The “scepter” is a symbol for a monarchy and refers, of course, to the ruling tribe of this great nation that was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Judah’s descendants will be the line of royalty in Judah. The “ruler’s staff” is a symbol of authority. This promise will be fulfilled in a limited sense by David, a descendent of Judah, around 1000 BC. But, this promise is reaffirmed to David in 2 Samuel 7:8-16 and Psalm 89:33-37 of a time that was yet future. It speaks of a day when a man from the line of Judah comes through the genealogy of David to rule and reign over the nations. This man is the one this prophecy is waiting for when it says,
“until he to whom it belongs shall come”
(a difficult portion of Hebrew Scripture to translate).
When this man does arrive in the history of the world the obedience of the nations will be his. In other words, the nations will follow and obey him. He is the one leading the nation of Abraham (and, all the nations) into the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant.
This promise was suspended, but not revoked, around 590 by both Jeremiah and Ezekiel when the royal line of David completely rebelled. After the great king Josiah died in 609 BC, the four kings that followed were sinful and worthless. The crown was removed from the line of David (or, Judah) around 590 by Jeremiah and Ezekiel. This ended the line of the kings of Judah from that time (586 BC) until now. Jeremiah spoke for the Lord in 598 when Jehoachin, Josiah’s grandson, and the son of Jehoiakim, was rebuked:
“As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians. I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. You will never come back to the land you long to return to.
O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!
This is what the Lord says:
‘Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring will prosper,
none will sit on the throne of David
or rule anymore in Judah.’ ” – Jeremiah 22:24-30
The suspension of the royal tribe of Judah will continue until this verse is fulfilled:
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low. A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to him I will give it.’ ” – Ezekiel 21:26-27
So, we wait until the crown is restored to the line of Judah. At that time the great King will lead the nations in obedience, and thus, into the blessing of Abraham. And, at that time all the nations will serve this great descendent of Judah and “son of David.” Some refer to him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. |
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