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Let us look now at some of the clearest forecasts of Christ's Kingship as forseen from the Old Testament viewpoints. There can be no doubt that Jacob foresaw the Son of God as he lay on his deathbed and spoke with prophetic certainty of works of grace and judgement for centuries yet to come. (See Gen. 48 and 49). The sceptre which he saw in Judah's hand (ch. 48:10) was to stay in his control until it passed to Shiloh's sovereign sway. To Him the wandering tribes would come and grace and judgement at His hands receive. The sins and sorrows which he saw in all his race could not and would not mar the slightest detail of His plan. The vessels made for wrath would sin and fall in their own way, while those whom He had chosen for His grace would be constrained to come in humble trust to will and do as He saw fit.

Likewise, that mysterious rejector, Balaam, saw the coming Christ, the Hope of God's elect and Executor of the judgements that would seal the prophet's doom. (See Numbers 23 and 24). The Star out of Judah was seen as the Giver of grace to the people whose blessings and favours he wished he could have. The Same was the Author of justice, in pouring of vengeance on Balaam, in holding him back from^ the prizes he craved and in shutting him out from His presence and favours forever. He was not just a King of the Jews. He was Ruler of all, in whose light Balaam trembled in fear which Balak could not understand or outweigh.

The prophet which Moses foresaw as coming from among his brethern was to speak as having authority equal to that of Jehovah. (Deut. 18:15-22). The King against whom the people and their rulers set themselves, in David's vision, was to have the heathen for His inheritance, He is to dash the rebellious of the whole world to dust, but to receive the submissive with the kiss of love and favour (Ps. 2:6-12). The representative Man of Psalm 8 was already crowned with glory and honour, He held sway even then over all the earth, even though He was awaiting the time when He, for a little season, would stoop to a position lower than the angels, to accomplish a work which God alone had the right to perform. The King of Psalm 24 is the Sovereign with clean hands, Whose soul was never marred by sin, the King to Whom the everlasting gates would swing in glad acknowledgement to welcome Him to highest honour as the strong and mighty Lord, "the Lord of hosts", "the King of glory". While this psalm does not mention either the death or resurrection of Christ, it seems to us that students throughout the ages have not been far astray in seeing in this a preview of the acclaim which the nail-pierced King received when He returned to the throne after His conquest of sin, Satan and judgement. Other scriptures make it plain that He ascended as King, that His right to the Throne as God was strengthened and doubled by His redemptive work on the cross. (See John 12:31-33, Matt. 28:18-20, Rev. 5:5-14 and 12:7-12).

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