Jerusalem: Where Kings Were Buried

442 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 5:9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.” David conquers Jerusalem and makes the city his own, and throughout the Old Testament the city of Jerusalem is referred to as “The City of David.” it would become the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and the great temple would be built there as well. Still another striking feature of the term “City of David” is that it is most often mentioned as the burial place of kings. Thirteen times in the Books of 1st and 2nd Kings, we read of kings that died and were buried in “The City of David.” Jerusalem, the City of David, the burial place of kings, and the place where prophets are put to death. Jesus, speaking of this city said in Mt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” And so the last great Prophet put to death in Jerusalem is Jesus. This Jesus, the “Son of David” and in the kingly succession of David, is crucified and is the final king to be buried in Jerusalem, but we all know that the grave could not hold this Son of David. Should archaeologists uncover all the graves of Jerusalem, all the bodies of these kings from David and Solomon to Joash, and all the prophets who were buried there would be found, but one body, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ is not there. He is risen! He is risen indeed! This is our blessed hope! As the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul in 1Co 15:16-19 says, “ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” He is risen, and whenever you hear the term “City of David” think of the one king who was buried there but is now risen and seated at the right hand of the Father. Then rejoice because those who have died with faith in Christ will one day also rise from the grave and be with Him in Paradise forever! Father, thank You for our blessed hope! Thank you for the gift of faith!