8b – The Messianic Crushing and Old Testament Christology

A. Pre-Fall Adamic Covenant

1. Stipulations/Obligations

a) Man – ultimate acknowledgment of God’s authority over the heavens and the earth through restraint in the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die (i.e. loss of benefits of the covenant).” (^NIV Genesis 2:15-17)

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth… ²⁸ God blessed (Hb. barak) them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number…” … ^2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (cf. Is. 40:21ff). (^NIV Genesis 1:26-2:2)

• <1288> %rB barak {baw-rak’}

Meaning: 1) to bless, kneel 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to kneel 1a2) to bless 1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself 1c) (Piel) to bless 1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored 1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel 2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

Origin: a primitive root; TWOT – 285; v

Usage: AV – bless 302, salute 5, curse 4, blaspheme 2, blessing 2, praised 2, kneel down 2, congratulate 1, kneel 1, make to kneel 1, misc 8; 330

• “invoking the bestowal of good…” (ISBE)
• “confer prosperity or happiness upon…” (Merriam-Webster)
• “to request of God the bestowal of divine favor on…” (Dictionary.com)
• “governmental favor and privilege” (author)
• I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (^ESV Genesis 12:2-3)
• As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly (cf. 1:28; 9:1). He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. (^ESV Genesis 17:20)
• God appeared to Jacob… and blessed him. ¹⁰ And God said to him… ¹¹ “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply (cf. 1:28; 9:1; 22:17). A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. (^ESV Genesis 35:9-11)
• Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (^ESV Matthew 25:34)
• Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (cf. Ps. 118:26) ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest! (^ESV Mark 11:9-10)
• I heard the voice of many angels around the throne… ¹² saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power (Gk. dunamis, i.e. position of rulership) and riches (Gk. ploutos, i.e. resource to rule) and wisdom (Gk. sophia, i.e. discernment to rule) and might (Gk. ischus, i.e. force to rule) and honor (Gk. timē, i.e. reverence of rulership) and glory (Gk. doxa, i.e. majesty of rulership) and blessing (Gk. eulogia, i.e. favor of rulership).” (^NASB Revelation 5:11-12)

b) God – provision and maintenance of eternal life by means of the Spirit and the Tree of Life.

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (^NIV Genesis 2:7)

And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground… In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (^NIV Genesis 2:9)

2. Benefits/Inheritance

a) Man – eternal life and the propagation of infinite well-being through intimacy with the Godhead.

Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness… (^NASB Genesis 1:26)

(1) Existentially – eternal life

(2) Relationally – intimacy

(a) spirit[1]

(b) soul[2]

(c) body[3])

(3) Governmentally – rulership

The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (^NIV Genesis 2:25)

And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” ²³ So the LORD God banished him (i.e. benefits of the covenant withheld)… (^NIV Genesis 3:22-23)

b) God – eternal propagation of well-being through intimacy with man.

…the LORD God…was walking in the garden in the cool of the day… (^NIV Genesis 3:8)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (^NIV Revelation 21:3)

B. Post-Fall Adamic Covenant

1. Stipulations/Obligations

a) Man – retain a repentant heart and belief in God for the restoration of the original glory and the provision of righteousness necessary to attain it.

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”… ²⁶ At that time (after Abel’s death) people began to call upon the name of the LORD (for the restoration/resurrection). (^ESV Genesis 4:25-26)

b) God – preserve and protect the repentant heart and provide the atonement necessary for restoration of all things.

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground…” ²¹ The LORD God made garments (Hb. kethoneth ~ kopher) of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed (Hb. labash ~ kaphar) them… ²³ So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden… to guard the way to the tree of life. (^NIV Genesis 3:19-24)

• <3724> rp,Ko kopher {ko’-fer}

Meaning: 1) price of a life, ransom, bribe 2) asphalt, pitch (as a covering) 3) the henna plant, name of a plant (henna?) 4) village

Origin: from 3722; TWOT – 1025b; n m

Usage: AV – ransom 8, satisfaction 2, bribe 2, camphire 2, pitch 1, sum of money 1, village 1; 17

• <3722> rp;K’ kaphar {kaw-far’}

Meaning: 1) to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch 1a) (Qal) to coat or cover with pitch 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to cover over, pacify, propitiate 1b2) to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for 1b3) to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites

Origin: a primitive root; TWOT – 1023,1024,1025,1026; v

Usage: AV – atonement 71, purge 7, reconciliation 4, reconcile 3, forgive 3, purge away 2, pacify 2, atonement…made 2, misc 8; 102

• Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it (Hb. kaphar) inside and out with pitch (Hb. kopher). (^ESV Genesis 6:14)
• If a ransom (Hb. kopher) is imposed on him (owner of the murderous ox), then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. (^ESV Exodus 21:30)
• Aaron shall make atonement (Hb. kaphar) on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement (Hb. kaphar) for it once in the year throughout your generations… ¹² When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom (Hb. kopher) for his life to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. (^ESV Exodus 30:10-12)

2. Benefits/Inheritance

a) Man – resurrection from the dust and restoration of the original Adamic kingdom (unto the original benefit) by means of the Messianic Seed.

