by jimwalton » Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:04 pm
We'll start with Ps. 110.4. The second oracle (vv. 4-7) appoints the king as a very special priest, descended from Melchizedek. We know that the priesthood of Melchizedek was a different type of priesthood from the Levitical. And Melchizedek, though not in Levitical orders, took tithes from and gave a blessing to Abraham. Now, the Torah requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tithe from the people, the children of Abraham. And yet Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed him. The Messiah (Ps. 110.4) was to be a priest of the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron.
In Zechariah 6.11-13, the priest is crowned as king. In a text that is messianic, we find that the functions of king and priest are applied to the promised messiah.
As far as his sinlessness, Isa. 53.9 speaks of his innocence. Before Rashi (12th c.), most rabbinic interpretation applied Isa. 53 to the messiah. (See
http://www.hearnow.org/isa_com.html). It is often claimed that Isa. 53 speaks of suffering Israel, but then who is the "our" and "we" of the chapter? The "we" is Israel, which means that the servant is not Israel.
You're right that God has always had all that is on earth. Then about what is Ps. 2.8 speaking? I hope this helps you understand that my reading Jesus as the Messiah is not just an assumption or a problem.
We'll start with Ps. 110.4. The second oracle (vv. 4-7) appoints the king as a very special priest, descended from Melchizedek. We know that the priesthood of Melchizedek was a different type of priesthood from the Levitical. And Melchizedek, though not in Levitical orders, took tithes from and gave a blessing to Abraham. Now, the Torah requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tithe from the people, the children of Abraham. And yet Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed him. The Messiah (Ps. 110.4) was to be a priest of the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron.
In Zechariah 6.11-13, the priest is crowned as king. In a text that is messianic, we find that the functions of king and priest are applied to the promised messiah.
As far as his sinlessness, Isa. 53.9 speaks of his innocence. Before Rashi (12th c.), most rabbinic interpretation applied Isa. 53 to the messiah. (See http://www.hearnow.org/isa_com.html). It is often claimed that Isa. 53 speaks of suffering Israel, but then who is the "our" and "we" of the chapter? The "we" is Israel, which means that the servant is not Israel.
You're right that God has always had all that is on earth. Then about what is Ps. 2.8 speaking? I hope this helps you understand that my reading Jesus as the Messiah is not just an assumption or a problem.