Thursday, March 10, 2022

Jan Verbruggen on the Deity of the Messianic Figure in Isaiah 9

  

The “us” is foremost the nation, but we will see that the salvation brought by the child is much broader than just the nation of Israel. Who is this child? He is definitely a ruler, (see the reference to kingdom, government, and throne) but he is not called a king. In our text, he is presented as a child. But the language used for this child, makes it clear that he is not a mere human. This is clearly the eschatological figure, like the Messiah. This figure will experience a human birth. But looking at the epitaph’s one must also conclude that the person is also divine: he is called a wonderful counselor (פּלא יועץ) but only God does פּלא. Throughout the book of Isaiah, human wisdom is derided, insufficient to give them counsel which leads to salvation (1:26; 3:3; 5:21; 19:11-15). By contrast, this child will give wonderful counsel, counsel which is divine, beyond the merely human counsel. Further he is called אל גּבּוֹר, a term that is only used in the Tanakh to describe the God of Israel. He is called אביעד. Many kings claim to be father to their people, but royal person is different. This person’s fatherhood is claimed to be forever שׂר שלוֹם is the climax of the titles. He is a king who will deal differently with his people. While he will be a valiant warrior, this child will also be a king, who establishes peace, who brings reconciliation between God and man and man and man (Isa 53:5; 57:19; 66:12). In the last verse of the pericope, the nature of the child is further revealed by what he will do. His government will increase and so the peace of his rule is no end. He will reign from David’s throne with justice and righteousness forever. These are incredible statement that seem to be very much out of place if we are dealing with a mere human ruler. Again this is a clear indication that this child, this ruler is an eschatological figure. Lastly, Isaiah identifies the agent who will establish and sustain the son’s coming kingdom: ‎קִנְאַ֛ת יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה־זֹּֽאת “the zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this” (Isa 9:6). The only other place where this idea of the zeal of the LORD is mentioned again we find again a clear reference to the remnant of God’s people (Isa 37;32). (Jan Verbruggen, “What’s in a Name: Shear Yashub and the Sign of Immanuel,” in Text and Canon: Essays in Honor of John H. Sailhamer, ed. Robert L. Cole and Paul J. Kissling [Eugene, Oreg.: Pickwick Publications, 2017], 70)