“The Splendor of The King”

Isaiah 55:3-5


By Pastor Dan Kennedy

© September 4, 2016

www.pastorkennedy.com



Everybody seems to have heroes.  Who do you have as your heroes?

  1. Sport figures

  2. Popular Musicians

  3. Dedicated Parents

  4. Business Tycoons

  5. Builders and Architects

  6. Experts in Craft and Trade

  7. Talented Artists

  8. Great leaders

  9. People of God

We have taken two previous weeks to discuss two verses on either side of Isaiah 55:3-5.  Today we are here to discuss a little known passage referring to a covenant very seldom discussed, and how that covenant is important to us in our greater understanding about Jesus Christ and our eternal future.


Today we are discussing a hero in God’s books.  Someone to whom God promised an enormous blessing – a person far from perfect, but with a heart that dearly loved God, who repented from his sins…and suffered severely because of them, but through it all, drew near to God.  A person to whom God’s Covenant Promise will never be broken.


Let’s look at Isaiah 55:3-5, a passage that will direct our attention to look closely at a Covenant, we Gentiles probably didn’t even know was there.


“The Splendor of The King”


The Living Hope for our Soul


Isaiah 55:3 Give ear and come to me;

hear me, that your soul may live.


The Everlasting Covenant – How Important is a Promise from God to You?


I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.


The Witness to the Jewish Peoples


4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander of the peoples.


The Endowment of Splendor: A Witness to the whole World


5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor.”

The Splendor of the King

Every person on earth seems to have an unspoken longing (evidenced by the way the world lauds and passionately worships its sports teams, and movie stars, etc.) …way down deep, whether we recognize it, and will even admit it or not – we actually long for, and we want to rejoice in a Ruler over us, who will safely lead us, who has genuine qualities that are honorable, righteous, just, kind, honest, humble, brilliant, powerful, wise, and awesome.  

We long for a King who will vicariously engulf us in His Splendor.

Is There Anyone who has ever had all of the legitimate positive qualities of Leadership in the History of the World?


If you could process millions and millions of pieces of data from all social media, all news media, all known books, all the information in the libraries and on the internet from every historical and modern source available, then take this information and quantify it into underlying variables, including data on how often the individual appears in books published each year, so that one could watch the rise and fall of a person’s popularity, then analyze information from tens of thousands of groupings, so you can see where each person ranks in each crowd, you could begin to understand how significant an individual might be to the world.


Who do you think the person from the beginning of recorded time until now would be rated, by those in the world, as history’s most significant human being – by a wide margin?


A few years ago I shared with you about a book written by Steven Skiena and Charles Ward titled, Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank?  It is about measuring the significance of historical personalities. “The authors evaluated each person by aggregating the traces of millions of opinions in a rigorous and principled manner. They rank historical figures just as Google ranks Web pages, by integrating a diverse set of measurements about their reputation into a single consensus value.” [1]


Jesus Christ is Historically Measured to be the Most Significant Person Ever


Through their exhaustive analysis they determine that Jesus Christ is "the most significant person ever." They measured meme strength, how successfully is the idea of this person being propagated through time. “With over two billion followers a full 2,000 years after his death (the authors failed to mention Jesus’ resurrection), Jesus is an incredibly successful historical meme.”[2]


If there were one person who should and could rule the universe, who should it be?

·      Jesus knows power – He is the Son of the Living God.

·      Jesus knows mankind – He created all things and lived commonly among humanity.

·      Jesus knows temptation – He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).

·      Jesus knows humility, rejection and suffering – Even though He is God, He made Himself nothing in order to become a man.  He further humbled Himself to be obedient to sacrificial death on the cross (Phil. 2:6–11).

·      Jesus came to save sinners – Jesus chose to identify with sinners and mercifully cleanse, bless and reward those whose hearts would seek His Sacrificial atonement for Salvation, and those who would love Him.

