Holding the Keys ~ Isaiah 22

“And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” Isaiah 22:22 ESV

              The marble floors of the palace shone warmly as they playfully reflected the mid-morning sun.  Everyone was in place and ready for the grand ceremony.  This day Eliakim was being honored by king Hezekiah and promoted to the position of chief royal steward over all of Jerusalem.  And along with that great position of authority, came a key.  A key to the most treasured doors of the kingdom.  And the chief royal steward, in addition to the burden of carrying that key, had the authority to open those doors for those that he deemed worthy.  Those he deemed worthy to enter the throne room and access the king.  Those he deemed worthy to enter the treasury and access the value of the kingdom.  As the pageantry dramatically unfolded, the king attached the key to Eliakim’s shoulder, a symbolic placement that represented the burden of holding the authority of the key as well as being a prominent placement that allowed all to see, admire, and appreciate the authority that had been given him.  Yes, to hold the key to the kingdom upon one’s shoulder was truly reserved only for those that were trustworthy and capable.

              The above dramatization plays out as a prophecy in Isaiah chapter 22.  God, through his messenger and mouthpiece Isaiah, is sending notice of what will happen in the throne room of His city, the city of David, Jerusalem.  Good king Hezekiah had previously entrusted the key to the kingdom to evil Shebna.  We are told within the same chapter that Shebna was a prideful, arrogant man and even upon hearing of God’s prophecy that the city would be sacked and destroyed, rejected the information and continued with his own future plans.  Even being so arrogant as to carve himself a fine tomb, a seeming personal guarantee that regardless of God’s prophecy, he would not go into slavery but die where he was, in his grand tomb.  But God sees well beyond just a man’s actions, He peers into the very recesses of his heart.  And as God gazed deep into the heart intentions of Shebna, He promised to depose him and replace him with the good heart of Eliakim.  And beyond just receiving the title and position, God will hang the key to the kingdom upon the shoulder of Eliakim for all to see.

              But as we consider the ancient custom of adorning a worthy one with the key to the kingdom, let us consider more deeply a verse that not just pulls this story together, but in a truly prophetic fashion, places a big red bow on the top.  Let us consider Revelation 3:7 where the Lord and Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, makes this statement about Himself:

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the Words of Him (Jesus Christ) who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.” Revelation 3:7 NIV

              And just in case you were wondering what the true key of David, that only Jesus is worthy to hold, will open, let us consult Revelation 1:18 NIV

“I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:18 NLT

              What a tremendous peek behind the curtain as we are allowed to better understand the significance of having the key to the kingdom placed upon one’s shoulder.  1) only the king can grant the key to the kingdom, 2) only one of pure heart and intention can hold the key to the kingdom into perpetuity, 3) only one who constantly protects and values the kingdom can righteously wield the key, and 4) only one who truly has the authority of the key can open a door for those he deems worthy.  And within these criteria, we see exactly why Jesus Christ quotes this verse from Isaiah 22, calling Himself the great key master of heaven and hell and of life and death.

              God the Father sent His only Son here to this planet to complete His plan of Salvation for His created humans.  God had His Son born of a virgin, effectually avoiding the inheritance of the sin nature that plagues all other humans.  His Son lived a perfect sin free life, therefore being a perfect, blemish-free sacrifice that could perfectly atone for sin.  His Son then became that perfect sin-free sacrifice as He hung on a wooden cross and His physical body died.  But God raised His Son back to life three days after that physical death, to again walk in this world, alive and appearing to over 500 people over the course of 40 days.  And finally, God raptured His Son back to Heaven where He sits, even in this moment, holding the key to life and death and heaven and hell.

              Folks, today this information exists openly and freely for all to access in the Word of God, the Holy Bible.  You can believe it or reject it; God has left that decision in your hands.  For God does not force His creatures to love, honor, and worship Him, for that would not be true love, honor, and worship at all.  But instead God reveals Himself and His plan of Salvation to His creatures through His Words and grants them free will to believe or reject it within their own hearts.  But regardless of your view of God’s truth, it does not change or alter that truth.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and only through His sacrifice and resurrection can you access heaven for eternity.  Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, and He and He alone holds the key that can open the door to eternal salvation of your human soul. 

Praise be to God for Jesus Christ and the key He holds in His hands…a key that is ready to open the door of eternal salvation for all those that knock in faith.

Blessings ~ Dan

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Playa Ángel, Oaxaca, Mexico