So the LORD God said to the serpent… ¹⁵ “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head (restoring the original state of government), and you will strike his heel.”… ¹⁷ To Adam he said… ¹⁹ “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return (assuming a resurrection from the dust at the messianic head crushing).” (^NIV Genesis 3:14-19)

b) God – restoration of man (unto the original benefit).

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men… ⁴ There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (^NIV Revelation 21:3-5)

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush (Hb. shuwph) your head (Hb. rosh), and you will strike (Hb. shuwph) his heel (Hb. aqeb). (^NIV Genesis 3:15)

• <7779> @Wv shuwph {shoof}

Meaning: 1) to bruise, crush, gape upon, seize?, strike out? 1a) to fall upon, bruise

Origin: a primitive root; TWOT – 2349; v

Usage: AV – bruise 2, break 1, cover 1; 4 [Gen. 3:15; Job 9:17; Ps. 139:11]

A. This passage has often been referred to as the “proto-evangelium,” the first good news of a promised redeemer after man’s original fall from fellowship with God. In pronouncing the punishment for man’s sin, God mitigated the sentence by promising an offspring of the woman, a “seed” or “son of man” (cf. Num. 23:19; Job 25:6; 35:8; Ps. 8:4; 80:17; 144:3; 146:3; Is. 56:2; Jer. 50:40; Dan. 7:13), to crush the head of the serpent.

…he will crush your head (Hb. rosh)… (^NIV Genesis 3:15)

• <7218> varo rosh {roshe}

Meaning: 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning…

Origin: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; TWOT – 2097; n m

Usage: AV – head 349, chief 91, top 73, beginning 14, company 12, captain 10, sum 9, first 6, principal 5, chapiters 4, rulers 2, misc 23; 598

And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops (Hb. rosh) of the mountains were seen. (^ESV Genesis 8:5)

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top (Hb. rosh) in the heavens…” (^ESV Genesis 11:4)

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads (Hb. rosh) over the people: rulers (Hb. sar) of thousands, rulers (Hb. sar) of hundreds… (^NKJV Exodus 18:25)

These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs (Hb. nasi) of their ancestral tribes, the heads (Hb. rosh) of the clans of Israel. (^ESV Numbers 1:16)

So Samuel said, “When you (Saul) were little in your own eyes, were you not head (Hb. rosh) of the tribes of Israel? (^NKJV 1 Samuel 15:17)

And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head (Hb. rosh). (^ESV Hosea 1:11)

B. The ultimate point of the passage is the symbolic relation of the head (Hb. roshe) of Satan to the heel (Hb. aqeb) of Messiah, which inherently conveys satanic submission to messianic authority. The image is one of governmental and military conquest, a metaphor found commonly in the Old Testament.

And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” (^ESV Joshua 10:24)

I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. ³⁹ I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. (^NIV 2 Samuel 22:38-39)

How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! ³ He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. (^NIV Psalm 47:2-3)

C. Satan will forever be a usurper, trying to assume God’s position of leadership over the heavens and the earth (cf. Is. 14:13-14; Lk. 4:6). However, God has promised that a Seed of Adam will ultimately crush Satan’s perverted authority (i.e. head) and restore creation to its original order and glory. Ultimately, God will make all the enemies of this Seed a “footstool” upon which His heels will rest.

The LORD (Hb. YHVH) says to my Lord (Hb. adonay; i.e. Messiah): “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstoolfor your feet (cf. heel).” ² The LORD (Hb. YHVH) will extend your (adonay) mighty scepter from Zion; you (adonay) will rule in the midst of your enemies… ⁵ The Lord (Hb. adonay) is at your (YHVH) right hand; he (adonay) will crush kings on the day of his wrath. ⁶ He (adonay) will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers (Hb. rosh; “heads” KJV/NKJV/NRSV/ NLT) of the whole earth. (^NIV Psalm 110:1-6)

D. This cosmogenical base provides the broad framework for the development of the concept of the “Day of the Lord”.

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones ¹⁵ to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (cf. Book of Enoch 1:9) (^NIV Jude 1:14-15)

A. Explicit Messianic Prophecies

Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. ⁹ You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son… ¹⁰ The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs (Hb. shiloh) and the obedience of the nations is his. (^NIV Genesis 49:8-10)

• <7886> hl{yvi shiyloh {shee-lo’}

Meaning: 1) he whose it is, that which belongs to him, tranquillity 1a) meaning uncertain

Origin: from 7951? [shalah: “to be at rest, prosper, be quiet, be at ease”]; n?