Jesus chooses to bring His Redeemed sinners to be with Him, to live, serve, and be One with Him, in His eternal Kingdom forever!

·      Jesus knows ultimate glory – Jesus rose from the dead after conquering sin and death, and God has exalted Him to the highest place, with the highest praise, to the Glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6–11

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

            to the glory of God the Father.


One day, Jesus Christ will be the ultimate Ruler and King of kings, over all!

·      Upon His Second Coming in Majesty Power and Glory, at the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will first have worldwide political authority and will distinctively rule with a “rod of iron” (Ps. 2:9; Gen. 49:10; Rev. 12:5; 19:15) during the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20).  When that period of human history has run its course and Satan’s final rebellion is quashed, and the final judgment for everyone has been fully measured out at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)…

·      Then Jesus Christ will, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, be the ultimate Authority in the New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem and the Universe (Rev. 21-22).  He will be the Eternal “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 17:14; 19:16; 1 Tim. 6:13-16; Ps. 145:13; Dan. 2:44; 7:27; Luke 1:33).

An Important Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant

God wanted the human race to know about His Messiah’s coming eternal Kingdom – that humans were not left on earth in oblivion, with no purpose or meaning.  So, the fulfillment of the everlasting covenant to King David was very important to the Jewish people throughout history – as it is now to us, because God’s Covenant to David regarding His eternal Kingdom, was prophetically carried along generation after generation for thousands of years, giving God’s people hope and security.


It could be, the Davidic Kingdom was a symbolic earthly kingdom evidencing to the nations of the world the coming Heavenly Kingdom, just as the earthly Tabernacle, given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai, was an earthly replica representing the authentic heavenly Tabernacle. (Heb. 8:3-5; 9:23)


This Covenantal Promise would also reveal the true identity of the Messiah, when He finally came, to all who would have eyes to see.


Israel’s Messianic understanding of God’s critical Eternal Covenant with King David can be understood more fully by reading the discussion that Paul had with Jewish scholars at Antioch, in their Synagogue on the Sabbath, before Paul began his full-time missionary endeavors almost exclusively to the Gentiles.


Acts 13:17–39

17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.


20 All this took about 450 years.

“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.


24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’


John the Baptist declared that he was not the Messiah, but that the true Messiah was coming after him.  The Jewish nation, at that time, was well aware of John the Baptist – that is why Paul included this mention of him.


26 Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.


28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.

32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

“ ‘You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.’

34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:

“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

35 So it is stated elsewhere:

“ ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’

36 For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

38 Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.


What’s the Point?

The critical point that Paul was making to his religious Jewish brothers in the Antioch Synagogue was that he was confirming the fulfillment of the covenantal promise to King David, which was reiterated by Isaiah regarding the eternal Davidic Kingdom (2 Sam. 7:8-13, 16, 18-29; Ps. 89:33-35; Is. 55:3; 2 Chron. 7:17-18; 21:7 etc.).

2 Samuel 7:8, 16

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel…

16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

Psalm 89:33–35

33   but I will not take my love from him,

nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

34   I will not violate my covenant

or alter what my lips have uttered.

35   Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—

and I will not lie to David


Isaiah 9:6–7

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.


“The Messiah has truly come in Jesus Christ, and is fulfilling the God-promised Eternal Kingly Covenant with David.”

“Jesus is the suffering Redeemer Savior revealed in Isaiah 53, and because Jesus Rose conquering sin and death, He Lives!  He is the Eternal Davidic, King of kings and Lord of lords!”

Why did Jesus choose to be the final King in the generational line of King David?

The ancestral line of King David could be meticulously traced for a 1,000 years, by the time Jesus was born.

Mary and Joseph, both were in direct linage of King David, seen in Matthew 1 (Joseph), and Luke 3 (Mary).  Joseph was not the earthly father of Jesus, since Jesus was born by the virgin Mary (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23), but the Holy Spirit obvious felt it was important to let everyone know that both were David’s direct descendants.

