Building Bible Confidence: Part 14

Jonathan Edwards
May 5
7 min read

Part 14: The Promised Messiah Revealed (Part 2)

The Promised Messiah Revealed in Old Testament Books of History

The next section of the Old Testament is primarily about the historical narrative from Israel's entrance in the promised land to their humbling exile and later return. Within the narrative history are references to the Messiah. As a reminder, we’re observing one of the following elements in the prophecy:

(A) The sacrifice and/or priest element of the Messiah

(B) The kingdom(ship)/reign/covenant of the Messiah

(D) The lineage and/or life history of the Messiah

(E) ‘Types’ of Messiah (to be fulfilled in the anti-type)

Commander of Our Salvation (E)

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.”

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so (Joshua 5:13-15).

Not only does Joshua encounter heaven’s spiritual Commander, but Joshua is also typified as Jesus: a leader of a covenant people entering into a promised land. Jesus spiritually leads the armies of heaven in Revelation 19:11-21 and leads us to ultimate spiritual victory (see Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 6:10-20).

In Judges – Judge and Lawgiver (C)

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).

Before the time of the kings, judges were chosen by God to lead, rescue, and judge Israel. Jesus is the antitype of this noble office. The key difference is that they fell short, ultimately leading Israel farther into depravity. Jesus’ righteous judgment and law help shine the light into a depraved world and calls mankind to repentance (see Acts 10:42).

In Ruth – Kinsman Redeemer (E)

He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a kinsman redeemer,” (Ruth 3:9).

According to Leviticus 25, a kinsman redeemer was someone who could free a family member in need. The law said (A) he must be related; (B) must be willing to redeem; (C) must be free himself; (D) must be able to pay the price. These types all point to the great Redeemer: Jesus. He is related (Hebrews 2:14-16); willing (Matthew 26:39, 42); spiritually free and without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15); and able to pay the price (Hebrews 9:11-16).

In 1 Samuel – Samuel’s Lament (C)

If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” (1 Samuel 2:25).

Samuel correctly laments that there is a need for one who can be the advocate between God and man. Jesus is our Mediator, the one who is able to go between God and man as He is God and put on flesh (see 1 Timothy 2:3-6).

In 2 Samuel – The Line of David (B)

“But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you...And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever,” (2 Samuel 7:12,16).

Jesus was a descendant of David, the king who God promised that a man from his house would always sit on his throne. Jesus not only came as in this physical lineage but as a greater King of a spiritual kingdom (see Matthew 1:1-17, John 18:36, Colossians 1:16).

In 1-2 Kings – Greater than Elijah (E)

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me,” (2 Kings 2:9).

First and Second Kings contain connections to Jesus. Like Elisha’s double portion of Elijah’s spirit, so Jesus was greater than John the Baptist (see John 3:30-35). In addition, we can read about to the potential that Solomon could have achieved in 1 Kings 4:20-34 (foreshadowing the true riches available in the kingdom of Christ - see Ephesians 1:3-14). We can also see the need for a Messiah based on the depravity and exile of God’s people in 2 Kings 17 and 25.

In 1-2 Chronicles – Kingdom Potential (E)

Also the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland (2 Chronicles 1:15).

First and Second Chronicles are historical narratives of the kingdom of Judea. We can observe the potential this kingdom had if they has remained faithful to God. Thankfully, Jesus is king over a spiritual kingdom that cannot be destroyed (see Matthew 16:16-18). Additionally, 1 Chronicles 17:3-14 is a sister passage to a previously considered verse in 2 Samuel 7:12-16.

In Ezra – Priest Leading the People (A, E)

Ezra was a priest who led a remnant of the people back from captivity. The long years of various leadership types did not work. Neither the judges nor the kings had been faithful to God. Now the priests were spiritually leading the people. Ultimately, the Messiah would be the Great High Priest (See Hebrews 4:14-16).

In Nehemiah – Keeping the Law Perfectly (C)

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, and to bringing the wood offering and the first fruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good! (Nehemiah 13:28-31).

As Nehemiah summarized his book, he reflected on the depravity of the spiritual leadership. He poured out his frustration with their imperfection and hypocrisy, longing for God to remember his good ways. Jesus kept the law perfectly and serves as a superior priest to a better covenant (see Hebrews 4:14-16).

In Esther – Esther’s Plight (C)

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

The exiled Jewish people were in danger of genocide. They were constantly under the rule of stronger, crueler countries. While Esther was able to save them from extermination in this narrative, the people would need a greater savior as they would never return to national or international power as they once had during the days of David and Solomon.

The Promised Messiah Revealed in Old Testament Books of Wisdom Poetry

As we have previously studied, the works of poetry and wisdom are not chronologically after the history books. They are contemporaries. Job was likely written before Israel was formed, and most of the rest was written across the years during the years of David and Solomon. As a reminder, we’re observing one of the following elements in the prophecy within each book:

(A) The sacrifice and/or priest element of the Messiah

(B) The kingdom(ship)/reign/covenant of the Messiah

(D) The lineage and/or life history of the Messiah

(E) ‘Types’ of Messiah (to be fulfilled in the anti-type)

In Job – A Mediator Needed (A)

For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both... (Job 9:32-35).

Job’s friends assumed his tragedies were because of hidden sins he committed. He desperately wanted to justify himself, knowing he had no hidden sins to reveal. Job’s cry for a mediator to God shows the importance of Jesus as our mediator in 1 Timothy 2:5.

In Psalms – A Crucifixion Scene (A, D)

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? … I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots (Psalm 22:1,17-18)

Jesus not only spoke these words at the crucifixion, but Matthew 27 shows the Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing. They also speared his side instead of breaking his legs (the traditional method to speed up the death process) as written in John 19:33-34.

In Proverbs – All Have Sinned (C)

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? (Proverbs 20:9).

The rhetorical question is intended to be answered with , “No one can.” Since all have sinned, we all stand in need of a sacrifice to atone us for our sins (see Romans 3:23-24).

In Ecclesiastes – No One is Worthy (C)

For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

The wise man Solomon devoted himself to find the meaning and purpose of life. He concluded that spiritually, all will fall short of perfection. The wisest of men points towards of the need for a messiah (see Romans 3:10).

In Song of Solomon – A Husband and a Wife (E)

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers (Song of Solomon 5:1).

Even the poem of love between a man and his new bride points to Jesus. In Ephesians 5:22-33, the writer compares Jesus and the church to a husband and wife. The marriage relationship is a type of relationship pointing to the antitype of Christ and His church.

*This article was taken from The Bible Series, a twelve-part study written by Jonathan Edwards. This study is available for free PDF download at www.pureandsimplebible.com