Pastor James Hopkins preached this sermon on the fifth Wednesday in Lent 3/24/2021. The service was broadcast live on Facebook at 7pm, and is now available on the FLC youtube channel. To follow along from home, the bulletin is available as a PDF: Lent5 Vespers Bulletin
The texts for the sermon were David’s last words, about God’s everlasting covenant, in 2 Samuel chapter 23, and the evangelist Luke’s account of the Annunciation to Mary, in Luke chapter 1.
To call them the last words of David is a bit of a misnomer. They weren’t literally the last things that King David said; but they were essentially his last will and testament. They were his confession of faith in the LORD, who had been so faithful to him.
By the Holy Spirit, the sweet psalmist of Israel utters the substance of all his hopes. They do not come from the depths of his heart, or from the machinations of his reason, but from outside him.
The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has revealed this to him. And so, David’s faith is not in his faith. David’s faith is in Christ, the Rock of Israel, who has spoken to him: David’s Son and David’s Lord.
And this, against all reason. His child by Bathsheba is dead. Absalom is dead. Solomon will pass away like the lilies of the field. No factor.
God has made with him an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the Son of David lives. He lives in David’s progeny. For God has deigned to work in human history through broken vessels: Kings, carpenters, and virgins alike.
On the Feast of the Annunciation, nine pregnant months from Christmas Day, we praise God that He has chosen to live among us in this way: not as an idea, or a hope, or a vision; not as a philosophy or as a memory. We praise God that He has chosen to live among as a Man – as a Son and a Brother.
The Son of David lives. The Holy Spirit has replanted the Garden of Eden – the Word entered into Mary’s ear. Then turned south and stirred her heart. The impossibly uncreated Seed grew in her womb.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.
The Son of David lives now. The virgin tomb was made to be like the virgin’s womb: bringing forth the Lord of Life, the King of Glory, the Rock of Israel: risen, victorious, alive.
Here is the answer for David’s sin. Here is the answer for David’s death. Here is the Hope for kings and carpenters, virgins and vagabonds, for rebellious and murderous sons, for you and for me.
So, you could sum up the Feast of the Annunciation this way: the Son of David lives. It doesn’t mean that the whole mess of Genesis 3 and the fall into sin never happened. But it comes pretty close to that.
First Lutheran Church Sermon Archive
