Tag: messiah

Authority to Rule Rightly

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.

Immediately after God blesses Noah and his sons in Genesis 9, we are given this strange and dark change: the animals of the world will view humanity with FEAR and DREAD.

In the Midrash, the rabbis note the change from Genesis 1, where humanity was blessed, told to be fruitful & increase and fill the earth, but were specifically given the authority/dominion over the animals. To RULE over them.

This authority to RULE appears to have been lost.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

This word “rule” (רָדָה, “radah”) is used a few more times in the Scriptures, but it isn’t shown to be restored or given back to humanity until Numbers 24, in the oddest way. It’s from Balaam, when he tries to CURSE Israel, and God turns the curse into a blessing:

“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,
the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
Edom will be conquered;
Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel will grow strong.
A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Numbers 24:17-19 (NIV)

The Christian sees Jesus in this, whereas some Jews point to King David or future Messiah.

In the Messiah interpretation, it points to a future when God’s own hand empowers a star to rise from Jacob’s bloodline with the scepter of authority. To rule RIGHTLY.

This Ruler will not rule creation with FEAR and DREAD the way humanity will wield it, as expressed in Genesis 9. The Ruler will rule creation the way God intended in Genesis 1.

Of course, someone will note that the Balaam prophecy looks a lot like “FEAR” and “DREAD” for the enemies of God’s people.

Yes. But the “enemies of God’s people” are spiritual things, not nations or tribes or people. This is a parable.

Kings of Righteousness and Peace

Posted on by jovial_cynic

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14:17-18 (NIV)

The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
Psalm 110:2-4 (NIV)

The mysterious Melchizedek is mentioned twice in the Jewish scriptures – once here in Genesis 14, and once in Psalm 110, and it’s clear that David, the Psalmist sees a future messiah in this character.

The text says that Melchizedek is the “king of Salem,” which the rabbis say refers to Jerusalem. He is a king in the Promised Land, before the incursion of the Canaanites.

But there’s more to his name that describes this once and future king:

First, Salem means peace. So he is “malek shalem” or king of peace. But also, Melchizedek is a compound word, coming from “malek” and “tsedeq,” which means “king of righteousness.” And he’s also called a “priest” of God-most-high.

He’s obviously divine in some way. But… he doesn’t seem to do anything in the story, except BLESS Abram.

Who goes to war, bringing a band of young men, against the empires to rescue his people? It’s Abram. So who is the Psalmist talking about?

The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
Psalm 110:5-6 (NIV)

On one level, the Psalmist is talking about Abram, because he is recounting Genesis 14. But he also sees a future person who does the same thing, attributing success to “the Lord.” But notice… this isn’t the ALL-CAPS Lord. This isn’t The Name of God here.

So while this can point to a future messiah, David also likely believed this psalm was about himself. As king over God’s people, he bore responsibility to protect. And in Genesis, he sees the presence of a greater king of righteousness and peace who will bless him.

If God’s promises are eternal, and prophecy is perpetual, this is perhaps true of all of God’s faithful people: we will all be victorious over the lesser kings in our lives, and the Great King will bless us in our triumph.

Because God is near us.