The Royal Messiah #3 – A Father-Son Relationship
In the previous article in this little series, we looked at the meaning of “this day have I begotten thee” from Psalm 2. David Kimhi, in his commentary, said in a nutshell that if God did beget someone, He would have to beget God. On the one hand, we saw that God did exactly that, for Jesus was God in human flesh (John 1:14John 1:14
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14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
; Philippians 2:5-7Philippians 2:5-7
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5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
). On the other hand, Acts 13:33Acts 13:33
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33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
shows that the begettal poetically promised in Psalm 2:7Psalm 2:7
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7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. the decree: or, for a decree
was not the begetting of a baby. This was speaking of Jesus being raised from the dead. Now, we turn our attention to the second of three reasons that this particular commentator does not believe Psalm 2 is Messianic. By looking at the psalm in this way, it may help to make the message of this psalm more meaningful.
Who is God’s son? This second argument has to do with the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Kimhi says, “And further say to them, “Has the God whom you describe as “the Father” said to His Son, Ask of Me and I will give the nations for thine inheritance? How should the Son ask from the Father? Is he not God like Him” (19)? He further believed that this “son” only had reference to the children of Israel (Exodus 4:22Exodus 4:22
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22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
). This, though, is a misunderstanding of the special relationship that exists in the Godhead. While the word “son” does apply to mankind, it also has divine meaning.
The New Testament tells us that David wrote this psalm (Acts 4:25Acts 4:25
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25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
). The next time we read the words “Thou art my Son” is at the baptism and then at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 3:17Matthew 3:17
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17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
; Matthew 17:5Matthew 17:5
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5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
). To describe the love expressed and demonstrated between God the Father and God the Son is certainly beyond words. In the Old Testament, it is illustrated in one way by the love displayed between Abraham and his son Isaac in that incredible scene in the land of Moriah (Genesis 22:1-2Genesis 22:1-2
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22
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. Behold...: Heb. Behold me
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
). In the New Testament, it was wonderfully displayed at Calvary (1 John 4:91 John 4:9
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9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
; John 10:17John 10:17
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17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
; John 3:16John 3:16
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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
). We learn how to love from the love displayed in that Father/Son relationship in the Godhead (1 John 4:10-111 John 4:10-11
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10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
). Jesus the Son and His Father are both equally God; yet, they serve in different roles and functions. Just like man and woman are both human, however, they are different and have different responsibilities. Isn’t it truly a blessing though that God had a Son and that He would love Him so? But is it not even more of a blessing that God would have His beloved Son die on our behalf in demonstration of His love toward us (Romans 5:6-8Romans 5:6-8
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6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. in due time: or, according to the time
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
)?
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Authors, Doctrine, Michael Carter
on July 18th, 2008
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