As we race toward the end of Act Two and the climax of the end of the story, God first gives us insight into his heavenly kingdom by setting down a structure and rules here on earth that mirror those of his kingdom in heaven.
We join the Jews, who are now in the Promised Land and they will ask for a king. The first is Saul and, eventually, David becomes their King.
It is through this process that God establishes the Davidic Kingdom. It is from this lineage that Jesus will be born. And it is from this kingdom that Jesus will reign.
And here God’s covenant expands further, from between God and many Clans (Moses) to between God and a nation (David).
The Davidic Kingdom
Let’s look at the Davidic Kingdom and then let’s ask ourselves the original question; God could have done anything, why did he setup the Davidic Kingdom this way?
For example, unlike modern monarchies where the King and Queen are husband and wife, in the Davidic Kingdom the Queen was the King’s mother. At that time a king may have many wives, but he only had one mother. So it was the mother of the King that filled the necessary role as Queen. And her purpose was to intercede on behalf of the people of the kingdom.
Now why would God do that?
A lot of non-Catholics have issues with how we honor Mary as Queen. This is not something that was arbitrarily decided. It’s how God designed the Davidic kingdom. We are simply following its example.
God knew that Mary was to be Jesus’ mother and, as the mother of the King of Kings, would therefore be the Queen. Her role, as defined by God’s Davidic design, is to intercede on our behalf. That is why we pray and ask for her assistance, like the prophet Nathan asked the Queen to intercede for him.
The Prime Minister
And others have issue with the Catholic Church’s use of a Pope as the leader of the church. Well, again, this is due to the way God designed the Davidic kingdom.
In that kingdom, there was a person who was the equivalent to the role of prime minister. This person was literally given the keys to the kingdom, which managed the gates used to allow people entry into the King’s city.
He was also given authoritative power. Only the King and Queen’s word was of greater authority. Whatever the PM says, goes. Whatever he loosed is loosed and whatever he binds is bound in the kingdom.
And when the PM dies, a new one would take his place to provide the authority required to manage the kingdom.
Now why would God do that? Why give such authority to a prime minister?
Because God knew the end of the story. God knew that his church would exist long after his ascension. He knew that it would need to be led by someone whose authority is greater than everyone else’s in the kingdom, except the King and Queen.
He set up that role in the Davidic Kingdom so that Peter and all future followers of Christ would understand Peter’s role as head of the church. That is why Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom. That is why Jesus told him that what he held loose here would be loosed in God’s kingdom in Heaven and that whatever he held bound here would be bound in God’s kingdom in Heaven.
Like the Davidic PM, that authority transitions from one PM to the next and retains its primacy. Even while St. John was alive, the authority for issues in Corinth was determined by Clement, the fourth Pope. John understood the role and authority of the PM of Christ. And that’s why the Catholic Church considers the Bishop of Rome as a direct successor of Peter.
The story now continues, through Judges and into Solomon’s reign when the great Temple in Jerusalem is built. Eventually the kingdom will be divided. As the Jewish people once again begin to stray from the righteous path, God sends many prophets, like Jonah and Amos, warning them of their future captivity and eventual victory.
God continues to litter history with other prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel, all with warnings, as well as prophecies of the future savior.
God is layering the context of future events. He’s preparing us to understand what is to come, which is His entry into this world through the womb of Mary, the woman who is full of grace and will humbly obey and sacrifice whatever is required to do the Lord’s will.
And therein lays Plot Point 2, the transition into Act Three.