Micah: "For now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace." A united Israel would become a magnet to draw the rest of the world. When the whole world would come under this Davidic king, all would be well. All of this is meant to signal to us just who this Jesus is and what his mission would be. Watch how, throughout his public life, how he gathers the tribes of Israel, going out to the woman at the well, to the man born blind, to Zacchaeus, and to the Gerasene demoniac. Notice how he engages in open table fellowship. Notice how he heals and forgives. He is not simply being a nice, inclusive fellow; he is doing what the Davidic Messiah was expected to do. He is gathering the nations in the new kingdom of God.

Paul Mugerwa