This Psalm of David we’re about to dive into brings us face-to-face with what some call the mother of all Scriptural contradictions.
Both Judaism and Christianity have struggled mightily with this.
What am I talking about exactly?
I’m talking about how the God of the Bible is portrayed as a merciful and loving being who loves and protects His worshippers.
Yet at the same time, he is also depicted as a ruthless warrior who has no qualms about laying waste to both his enemies and His followers (when they get out of hand).
These same attributes are also associated with the Messiah.
Now, it’s interesting to see how both Judaism and Christianity deal with these opposing characteristics.
Judaism reconciles the contradiction by saying there are gonna be two Messiahs.
One who is a deliverer, and the other who is a vengeful warrior.
They refer to the delivery figure as Messiah Ben Yosef or the “Son of Joseph.”
And they refer to the vengeful warrior as Messiah Ben David or the “Son of David.”
Christianity, on the other hand, gets really weird.
They get all maple syrupy and apologetic that God’s ruthless and avenging attributes even exist.
They assert that the Messiah is ONLY a Deliverer, and that his vengeful, warrior characteristics have been done away with in the New Testament era.
My only response to that is, if that’s the case, then what do you make of this mysterious messianic figure who we’re told is gonna lead the charge at the battle of Armageddon?
We’re told his sword is gonna draw so much blood, it’s gonna rise to the height of a horse’s bridle.
Ya feeling me here?
So who’s right?
Judaism or Christianity?
Well, if Yeshua is the Messiah (and I assert that he is), then they’re both wrong.
Yet, theologically speaking, Judaism is way more accurate.
Because they accept that the God of the Bible possesses both “deliverer” and “warrior” attributes.
And that’s your takeaway for today.
This Psalm of David looks ahead to ONE Messiah.
Yet this one Messiah will have TWO manifestations at two distinct times.
Or as the evangelical branch of Christianity puts it, there will be the 1st coming and the 2nd coming.
In the 1st coming, the Messiah came as a mild and meek lamb.
In the 2nd coming, he will appear as the roaring lion of Judah.
Are you feeling me here?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Behold therefore the
goodness and severity of God…”
— Romans 11:22
“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…
and I beheld, and, lo, in the midst…
stood a Lamb as it had been slain.”
— Revelation 5:5–6
“The Lord Yeshua shall be revealed
from heaven with his mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance
on them that know not God…”
— 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8
Romans 11:22 points out both the “kindness and severity of God”. This seeming contradiction is very hard for many to accept. We tend to find people as being either kind or severe but not both, so how could God, and Yeshua also, be both kind and severe? It’s because God’s Torah, His law of love, must be obeyed, because the ultimate penalty for sin is death, which is severe, but the ultimate reward for obedience is eternal life, which is kindness beyond what we deserve. So there’s really no middle ground, it’s either kindness or severity, and it’s up to each of us to choose.
Yup. Totally agree, or as Yeshua said, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”-Revelation 3:16
Be blessed!
Whenever I hear someone say that the God of the Old Covenant was cruel but the God of the New Covenant is all about love, I ask them to read Acts 5:1-11.
Here we have a husband and wife, Ananias and Sapphira, who sold property to give to the messianic community, but decided to keep some of it for themselves (after all, it was their money).
What they did that was wrong was to lie about keeping some for themselves, and for that they were killed- IMMEDIATLY!
How is that a loving, compassionate, and forgiving God?
One of the worse things that I have found within so much of Christianity, and even in Judaism to a degree, is how people try to humanize God. They make God out to be what they want him to be, instead of accepting that he is not human and way above what humanity is.
Even Kefa (Peter) realized that God doesn’t respect humanity (Acts 10:34-35), but will accomplish his goal whether humans agree, like it, or not.
It comes down to this: if we cannot trust God to punish those who try to do wrong, we cannot trust God to reward those who try to do what is right.
Hi Steven,
The execution of Ananias and Sapphira was because they trampled on God’s Holy Property.
Please read this: https://messianic-revolution.com/l10-5-the-real-torah-based-reason-why-god-killed-ananias-and-sapphira-in-the-book-of-acts/
Be blessed!
You’ve been warned of misrepresenting Christianity many times. Yes, some call themselves Christians and are not well-informed, but not all. Yet every one of your posts continues to contradict true Christianity, and I see that others have already challenged you before, as I see they still do. I told you; you keep digging a hole you won’t be able to drag yourself out of. Perhaps you are the kind Jesus will take vengeance on when He returns, maybe sooner, mainly because you’ve misrepresented His true Church. You haven’t seen those who have produced the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, which might be a cause for Judaism to blind you like your fathers.
Dr. Anthony Tudela
Hi Tony,
Respectfully, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
The Messiah was NOT Christian, nor did he ever come to start a new religion.
Be blessed.
Excellent reply but I’ll stay out of this fray.
Thanks, Cory. But do feel free to chime in!