In the book of Isaiah, we read a prophecy concerning Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isa 22:22) Now while we know that this prophecy had its immediate fulfillment in this man Eliakim, whose name literally means “my GOD will raise up”, we also understand that all prophecy has its ultimate fulfillment in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev 19:10) So we see that Eliakim is but a type and foreshadow of HIM to whom the Keys of the Kingdom are forever given, even JESUS CHRIST, the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD, KING of kings and LORD of lords.
Eliakim was the son of Hilkiah, whose name literally means “portion of JAH, i.e.; JEHOVAH”. It is no mere coincidence that this key of the house of David was given to him. For we read of CHRIST “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isa 9:6-7) We see this same prophetic promise reiterated in the book of the Revelation, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” (Rev 3:7)
HE alone could prevail to open the book with seven seals and thus display the eternal purpose of GOD in the earth “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” (Rev 5:5) That which HE opened none could shut until all was fulfilled.
HE is that ONE who in the beginning of the Book of the Revelation says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8) And HE is that ONE who at the end of the same book says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Rev 22:13) HE is that ONE of whom we read in the book of Hebrews, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (i.e.; the BEGINNING and the END) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)
What a wonder and glory, then, when we see this same ONE who has opened the Book with seven seals, come into the synagogue in the land of HIS nativity, where HE grew in stature and in favor with GOD and man, and open the book of Isaiah to declare the purpose of GOD in the ministry which HE was sent to perform. We are speechless when we consider HIM, who dictated every word which Isaiah penned, actually waiting upon the minister of the synagogue to place the scroll in HIS hand so that HE might read a prophecy concerning HIMSELF to those who are citizens of the same town in which HE grew up as a “TENDER PLANT” and a “ROOT out of dry ground”(see Isa.53:2) and a “BRANCH out of HIS place” (see Zec 6:12), all the while a stranger in their midst and they completely ignorant of who HE was and what HE came to do.
With an authority which bespeaks the fact that HE is no mere man, HE declared the glory of GOD in the salvation of sinners and when HE had “finished” reading, HE “closed” the book and “sat down”. Our mind cannot help but be reminded that HE is that ONE who cried “It is finished” when HE hung upon Calvary’s cross. That HE is that ONE of whom we read in Hebrews, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb 1:1-3)
HE has both opened the book of GOD and closed it. In HIM are hid all “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col.2:3) “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:17-18) Some are yet waiting for the LORD to establish HIS Kingdom in the earth, yet here in this Synagogue in the town of Nazareth, HE declared that HIS Kingdom was come, and when HE closed the book HE signified that nothing could be added to it nor anything taken away saying “This day is this scripture fulfilled.”
The Kingdom of GOD is not one which can be inherited by flesh and blood. It is not one whose boundaries can be established by carnal surveyors even when they speak with the tongues of angels. This kingdom is made to be inhabited only by those whose garments are made white in the blood of the LAMB. They are those who are without any righteousness of their own, devoid of carnal religious endeavor, and clinging to one HOPE which is set forth in that declaration of mercy displayed in the message which this PROPHET in Nazareth boldly proclaimed when HE opened that Book which no man could shut and closed it, that no man could open it.
HE is the SAVIOR of sinners who came to preach to the poor. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:3)
HE is the PHYSICIAN for sinners who came to heal the brokenhearted. “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” (Hos 6:1) HE heals those whose hearts HE has brought low.
HE is the DELIVERER of the captives who have sold themselves for nought. (see Isa.52:3) “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psa 68:18-19)
HE is the HEALER of those who are blind. “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” (Isa 42:6-7)
HE is the LOOSER of bonds for those who are afflicted by the bruising demands of religion and law. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa 58:6)
HE is the DECLARER of all TRUTH in the acceptable year. “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6:2)
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