The Messiah and More
and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NASB
Eternal Father – Handel made this verse familiar to all Christians. His powerful musical presentation of the Messiah forever extolled the Name above all names. But if Handel’s musical genius was so compelling, why don’t the Jews recognize Yeshua as their Messiah? What else is happening in this prophecy from Isaiah that might cause Jews to see something else?
Once before we examined the words abi-ad. We concentrated on the irrevocable nature of the promises made by the head of the household, God Himself. We discovered that this part of the name speaks of the perpetual rule of the Father. But Haag adds an important qualification: “It is worth noting, however, that Isa. 9:5 (6) is referring not primarily to the savior himself but rather to Yahweh, whose rule the savior actually represents, and that in this context the word ‘ad refers to the consistent, irrevocable implications, from Yahweh’s perceptive, of election manifest even in God’s judgment of Israel, emphasizing God’s fatherly love, love revealed in this context in the forgiveness of sins.” Haag concludes, “The meaning is then that the messianic ruler, in his very person, represents the irreversible revelation of Yahweh’s status as father for the elect for all eternity.” [1]
Let’s consider Haag’s insight. As Christians, we have the propensity to think of the name of this child as a description of the Messiah, but Haag cautions us. From the peshat, Isaiah is speaking about the Messiah as representative of the Father and the Father’s character. The name abi-ad is about the irrevocable covenant with Israel. The Messiah, when he comes, will exemplify the eternal covenant God made with Israel through Abraham. The Messiah will re-establish God’s true order, an order that fulfills the promise made to Abraham.
Haag is not Jewish. He is a Swiss Christian theologian. If he recognizes that Isaiah views the Messiah as the representative of YHWH, should we be surprised when Jews today cannot find such a representative in the Christian portrayal of Jesus? Does the Church teach that Jesus the Christ came to re-establish the covenant of Abraham as the eternal election of Israel? Do we who accept Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah really recognize that He came to return Israel to its proper role as Intercessor for the nations? When we hear Handel’s aria, do we think it speaks of the Father’s love for Israel? Are we hearing the text or hearing the music?
Topical Index: abi-ad, eternal Father, Isaiah 9:6
[1] Hagg, “’ad,” TDOT, Vol. X, pp. 459-460.
Yeshua is YHVH. I don’t see how it may be said in any more clear, precise or revealing fashion, but if I could,- I would. YHVH, the Eternal G-d is Jesus (who is the) Christ. The Messiah for all nations, for all people and for all time-the Eternal Word was incarnated into human flesh.
Yes, that was G-d who walked among us. G-d incarnate. G-d, the Creator- now breathing the same air we breathe. G-d Almighty, El Gibbor- naked and cold in a feeding trough- born in a barn in the city of David, with wondering angels looking on at what was unfolding.
For thirty-three years G-d lived on the planet He created. The Eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us. G-d became a man. The Second Adam. Fully human- and far more human than you or I can ever hope to be, for this man- the Son of man AND the Son of G-d- was (and IS) G-d the Eternal Father. G-d was in Christ reconciling the world (both Jew and Gentile) to Himself.
The Messiah is Hashem. This is the name which is above every name. The hero of the Bible is Jesus. Do I need to continue?- I will until I run out of breath or words- Jesus Christ is LORD. Not (NOT) a lord,- “the” LORD. Master and Commander of the Universe and we (yes, we all) nailed Him to the tslav- the execution stake. It was G-d hanging upon the cross- it was the blood of G-d that redeemed mankind.
Behold the Lamb!- This, dear friends, (both Jew and Gentile) is the master theme of the Book of books. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24.27) Slice the Bible anywhere and it bleeds. There is a scarlet thread binding this Book together. It is the blood of the Lamb.
Shall we, together, look at this Lamb? Shall we consider the blood that was shed to redeem us? Was this the blood of a man? Yes. The Son of man. Was this the blood of G-d? Yes. The Son of G-d and G-d the Son. Did this man (who was more than a man) walk out of that tomb on the third day? Jew or Gentile, Repuplicrat or Demican, rich, poor, black, white- I ask- Did that man- the Son of man- the (only) perfect second Adam- walk out of the once sealed tomb on the third day- just as He said He would? “Destroy this temple and will raise it up in three days.” Those were His words. Did His words (do His words) always- always, “come to pass?” (Mr. Haag- are you there?)
Never a man spoke like this man. Why is this? Because this Man was the ONE who created everything that is- by speaking. He said- “Let it be”. In the beginning G-d said: “AMEN.” – and it came into being.
He created everything by the word of His power. Does He have authority to do this? What “occurs” when He speaks? – Life. Healing. Restoration. Peace.
He spoke to the storm. What happened? Is this a (mere) man that the winds and the waves would obey Him? I would ask Haag the same question, but I’m asking you- Who is this Man?
But wait..- there’s more..- shall we continue? Would you (Mr. Jew) like a sign? Would you (Mr. Greek) seek wisdom? “And this shall be a sign unto you.. Mr. Jew..-you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in a feeding trough for animals- in a barn in Bethlehem. G-d, born in a barn- “behold, your King.” This is Jesus (the sign said..) -written in three different languages- the King of the Jews.
Jesus Christ- the desire of all nations. Savior of the world. Jesus, “LORD” to me. Yes, David- “Who is this KING of GLORY?”
