In the days of the prophets, the LORD had promised to raise up the fallen booth of David and restore his kingdom. But in the days of the birth of the Saviour, nothing of that kingdom could be seen. David's kingdom existed incognito in the person of Joseph who is only a poor carpenter, hardly known as a son in David's line. Rome ruled the land and any hope of a sudden restoration of the kingdom of David could only appear as idle talk.

Yet we see something of David in his son Joseph. Joseph loved the LORD, and like several others mentioned in the gospels, was waiting for the fulfilment of His promises to Israel. Indeed, he excels David in the simple but believing way in which he takes a wife. His was betrothed to a young woman from his own tribe who also loved the LORD and made it her aim to serve Him. And he faithfully waits for the day of his marriage. The evangelist describes Joseph as a just man, that is, one who served the LORD and sought His face in everything that he did. As other passages show (Luke 1:6, 2:25), a just man is one who serves and trusts the LORD first of all. His life is marked by true faith and living obedience.

All this is reflected in Joseph's actions upon the discovery that Mary is expecting a child. Some suggest that she could not tell Joseph about the circumstances surrounding this pregnancy because she was obligated to keep everything in her heart. Yet it hardly seems likely that Mary did not say a word about these things to Joseph, and covered up all her activities, including the excitement involved in her three month stay with Elizabeth. It seems more natural to assume that she informed Joseph concerning the angel's announcement to her, and the way in which the expected Child would be conceived and born.

And Joseph? Whether he believed or disbelieved her we cannot say. But why would he have reason not to believe her? She was a faithful and believing girl in Israel! And the text nowhere suggests that he held suspicions about her. But he seeks to act in obedience to the will of the LORD. He wrestles with his duty and calling. What must he do? We can be sure that he loved Mary deeply and losing her would have brought lasting pain to his heart. But he reasoned and considered in true faith, discerning what the will of the LORD was. And he concluded that if Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit he no longer had any claim over her. He had to turn her over to the LORD, just as she had turned herself over to Him with the words.

I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.Luke 1:37

Here by faith, and by obedience to God's demands in the covenant, Joseph comes to the confession of his own unworthiness before God. He admits he has no task here. And in him the house of David speaks! That house was already fallen and in complete ruins, lost and hidden under years of exile and dispersion; now it comes to its final admission of total unworthiness. Just as Adam had to admit his own unworthiness in hailing Eve as the mother of all living, so Joseph admits his own and David's unworthiness by recognizing in Mary not his betrothed, but the “mother of my Lord,” Luke 1:43.

Yet this moment of the admission of total defeat and unworthiness and this point when David's house cancels itself out because of its clear recognition of its own unworthiness is exactly the moment that the LORD sends the angel to Joseph. As faith ponders the solution, the LORD gives the answer. For Joseph it all appeared as an unexplainable and unsolvable paradox. He was of David's line, and the LORD had promised to restore the house of David. But in true faith he could only conclude: here I must turn my betrothed over to the LORD.

But then the angel comes with the solution to the riddle. And what a wonderful solution it is! For God had so chosen the time of Mary's conception that it occurred between the betrothal and the marriage of Joseph and Mary. Now Joseph received the reward for his faith. Having admitted his own unworthiness, he is accepted of God by grace alone! He is called to take Mary as his wife in order that the house of David might be restored! He also may share this glorious salvation gift of God. What's more, he also received his beloved from the Lord again. Only when the LORD sees his obedience in being willing to sacrifice her for the sake of the kingdom, only then does the reward for his faith come. As Abraham received Isaac back again, so Joseph received his beloved again!

In this way the Lord Jesus receives all the legal rights of the throne of David. They are passed on to Him by virtue of His willingness to assume our flesh and blood, and so take His place in the lineage of David. And by His suffering and perfect obedience, He restored the fallen house of David! He is now an eternal King, and holding the keys to the house of David, He administers the blessings of this kingdom to His church all over the world through His Word and Spirit.

So we may rejoice and give God the glory! He has brought us the wonder of His salvation! He restored the booth that had fallen! And He enjoins upon us all a true faith, and simple obedience, in order that we may be living witnesses of His wondrous triumph in the world. For His kingdom endures forever!