Who is the Davidic Servant & Why It Matters?
The Hidden Heir to the Throne
All of us have heard the archetypical stories of "the hidden heir," a rightful heir to the throne of his kingdom who returns at a time when he is needed most. Have you wondered why that story resonates so much with all of us? As if it is something familiar in our subconscious that resonates with truth.
The idea of a "Davidic Servant," or end-time servant, may be new for many, but actually, this topic was discussed among early latter-day saints, especially Joseph Smith, and more importantly, it is in the scriptures (Ezekiel 37:22-27). Yes, the early saints were familiar with this concept of an end time, "David" who would be an heir to the throne of Israel.
The question is, if Joseph knew about it, when does this idea begin to fade out? And, more importantly, why?
Old knowledge can be forgotten for many reasons, such as cultural changes, pragmatic trends, or simply because of theological controversies. Then truths, because they are kept silent, they become forgotten, and when they are forgotten, can be considered myths or speculated ideas from the past.
This historical amnesia produces cognitive dissonance for future generations because it does not fit in their current paradigm of thinking, especially when the paradigm has been built in information based on those who are ignoring it.
Well, the Lord revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith that there is a descendant of Jesse who "rightly" belongs essential rights to vital elements of God's work in the endtime:
D&C 113:5-6
What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter
Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.
This verse in D&C 113, a quesiton about Isaiah 11:10 answers the question about who is "the root of Jesse", and from the answer, we learned that this "root" is an actual person and not any person, but someone who is a descendant of Jesse, king David's father who is from the house of Judah and also from the Joseph, both being the leading tribes of Israel.
To Judah belongs the right to kingship (Genesis 49:10), specifically the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), and to Joseph the birthright (1 Chronicles 5:1-2), and because the right of the firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9), it belongs the priesthood (D&C 86:10, Abraham 1:2-3).
Then, this individual has by lineage a right of kingship and priesthood, which is expressed in what D&C 113:6 mentions to whom rightly belongs:
- The priesthood
- The keys of the kingdom
The question is, with what purpose? The answer in D&C 113:6 is two key elements for God's work in the latter days:
- For an ensign
- and for the gathering of his people in the latter days.
The gathering and restoration of the house of Israel has been God's promise to Israel, knowing that Israel will be scattered (Isaiah 11:12, Jeremiah 29:14, Ezekiel 37:21-22, Amos 9:14-15). We know this gathering will end up in a literal restoration of the house of Israel to their lands of inheritance (Ether 13:3-11), the territory of Israel that the Lord, through Joshua, divided for inheritance to the tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-21).
To be gathered or come together, you need to know where you are going, then "the ensign" plays the marker to where the people will gather. The Hebrew word for ensign from the King James Version of Isaiah 11:10 is נֵס (nes), which translates as "standard, ensign, banner, or sign". It was typically a pole with a sign or standard that could be seen from a distance, providing a visible point around which people could assemble.
In other words, "the roof of Jesse", which we learned is a person, will serve as an ending or standard for the people to be gathered in the Latter-days.
Now, many people will say this individual may be Joseph Smith, but Joseph Smith, as Brigham Young mentioned, "was a pure Ephramite", instead of Jesse and Joseph. Others have mentioned that Lucy Mack's father, Solomon Mack, was from Judah, but even if that is the case, we will prove later that this individual needs to follow a patriarchal line (Numbers 1), not matriarchal in the case of Lucy Mack, Joseph's mother.
Scholars have referred to the root of Jesse as Jesus Christ (Romans 15:12). The problem, according to D&C 113:5-6 is that he is a descendant of Jesse and Joseph. Christ has only one lineage through Mary, and it is inferred from Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) that he was from Judah, and because his father was technically God, he was a pure Jew. This contrasts the person who is a descendant of Jesse and Joseph.