Usage: AV – Shiloh 1; 1

• The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it (the scepter) belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. (^NLT Genesis 49:10)

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab… Sheth… Edom… Seir… but Israel will grow strong. ¹⁹ A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city. (^NIV Numbers 24:17-19)

Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed (Hb. mashiyach).” (^NIV 1 Samuel 2:10)

• <4899> x;yvim’ mashiyach {maw-shee’-akh}

Meaning: 1) anointed, anointed one 1a) of the Messiah, Messianic prince 1b) of the king of Israel 1c) of the high priest of Israel 1d) of Cyrus 1e) of the patriarchs as anointed kings

Origin: from 4886 [mashach: “to smear, anoint, spread a liquid”]; TWOT – 1255c; n

Usage: AV – anointed 37, Messiah 2; 39

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? ² The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One (Hb. mashiyach)… ⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ⁶ “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” ⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. ⁸ Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession (cf. Gen. 12:1-3). ⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (^NIV Psalm 2:1-9)

O LORD, the king (i.e. Messiah) rejoices in your strength… ³ You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. ⁴ He asked you for life, and you gave it to him– length of days, for ever and ever… ⁹ At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them. ¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. (^NIV Psalm 21:1-10)

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king… ² You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. ³ Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. ⁴ In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. ⁵ Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. ⁶ Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom (established on the earth through Messiah). ⁷ You (Messiah) love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. (^NIV Psalm 45:1-7)

Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness… ⁵ He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations… ⁸ He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth… ¹¹ All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him… ¹⁷ May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed (cf. Gen. 12:1-3)… ¹⁹ Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. (^NIV Psalm 72:1-19)

I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴ “Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.” … ²⁰ I have found My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him… ²⁴ My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted (cf. Lk. 1:69). ²⁵ Also I will set his hand over the sea, And his right hand over the rivers. ²⁶ He shall cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” ²⁷ Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. ²⁸ My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him. (^NKJV Psalm 89:3-28)

• Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people ⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. (^ESV Luke 1:68-70)

The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne… ¹³ For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: ¹⁴ “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell (Hb. yashab, “sit enthroned” NIV; cf. Ps. 29:10; 80:1; 99:1; 102:12; 113:5; Is. 14:13; 40:22; 52:2), for I have desired it… ¹⁷ There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed (Hb. mashiyach). ¹⁸ His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” (^ESV Psalm 132:11-18)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. (^ESV Isaiah 9:6-7)

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. ² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him… ⁴ He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. ⁵ Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist… ¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. (^NIV Isaiah 11:1-10)

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. ² He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. ³ A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” (^NIV Isaiah 42:1-4)

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” ² Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ³ “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. ⁴ For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. ⁵ I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. ⁶ I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.” (^NIV Isaiah 63:1-6)

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” (^ESV Jeremiah 23:5-6; cf. 33:15-17)

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them… But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. ⁴⁴ [The angel interpreted,] “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (^NIV Daniel 2:34-35, 44)

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven… ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed… ²⁷ [The angel interpreted,] “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” (^NIV Daniel 7:13-27)

In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, ¹² that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name. (^ESV Amos 9:11-12)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times (“from everlasting” KJV/NKJV)… ⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. (^NIV Micah 5:2-4)

You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger. ¹³ You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed (Hb. mashiyach). You crushed the head (Hb. roshe) of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. (^ESV Habakkuk 3:12-13)

“In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the LORD Almighty. (^NIV Haggai 2:6-7)

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey… ¹⁰ He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. (^NIV Zechariah 9:9-10)

“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord (Hb. adonay) you are seeking will come to his temple… ² But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap… ⁵ So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty. (^NIV Malachi 3:2-5)

B. YHVH ~ Messiah Comparable Activity

The LORD reigns (Hb. yashab) forever; he has established his throne for judgment. ⁸ He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice… ¹¹ Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done… ¹⁷ The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God… ¹⁹ Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. ²⁰ Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. (^NIV Psalm 9:7-20)

How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! … ⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. ⁸ God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. ⁹ The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham (under Messiah), for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted. (^NIV Psalm 47:2-9)

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! ¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity… for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. (^ESV Psalm 96:9-13)

My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. ¹² But you, O LORD, sit enthroned (Hb. yashab) forever; your renown endures through all generations. ¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come… ¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. ¹⁶ For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory… ²¹ So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem ²² when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. (^NIV Psalm 102:11-22)

In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. ³ Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ⁴ He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (^NIV Isaiah 2:2-4)

See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants… ²¹ In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above (i.e. demons) and the kings on the earth below. ²² They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days. ²³ The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed; for the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders, gloriously. (^NIV Isaiah 24:21-23)

