Isaiah 22:22
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 22:15-25
Isaiah’s description of Eliakim in verses 21-25 are often seen as being a prophecy of the Messiah. Let’s take a look at some other passages that sound similar to Isaiah’s description:
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest” (Rev 1:12-13).
“These are the words of him 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.” (Rev 3:7).
We see from John’s vision in Revelation that Jesus the Messiah is the one who holds the key of David. Almost word for word Revelation 3:7 repeats Isaiah’s passage saying that what Jesus opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open.
We are also told in Revelation chapter 1 that Jesus is wearing a robe down to his feet and a golden sash around his chest. Again this also is almost word for word the description of Eliakim given by Isaiah in verse 21.
So if we establish that Isaiah’s passage about Eliakim is also a prophecy about Jesus, then Isaiah tells us a few more things about the Messiah. He will be driven “like a peg into a firm place” (vs. 23) and then “in that day … the peg driven into the firm place will give way … and the load hanging on it will be cut down” (vs. 25).
The peg is a reference to the method of construction used for the Temple. When the walls of the Temple were built, hammers were not used.
“In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built” (1 Kings 6:7).
They would place pegs in the wet clay of the bricks to secure them to each other once the clay dried. These pegs were usually used around windows and doors and were left sticking out of the walls so that items could be hung on them.
Isaiah says that “all the glory of his family will hang on him” (vs. 24). John opens his gospel referring to the glory of Jesus: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
But then Isaiah tells us that the peg will give way and the load hanging on it will be cut down. If we are keeping pace with Isaiah, this would be a reference to the cross. And as we know, the peg was only cut down temporarily because Jesus rose from the grave and now rules from his seat in heaven.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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