rtf1ansiansicpg1252deff0deflang1033fonttblf0fnilfcharset0 Georgia;f1fnilfprq2fcharset0 Padua; colortbl ;red0green128blue0; viewkind4uc1pardf0fs24 par b The Key Of David.b0 par par cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_3:7cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24. par par Here is another of Christ's names, or designations, or descriptions given Himself. There are seven in all, and this is the sixth. Let us consider this sixth. par par b I. He who is HOLY.b0 Christ's name here is that of 'the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy.' He is the holy One of Godu8212?hating sin, loving righteousness. Thus, while He is the holy One, He deals in love with the feeble, and makes their enemies to 'know that He loves' (verse 9). With all Christ's infinite tenderness and pity, there is holiness conjoined, and He says, 'Be holy, for I am holy. par par b II. He who is TRUE.b0 This is frequently said of Christu8212?He is 'faithful and true;' the 'true light;' 'the true bread;' the 'true vine;' the 'true witness;' the 'true God.' He isu8212?the reality, the truth, the substance, the wisdom, the filling up of all promises, and of all symbols. All the promises in Him are yes, and in Him Amen. His words are true, His works are true, His ways are true, His invitations are true, His love is true. par par b III. He who has the KEY of DAVID.b0 Both as David's Son and David's Lord, He had a right to all that David had. Of David's crown, and throne, and landu8212?He was the rightful heir. But it is only of David's key that He is here spoken of as the possessor. He had the keyu8212?the right and the power of opening the gate, and admitting those who had the right of entrance. He could open and no man could shutu8212?this was grace. He could shut and none could openu8212?this was sovereignty. This combined grace and sovereignty which He here proclaims is that which Philadelphia specially needed, for encouragement on the one handu8212?and for stimulus on the other. par par The reference here is to cf11ulbf1fs22 Isa_22:22cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24 u8212?'The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder.' This was said to Eliakim, who was thus set up as a type of a greater than himselfu8212?a greater than David. Eliakim was royal chamberlainu8212?a keeper of the house, like Joseph in Pharaoh's palace. So Christ is represented as not only being the royal possessor of the house, but He also to whom the keeping of its gate was entrusted. He is 'the door' and He is the 'porter too;' He is the pasture and the Shepherd too. 'All power is given to Him in heaven and in earth.' 'The Father loves the Son, and has committed all things into His hands.' He has, we may sayu8212?many keys. par par b 1. The key of David's HOUSE.b0 The palace is His, and He keeps the key of it, as the Father has given to Him. He opens and shuts according as He will. Would you enter David's house? Apply to Him who has the key. He is the true David, the true Eliakimu8212?He is David's Son and David's Lord. par par b 2. The key of David's CASTLE.b0 Beside his palace, David had a fort on Zion which he took from the Jebusitesu8212?a stronghold against the enemy. So has our David a strong tower and fortress, into which we run and are safe. This is the true 'tower of David, built for an armory.' Would you get into this impregnable fort? Apply to Him who keeps the key. He opens, and no man shuts. par par b 3. The key of David's CITY.b0 Yes, the key of Jerusalem, both the earthly and the heavenly! 'Open the gates.' 'Lift up your heads, O you gates.' These cries shall be heard, the key shall be applied, and the gates flung open, and the great multitude that no man can number shall enter in. Would you enter in to this glorious city? You must go to Him who has its keys. No application was ever made in vain to Him. No other key but His will open the gate to you. par par b 4. The key of David's TREASURE-HOUSE.b0 That storehouse contains all we need. The unsearchable riches are hereu8212?and David says to us, 'I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich.' But not riches aloneu8212?the bread of heaven is hereu8212?the hidden manna is hereu8212?the white clothing is hereu8212?the royal wine of the kingdom is here. All store of goods of every kind is here. Our David has the key. Would you be rich? Come and get freely all you needu8212?gold, silver, gems, bread, water, wine and milk. par par b 5. The key of David's BANQUETING-HOUSE.b0 Here the feast is spreadu8212?a royal feast; a bridal feast; a divine feast; a feast of fat things! The king brings us into His banqueting-house, and His banner over us is love. He spreads a table for us here in presence of enemiesu8212?He will spread it for us before long in the presence of the angels. He says here, Eat, O friends; drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved! par par Some have said 'the key of David's b harpb0,' inasmuch as Christ is the theme of the Psalms of David, and they cannot be unlocked without Him. But this sense is strained, though striking. Yet David does sing of Himu8212?'My heart is inditing a good matter. I speak of the things which I have made concerning the King.' Messiah is his themeu8212?his Alpha and Omegau8212?his first and last. par par What comfort (1) to a minister, (2) to a church, (3) to a saintu8212?is the truth that Christ has the keys! The keys of the universeu8212?the keys of every sphere of laboru8212?the keys of life, of death, of the grave! What comfort is the truth that He has power to open and shut, at His own gracious pleasure! All things are in His power. b The keys are in pierced hands!b0 They hang upon the cross. Work on, O Philadelphian, with your little strength! He opens great and effectual doorsu8212?however many the enemies may be. He opens and none can shut. He shuts and none can open. How blessed when He says, 'I have set before you an open door!' O feeble Philadelphian, labor on. He is with you, and who can be against you? 'I have set before you an open door.' par par There are four tests, which, though not strictly connected with the text, I would hang upon it, as suggested by the key and the door: par par b (1.) Knock, and it shall be opened.b0 He who keeps the key of every door is always ready to openu8212?more ready to open than we to knock. par par b (2.) The doors of it shall not be shut at all by day, and there is no night there.b0 An ever-open door! Sometimes it is said knock, and sometimes you don't need to knocku8212?for it is open. Just enter inu8212?enter at onceu8212?enter in as you are. par par b (3.) The door was shut.b0 Yes, shut at last! Then knocking is too late. For when He shuts, no man can open. Oh, that eternally shut gate! How dismal to those who, all their lifetime, saw it open, but would not go in! They might have gone in, but would not. This is their condemnation, and their eternal sorrow. par par b (4.) Behold, I stand at the door and knock.b0 It is not merely we standing at Christ's dooru8212?but Christ standing at ours! As if He would say to us, Take the keyu8212?open and let me in. Shall Christ's knock be in vain? It is the knock of love, earnest, patient, condescending love. He really desires admittance. His knocking is no pretense. He wants to make our souls His dwelling. Admit Him, and be blessed!