A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God… ⁵ And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.” … ⁹ You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” ¹⁰ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. (^NIV Isaiah 40:3-10)

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, ² I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel… (^NIV Joel 3:1-2)

Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high… ¹² Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! ¹³ Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s (unrighteous) labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? ¹⁴ For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (^NIV Habakkuk 2:9-14)

The great day of the LORD is near– near and coming quickly… ¹⁵ That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness… ¹⁸ In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth. (^NIV Zephaniah 1:14-18)

“Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.” (^ESV Zephaniah 3:8)

Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. ⁶ On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. ⁷ It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime– a day known to the LORD… ⁹ The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name… ¹² This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. (^NIV Zechariah 14:5-12)

For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch… ³ And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts (Hb. tsaba). (^ESV Malachi 4:1-3)

There is a video referenced at this point in the teaching which ends in a focus upon believers being the messiah. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk

“Here is my servant (for the well-being of the nations), whom I uphold, my chosen one (Hb. bachiyr, “mine elect” KJV, “my Elect One” NKJV) in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him (anointing him as Governor) and he will bring justice to the nations (executing punishment and reward). ² He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets (lobbying the support of man). ³ A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out (i.e. gentleness and meekness in leadership). In faithfulness (i.e. ability to maintain integrity) he will bring forth justice; ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged (i.e. ability to persevere) till he establishes justice on earth. In his law (i.e. benevolent governance) the islands (“ethnos” LXX; “nations” Mt. 12:21) will put their hope.” ⁵ This is what God the LORD says– he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it (cf. creation and Adamic Order)… (^NIV Isaiah 42:1-5)

• <0972> ryxiB’ bachiyr {baw-kheer’}

Meaning: 1) chosen, choice one, chosen one, elect (of God)

Origin: from 0977 [Hb. bachar, “to choose, elect, decide for”]; TWOT – 231c; n m

Usage: AV – chosen 8, elect 4, chose 1; 13

• <0977> rx;B’ bachar {baw-khar’}

Meaning: 1) to choose, elect, decide for 1a) (Qal) to choose 1b) (Niphal) to be chosen 1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected

Origin: a primitive root; TWOT – 231; v

Usage: AV – choose 77, chosen 77, choice 6, choose…out 5, acceptable 1, appoint 1, excellent 1, chosen men 1, rather 1, require 1, not translated; 172

A. Election Based on Loving Intent

1. The loving intent of Messiah

Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son (cf. Ps. 2:7) with your righteousness. ² He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice… ⁴ He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. ⁵ He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. ⁶ He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. ⁷ In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. ⁸ He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth… ¹¹ All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. ¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. ¹³ He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. ¹⁴ He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight… ¹⁷ May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him (cf. Gen. 12:1-3), and they will call him blessed… ¹⁹ Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory (cf. Is. 11:9; 40:5; Hab. 2:14). (^NIV Psalm 72:1-19)

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. ² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him… ³ He will not judge (i.e. govern) by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; ⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked (governors)… ⁹ They (predatory animals, v. 6-8—typical of predatory governors, cf. v. 4) will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. ¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. (^NIV Isaiah 11:1-10)

And now the LORD says– he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD (i.e. Messiah) and my God has been my strength– ⁶ he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” ⁷ This is what the LORD says– the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel– to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation (tw/n evqnw/n [nGNP], LXX), to the servant of rulers (in the this age and in the messianic kingdom): “Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you (because of your benevolence in government).” (^NIV Isaiah 49:5-7)

2. Contrasting the selfish intent of man

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (^NIV Isaiah 53:5-6)

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said to him… “appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”… ⁷ And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king… ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”… ¹¹ He (Samuel) said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses… ¹³ He will take your daughters to be (his) perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves (serving his well-being). ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen (because of his selfish government), and the LORD will not answer you in that day.” (^NIV 1 Samuel 8:4-18)

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; ¹¹ there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. ¹² All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (cf. Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-3) ¹³ “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” (Ps. 5:9) “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” (Ps. 140:3) ¹⁴ “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” (Ps. 10:7) ¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ ruin and misery mark their ways, ¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.” (Is. 59:7-8) ¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Ps. 36:1) (^NIV Romans 3:10-18)

B. Election Based on Power and Ability

1. The power and ability of Messiah

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One (Hb. mashiyach)… ⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath…⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the LORD… ⁹ “You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (^NIV Psalm 2:2-9)

The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies… ⁵ He (adonay) will crush kings on the day of his wrath. ⁶ He (adonay) will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. (^NIV Psalm 110:1-6)

Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? … ² Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ³ “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing… ⁵ I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. (^NIV Isaiah 63:1-5)

2. Contrasting the weakness and incompetence of man

A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. ⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. ⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”… ¹⁰ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. (^NIV Isaiah 40:6-10)