The Legacy of Jacob - Moriel Ministries

Moriel Israel– Continued
one to teach of the resurrection of the Messiah
from the dead, and this is a separate and very
interesting question in itself. However on a
merely human level, the term “son” is used
of Israel’s king in some contexts in the Scriptures,
just as Israel is termed the LORD’s son
in some passages. This usage of the term in
some contexts implies a covenantal rather
than natural relationship. We can also see
that some of Jesus’ contemporaries understood
this passage as referring to kingship at
least in a human sense (unfortunately they
understood it only in this way). If we take
a look at Jesus’ trial we see the following:
“But Jesus held his peace. And the high
priest answered and said unto him, I
adjure thee by the living God, that thou
tell us whether thou be the Messiah, the
Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, “Thou
hast said: nevertheless I say unto you,
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man
sitting on the right hand of power, and
coming in the clouds of heaven.” Then
the high priest rent his clothes, saying,
He hath spoken blasphemy; what further
need have we of witnesses behold,
now ye have heard his blasphemy. What
Think ye They answered and said, He
is guilty of death.”
Notice the words: “tell us whether thou
be the Messiah the Son Of God”. The only
place in the OT where the terms Messiah and
Son appear closely together is in Psalm 2.
Jesus was charged on oath to declare as to
whether he was the promised Messiah King
of Psalm 2 or not. The Sanhedrin clearly
understood Psalm 2 and “Thou art my Son
this day have I begotten Thee”, in light of the
previous verse “Yet have I set my king on my
holy hill”. In other words they recognized it
as referring to an appointment to kingship. It
is probably because of this reason that Jesus
avoided using the term “Son of God” in certain
company, because it would have created
unhelpful expectations in the people. The
problem with the Jewish authorities was that
their understanding stopped there, they did
not join up the dots with Psalm 2’s companion
psalm.
Jesus however did.
Notice also how Jesus pulls in another
term, “seated at the right hand of power”.
This is a clear allusion to Psalm 110 long
recognized even then as a Messianic psalm:
“The LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou at
my right hand until I make thine enemies
the footstool of thy feet”. Jesus made it even
more explicit as to what He meant by referring
to Daniel 7’s “Son of Man” motif. The
Sanhedrin tried to “stitch up” Jesus before
Pilate on the grounds that He claimed to be
a king in opposition to Caesar, but this was
not the grounds on which they themselves
condemned Him. They condemned Him for
blasphemy when He claimed to be Messiah
and Son of God, not just in the human sense
of being king of Israel (as they understood it),
but in the fullest sense of the word (see Hebrews
1)—possessing divine nature and authority,
the very Son of Man whose kingdom
and dominion is everlasting, who comes on
the clouds of heaven and who sits at the right
hand of power, the One who is both David’s
Lord and also priest for ever after the order
of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4).
Jesus was the first to connect Psalm 2 and
110 together to give a fuller understanding of
the nature of the Messiah, and thereafter we
see them repeatedly referred and alluded to
by the apostles.
If we understand parts of both Psalm 2 and
110 in terms of taking up of authority and
office, it connects well with Daniel 7:12-13
which Jesus referred to in His trial: “One like
the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the Ancient of days, and they
brought him near before him. And there was
given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,
that all people, nations, and languages,
should serve him” this also corresponds to
what we find in Acts 2, which at first glance
seemed a little strange because it says Jesus
was “made” both Lord and Messiah and lo
and behold, we see Psalm 110 also.
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof
we all are witnesses. Therefore being
by the right hand of God exalted,
and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath
shed forth this, which ye now see and
hear. For David is not ascended into
the heavens: but he saith himself, The
Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my
right hand, Until I make thy foes thy
footstool. Therefore let all the house of
Israel know assuredly, that God hath
made that same Jesus, whom ye have
crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
(Acts 2:32-36)
And we see also this appointment concept
in Hebrews 5:5-6:
“So also the Messiah glorified not himself
to be made an high priest; but he
that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to
day have I begotten thee. As he saith
also in another place, Thou art a priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
The author of Hebrews weaves the “thou
art my Son etc.” Originally connected with
kingship in Psalm 2, together with “a priest
after the order of Melchisedec” in psalm 110,
thus showing us that Jesus’ ascent to kingship
and priesthood are linked, in the apostle’s
thinking, and from Peter’s and Paul’s
sermons and letters we see that this appointment
was connected with Jesus’ resurrection
and ascension. If we remember also Jesus’
own words where He likened Himself to
someone who went on a journey to receive a
kingdom (Lk 19:12), then we can see that in
one aspect Romans 1:4, “declared to be Son
of God” could refer to his receiving of His
kingdom and entering into His High Priestly
ministry. The problem is that we are used to
seeing Messiah as a title only, but it also describes
a state of being, or office, so in many
places it is translated “anointed”. Thus Saul
was described by David as “His (that is the
LORD’s) anointed (messiah)” using exactly
the same construction in Hebrew as in Psalm
2:6. If we remember that both kings and
priests were “anointed” into office this adds
the finishing piece to our puzzle as how Jesus
was “made” Messiah and “declared” to
be the Son of God.
Finally, we would just ask your prayers
for the up building of the believing community
in our town, for the LORD’s blessing
on the work here, and that there would be
many opportunities to share the Gospel with
our friends and neighbors and people we just
meet. Also, that the new facility and even our
homes would be places of blessing and filled
with the LORD’s presence, and for growth
both numerically and in godly character and
faith of us all. May the LORD bless you all.
Elon and Hadass
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closet
A Small corner of rest from the chaos
and tumult of the world around us....
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter
onto thy closet, and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy
Father which is in Secret; and thy
Father which seeth in Secret will
reward thee openly.”
– Matthew 6:6 –
“If two of you shall agree in touching
anything they shall ask, it shall
be done of them by my father which
is in heaven.”– Matthew 18:19
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30 Moriel Quarterly • March 2012