Jesus’ Davidic linage proved His Messiahship, together with the numerous other prophetic requirements (how and where He would be born, live, be sacrificed and rise again, etc.) throughout the millennia of time, and breadth of Scripture, authenticating that Jesus is the true Messiah, in the linage of King David.

Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Covenant promised by God, to King David.

Jeremiah 33:19–22

19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’ ”

  What is God is saying?  If you can stop the sun from shining and the evening from coming…then you can break the Covenant I have made regarding the coming eternal Kingdom promised to King David’s heir!

Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the prophecies, and He rose from the dead!

God is totally amazing!  He gave us His Messiah to cleanse, save and deliver us from sin, and He also has empowered us through His Holy Spirit, to live to please Him in a corrupt world and share the Gospel of Christ with others!

Jesus Christ came to earth for one primary reason:

To give those in the sinful human race the opportunity to have forgiveness of sin and the hope and reality of eternal life in the Kingdom and Presence of a Holy God.

(Luke 5:31–32; John 3:17; Luke 19:10; Isaiah 53:5–6; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29;1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:5; Romans 3:23-26; Romans 5:8; Colossians 1:13–14; Psalm 32)


King David repented and received forgiveness from his sin, but not without consequence.

King David’s despicable sins revealed his corrupt human nature in scorning God’s Word, and has caused God to receive great blaspheme from His enemies, to this day.

2 Samuel 12:14 NKJV (see vs. 7-15)

14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”

(There were multiple other catastrophic outcomes that David had to bear…including losing his kingdom for a time to a rebellious son, because of his shameful sin in the matter of Uriah the Hittite – 1 Kings 15:5.)


The outcomes also reveal the genuine grief and repentance of David over his sin (Ps. 51; 103, etc.).

This gives each of us hope no matter how far we have fallen into the mire, pit and disgrace of sin.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23–24


Paul’s Remorse over Sin

The Apostle Paul expressed the ultimate purpose for Jesus’ cruel cross when declaring his own sinfulness…clearly a declaration for us all.

1 Timothy 1:15

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.



“The Splendor of The King”


The Living Hope for our Soul

Isaiah 55:3 Give ear and come to me;

hear me, that your soul may live.


The Everlasting Covenant – How Important is a Promise from God to You?

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.


The Witness to the Jewish Peoples

4  See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander of the peoples.


The Endowment of Splendor: A Witness to the whole World


Isaiah, after clarifying God’s Covenant with King David, closes this section with the following promise of abundant Spiritual fruit:


    Is. 55:5 “Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,

because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor.”


This has been more than fulfilled even from meticulous observation in the 21st Century, by Steven Skiena and Charles Ward, in their book, Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank?

With over two billion followers a full 2,000 years after his death, Jesus is an incredibly successful historical meme.”

Jesus Christ is The Most Significant Person Ever.

Is. 55:5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Jesus’ significance is not because He is well known, but because billions of human beings from the beginning of creation have received the free gift of eternal life because of Christ’s suffering, sacrifice, Salvation and Resurrection – ancients of faith looking forward to the Cross and the Suffering Messiah (Is. 53) through sacrifices to God; or, as we, looking back and accepting Christ’s Sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin!

We worship God today under the splendor that the Children of The King have received, because of the profound and Magnificent Splendor of The King, Himself!

We receive Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin; we should also, in light of His Eternal Coming Kingdom, make Him true Lord and King of our lives right now!

Jesus Christ is our Eternal King of kings!



Oh, Worship the King

By Robert Grant


Oh, worship the King, all glorious above.

Oh, gratefully sing His power and His love;

Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.


Oh, tell of His might; oh, sing of His grace,

Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;

His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.


Your bountiful care what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,

It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain

And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.


Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

In You do we trust, nor find You to fail;

Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,

Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!





[1] http://www.whoisbigger.com

[2] ibid.