Mind the Gap: How the Jewish Writings between the Old and New Testament Help Us Understand Jesus

by Matthias Henze

The biblical origins of these two messianic titles, they point out, are Psalm 2, the royal psalm in which God says to the king, “You are my son,” and Nathan’s prophecy to the house of David in 2 Samuel 7, in which God says about David’s royal offspring, “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me” (the title “Son of the Most High” does not have a biblical origin). According to this interpretation, the calamities of lines 2–3 are simultaneous with the Advent of the messiah; they are happening at the time when the messiah will appear. There will be much social unrest and oppression. In line 4, God raises up his own people, the people of Israel, and gives them peace. The remainder of the text in lines 5–9 describes an everlasting messianic kingdom. The precise nature of the messianic figure remains elusive, but a few details are clear: he will act as judge of the earth (lines 5–6), all cities will pay him homage (line 7), and no hostile nation can overcome him (lines 8–9). Again, the similarities with Psalm 2 are striking.