Skip, so many things packed into so few words! 🙂
Luke 16 records those fascinating words: “If they won’t listen to Moshe and the Prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!” Yeshua’s constant battle with the Scribes and the Pharisees because they replaced the commandments of God with the traditions of men. Man’s desire to be his own God results in distorting the Torah to suit his (our!) own ends. Neither the religious leaders of Yeshua’s day, or the religious rulers of our own day, are exempt from that motivation.
And therein lies the problem. You could not look at the religious leaders of Yeshua’s day and arrive at what might be true about YHVH, even though, mixed with their error, were some truths. Neither, today, can you look at the “the church” (with close to 30,000 Protestant denominations alone, this word “church” describes very little or nothing) and arrive at a true picture of Yeshua.
And that is why “the church” cannot be an excuse for not understanding YHVH and his Scripture. There are two things here: a weak “church”, and my response to it. I may not be able to control the “church” but I am certainly responsible for my reactions to it. And I am also responsible for my response to Scripture, God’s written revelation of Himself. Rom. 1 declares that the truth about YHVH is known from creation, but people hold down or suppress that truth in unrighteousness. Some people even use “the church” as their “reason” for suppressing what they know deep within themselves to be true. Just like Adam, we all have our excuses for our failures. “He did it, she did it, they did it, or even he didn’t do it, she didn’t do it, they didn’t do it.”
We will do and say anything, no matter how absurd, to escape accountability. Why not. If we are “like God” then we are accountable to no one — including YHVH.
You wrote a few days ago about God’s people being a “nation” of priests. We can add to that the roles of prophet and king. Therefore, it seems the issue is not so much what “the church” might be, but what am I doing with my life to apply my role as prophet, priest and king to my home, my community, my business, education, the economy, the nation — and yes, even the “church”. In other words, we become transformers (reformers, rebuilders, use whatever word suits) of the world around us to have it conform to the demands of Torah.
It’s time God’s people got into the reconstruction business and stopped talking about it. Otherwise we’re no better than the folk we may want to criticize.
“…In other words, we become transformers (reformers, rebuilders, use whatever word suits) of the world around us to have it conform to the demands of Torah.
It’s time God’s people got into the reconstruction business and stopped talking about it. Otherwise we’re no better than the folk we may want to criticize.”
I wish there was a like button. 🙂
You found it! LOL
“The Messiah, when he comes, will exemplify the eternal covenant God made with Israel through Abraham. The Messiah will re-establish God’s true order, an order that fulfills the promise made to Abraham.” DOES THIS NOT CONSTITUTE HEAVEN TO SOME/US… ♥ THAT WHICH I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TOO… ♥
“Does the Church teach that Jesus the Christ came to re-establish the covenant of Abraham as the eternal election of Israel? Do we who accept Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah really recognize that He came to return Israel to its proper role as Intercessor for the nations?” EXACTLY WHY IT IS 144,000 JEWISH LEFT – NOT GENTILES… ♥ THEIR PLACE FROM THE END TO THE BEGINNING… ♥
jan
This passage has given the western mind translation fits for a very long time. And, I do not claim to have ‘the’ answers to any of the issues. Here is one additional area for examination:
Verse 6 (5) … בֵּן נִתַּן־לָנוּ וַתְּהִי הַמִּשְׂרָה עַל־שִׁכְמֹו …
“… son he-is-given to-us and-she-shall-become [וַתְּהִי] the-chieftainship … “, not וַיתְּיהִי “and-he-shall -become”, as is translated into English.
The literal Hebrew word הָיָה (H1961, hayah) is not identified as a word or translated in this verse. It is included in the translation as understood as ‘he’ shall become, i.e., שְׁכֶם (shkem) the empire to be on his shoulders.
A word-for-word translation might look something like this:
That boy he-is-born * to-us son he-is-given* and-she-shall-become the-chieftainship on-shoulder-blade-of-him and-he-shall-call name-of-him one-marvelous, one-counseling, El masterful Father-of-future of-chief.
Is that a scribal error or is the term intended to convey a feminine aspect to his rule?
* some translations use the past tense form of the verbs, ‘he-was-born’ and ‘He has been named’, which fit in the Hebrew prophetic “perfect or imperfect (things will happen or they have already happened). This language difference from English causes a lot of confusion, especially when both past tense and future tense (in English terms) are found within the same prophetic verse.
However – I am still a beginning student of Hebrew and open to compounding errors. If someone else can shed additional light on this passage, it would be most welcome.
In regards to the feminine aspect.
You might consider Is. 58:12. The Messiah rules, but it’s the one He bears on His shoulder that does the restoring and becomes the “chieftan”!!
Israel has always been regarded a a wife of YHWH, and it’s the ones that “come from you”, or the offspring of that union that are called the repairer of the breach.
That aspect is not limited to the millineal Kingdom. It’s our duty to do now as well!
Brother Ian, concerning “the church”- I take no small comfort in the words of Yeshua- “I will build my church.” He-is the one responsible, I am one who is privileged to be part of the this process of building, and yes, “unto Him be glory in the church..” I prefer the word “bride” to the word “church” and also am keenly aware of the words of Christ- “other sheep have I which are not of this fold”. There was much diversity represented in Noah’s Ark of safety. G-d loves diversity as evidenced in creation and even in our own “diverse” families! – No two snowflakes, no two children- (not even twins) are carbon copies of each other. There is unity in our diversity. He made us different in order that we would be made one. We are one family, one nation “under G-d” and “in Christ.” If we belong to Him- we belong to each other. And we are one in the bond of love and in the unity of the Spirit and each have a part to play in the body of Christ.