The Promise of a Restored Kingdom

Many point to Cyrus' decree and the subsequent return of Judean exiles to rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem as ending Israel's exile. But this physical recovery didn't address the underlying and essential exile, namely the relational alienation between God and His covenant people. That relational exile would end when Yahweh returned to Zion to redeem His captive children, cleanse them from their guilt and defilement, renew the covenant, and gather them to Himself as true sons and daughters. In that great day, the Lord's oath to Abraham would at last be realized: "I will be your God and you will be My people." This message examines the prophets' depiction of this promised deliverance and renewal, and how it finds its focal point in the messianic servant and branch of David.