Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death. Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon his son, “As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God. But Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ ”
(1 Chronicles 22:5-10)

“On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders. They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?” He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” They answered that they didn’t know where it was from. Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.””
(Luke 20:1-8)

Solomon’s name in Hebrew is ‘Shlomo’ which is a cognate for the word ‘shalom’ (meaning peace). David was not anointed to build the Temple. He was a man of war. He had shed blood. It did not matter that the wars he fought helped to free Israel. It did not matter that they were directed by the Lord. Blood was on his hands, and bloodied hands were not meant to build a house of peace to the Lord. That was given to David’s son. But David was allowed to prepare. David collected so much material, there was not much for Solomon to do. David prepared for everything in the best way that he could. In many ways, although his were not the hands to do the work or direct it, it was David’s Temple because he had prepared for it so thoroughly.

When the priests and scribes were asking about Jesus’ authority, they were asking about the ordination ceremony for a rabbi. They wanted to know whose hands were laid on Him at that time – this being the symbolic act that conferred or transferred the office to the person. A rabbinic ordination allowed the recipient the right to judge and to decide on points of traditional law. This was a big deal, and they wanted to know where and from whom Jesus got His anointing. The anointing Jesus had was – among other things – one of peace. Of bringing peace to humanity by opening the Way to the Father. Jesus was building a Name by which the people could come to God. Jesus was the house for that Name (Philippians 2:8-11). Jesus’ anointing was directly from God and the temple Jesus was building was the Body of Messiah (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16).

Summary

Jesus was the Son of David (Matthew 1:1, 21:9; Luke 18:38; Romans 1:3; Revelation 22:16). The prophetic fulfillment of the promise to King David. He was, and is, the Prince of Peace. He made the Way for us to return to God. To repent and get right with God. To align ourselves with God’s will and His moral character. We are able to live in Jesus and Jesus to live in us. We bow to His authority, and as His body have the right to exercise it according to His will – which is revealed in His Word. This comes into manifestation as we love Him and accept His love for us. It is through that love that we are transformed. That we are able to walk the way we were called to walk. To work as He has called and equipped us to work. It is in Jesus that we become what He designed us to become. We carry that anointing on us and in us – because that is where Jesus is (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:21).