That’s the amazing truth – that Jesus is not only the Son of God, but the Son of David. This time of year, we celebrate the amazing truth that Jesus took on not just any old human flesh, but was born into the royal line of Israel, keeping the promises that God made to David some 1000 years earlier: “Your throne shall be established forever.”

But why would God keep this promise to David? After all, God had rejected the previous king, Saul, because of his infidelity (v. 15, see II Samuel 15:26-29). And David himself was no stranger to moral failure – his own sin with Bathsheba set off a cascade of rape and murder and treason, culminating in him weeping over the death of his son Absalom (see II Samuel 13-18). Moreover, his son Solomon, who did end up building a Temple for God (v. 13), also ended up building temples for his foreign wives to worship their false gods (see II Samuel 11:7-8). No, David’s family had no corner on the market of righteousness.

So, why didn’t God cast David’s family aside? Because of the One born into David’s line, Jesus. He would take on Himself the rod and the stripes (v. 14), the beating and the flogging and the cross that all of us traitors to our Heavenly King deserve. And because He absorbed the punishment that all our sins have earned, God the Father has established His throne forever (v. 16).

No, on this Christmas Eve, we cannot contemplate the manger without the cross and the resurrection. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, who wrote “Onward, Christian Soldiers” wrote another hymn that helps us put all this together, “The Infant King:”

1. Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now reclining,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Angels are watching, stars are shining
Over the place where he is lying.
Sing lullaby!

2. Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now a-sleeping,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon will come sorrow with the morning,
Soon will come bitter grief and weeping:
Sing lullaby!

3. Sing lullaby!
Lullaby baby, now a-dozing,
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not wake the Infant King.
Soon comes the cross, the nails, the piercing,
Then in the grave at last reposing:
Sing lullaby!

4. Sing lullaby!
Lullaby! is the babe a-waking?
Sing lullaby!
Hush, do not stir the Infant King.
Dreaming of Easter, gladsome morning,
Conquering Death, its bondage breaking:
Sing lullaby!

II Samuel 7:11-17 (ESV)

And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'”
17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.