The Deity Of Christ In The History & Literature Sections Of Old Testament Series

FROM SAMUEL

13. Knowledge

I Samuel 2:3. “The Lord is a God of knowledge.” More from Hannah’s lips. And from Paul’s pen, a statement to the Colossians:(2:2-3) “...to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in Whom (Father and Christ or just Christ?) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

He knows it all, this Christ, Who is God.

14. Deliverer

II Samuel 22:2 “The Lord is my deliverer.” The words are David’s. He speaks the same in Psalm 40:17 and numerous other places. It is generic and applicable in a number of ways to how our God sets us free from the enemy of our souls.

But let’s be specific. Who is this Deliverer in concrete human terms? Romans 11:26 quotes Isaiah as referring to a Deliverer who will come out of Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. This Jewish deliverer is none other than Christ.

And thus Christ shares yet another title with Yahweh, making these two , one.

15. Saviour

With this word we strike a nerve in Scripture. David begins the chorus in II Samuel 22:3 by calling the Lord his Saviour. We have been conditioned to thinking of Jesus this way, for He saved us from our sins. But the prophets of Yahweh knew Him by this same term. From David to Isaiah(43:3), “I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” And from Isaiah to Hosea (13:4), where God says, “...there is no Saviour beside Me.”

When we come to the New Testament with the words of Hosea ringing in our ears, we are faced with either a problem or a revelation. None other than Mary (Luke 1:47), the mother of Jesus and His half-brothers and sisters, proclaims: “...my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Well, that’s safe enough. Still talking about “God.” But in the very next chapter, the beloved physician quotes the angel of the Lord as saying, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

(But Hosea said...)

With Paul the excitement builds. His letter to Titus is overflowing with the Saviour theme. 1:3 “...preaching...is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.” But check the very next verse: “...peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”

Whoa, Paul, what are you saying? And could you say it again? Certainly, now in 2:13 of the same letter: “Looking for...the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” In 2:10 and 3:4, it is “God our Saviour”. In 3:6, it is again Jesus.

The formula “God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” is used also by Peter, II Peter 1:1.

Oh, have we ever fathomed the reality of this truth? The truth is, our Saviour, Jesus, is God.

16. The One Worthy to be Praised

“I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised,” says David , II Samuel 22:4. Is anyone else worthy of such praise and worship? No one. But see the Worthy One revealed in other form:

In Matthew 2:11 the Magi (wise men) worship a young child named Jesus. Matthew 14:33 tells of some suddenly believing disciples in what seems to be a hopeless storm. When the winds die down at Jesus’ presence they worship Him. In the next chapter a Canaanite woman worships Jesus in appealing for her daughter to be healed. Luke (17:16) tells of a Samaritan man, healed and grateful, who falls on his face before the Master. John relates how one born blind worships Him.(9:38) Thomas, a doubter no longer, calls Jesus “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Never is this worship refused. The only ones who rebuke such actions are the religious leaders... in every age.

The writer of Hebrews quotes a Psalmist who says, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” The implication of the passage is that “Him” is the Son.

The final chorus of praise to Jesus, Who is God, is found in Revelation 5:12, which says, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing!” Why, because He died? Many have died. Because He suffered? No. Because He is God. For only God is worthy of such praise.

17. The Avenger

II Samuel 22:48 “It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.” Paul’s complementary statement: “...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God.”

FROM THE WRITERS OF KINGS and CHRONICLES

18. The Lord of Hosts

In II Kings 3:14 and 19:31, our God is called the Lord of hosts. David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, all call Yahweh the Lord of hosts, or the Lord of armies.