JESUS IS OUR LORD: THE ONE LORD REVEALED THROUGH DAVIDIC PROPHECY AND THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON
An Old Testament Witness to the Divine Identity of the Messiah
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction: The Question of the One LORD
The central confession of Israel’s faith is found in Deuteronomy:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.”
— Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV)
This declaration, known as the Shema, established the foundation of biblical monotheism. Israel worshiped one true God, Yahweh, the Creator, Redeemer, and covenant Lord. However, the mystery of biblical revelation is that within this confession of one LORD, the Old Testament progressively reveals a coming Messiah who shares the divine identity and authority of Yahweh.
The New Testament does not introduce a new God beside the God of Israel. Rather, it reveals the identity of the One LORD more fully through Jesus Christ. The apostles proclaimed that Jesus is not a created being or merely a human prophet, but the eternal Lord who came in human flesh.
The question, therefore, is not whether the Bible teaches one LORD. It clearly does. The question is:
Who is included within the identity of the One LORD revealed in Scripture?
The testimony of David, Israel’s greatest king, provides one of the strongest Old Testament revelations concerning the divine nature of the Messiah.
1. David’s Prophetic Office: The King Who Spoke by Divine Inspiration
David was not merely a political ruler. He was an anointed king whose words carried prophetic significance.
The Scriptures testify:
“The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”
— 2 Samuel 23:2 (KJV)
David’s writings in the Psalms were not simply personal reflections. They were inspired revelations concerning God’s redemptive plan.
The apostle Peter confirmed this understanding:
“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ...”
— Acts 2:30 (KJV)
David received the covenant promise that one of his descendants would sit upon an everlasting throne:
“And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”
— 2 Samuel 7:16 (KJV)
The Davidic covenant pointed beyond Solomon and the earthly kings of Israel toward an eternal King whose kingdom would never end.
2. Psalm 110:1 — David Calls the Messiah His Lord
Psalm 110 begins with one of the most remarkable statements in the Old Testament:
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
— Psalm 110:1 (KJV)
David speaks of two persons:
The LORD (YHWH) — the God of Israel.
My Lord — the Messiah whom David recognizes as superior.
The Hebrew text presents a profound theological question. David, the king of Israel, is speaking about someone who will come from his own family line, yet David calls Him “my Lord.”
A descendant normally comes after his ancestor. A son normally occupies a lower position than his father. Yet David acknowledges that his future descendant is greater than himself.
Jesus Himself highlighted this mystery:
“If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”
— Matthew 22:45 (KJV)
Jesus was not denying that the Messiah would be David’s son. He was revealing that the Messiah’s identity cannot be explained only by human descent.
The Messiah is:
David’s son according to His humanity.
David’s Lord according to His divine identity.
The only explanation is that the Messiah possesses an existence and authority greater than any ordinary descendant of David.
3. The Messiah at the Right Hand of God
Psalm 110 does not place the Messiah among ordinary kings. He is invited to sit at God’s right hand:
“Sit thou at my right hand...”
— Psalm 110:1
In biblical thought, the right hand represents divine authority, power, and rule.
No ordinary angel, prophet, or earthly king receives this position. The Messiah shares in the heavenly throne and exercises universal dominion.
Daniel saw a similar vision:
“One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven... and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.”
— Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV)
The Son of Man receives everlasting authority over all nations. Jesus applied this prophecy to Himself when He stood before the high priest:
“Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
— Matthew 26:64 (KJV)
The Messiah is not merely a servant near God’s throne; He possesses heavenly authority.
4. The One LORD of Deuteronomy and the Lord Jesus Christ
Some argue that because Deuteronomy teaches one LORD, Jesus cannot be God. However, this misunderstands biblical monotheism.
The Bible does not teach that the one God must exist as one person. It teaches that there is only one divine Being worthy of worship.
The Old Testament reveals:
One Creator.
One Redeemer.
One LORD.
One divine name.
The New Testament reveals that Jesus shares this divine identity.
Paul writes:
“But to us there is but one God, the Father... and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things.”
— 1 Corinthians 8:6 (KJV)
Paul deliberately uses the language of the Shema and applies the title “Lord” (Kyrios) to Jesus.
The Greek translation of Deuteronomy 6:4 uses the same word (Kyrios) for Yahweh that the New Testament uses for Jesus.
The early Christians did not abandon Israel’s confession of one God. They recognized that Jesus belongs within that divine identity.
5. Solomon’s Witness: The Son Who Possesses Divine Wisdom
The wisdom writings associated with Solomon also reveal a mysterious figure known as the Son.
Proverbs declares:
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”
— Proverbs 30:4 (KJV)
This passage presents a heavenly Son associated with God’s authority over creation.
The question is striking:
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name?
The Bible’s full revelation answers this mystery in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son who came from the Father.
6. Proverbs 8: The Eternal Wisdom of God
Proverbs 8 describes Wisdom as existing before creation:
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.”
— Proverbs 8:22 (KJV)
Wisdom speaks of being present when God created the heavens and the earth:
“When he prepared the heavens, I was there...”
— Proverbs 8:27 (KJV)
The New Testament identifies Christ as the wisdom of God:
“Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:24 (KJV)
And again:
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
— Colossians 2:3 (KJV)
The wisdom that was with God in creation finds its ultimate revelation in the eternal Son.
7. The Son’s Divine Identity in the Old Testament Hope
The prophets repeatedly describe the coming Messiah in divine language.
Isaiah declares:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
— Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
The promised Son is not merely a human ruler. He carries divine titles.
Micah prophesied concerning Bethlehem:
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah... out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
— Micah 5:2 (KJV)
The Messiah’s origin reaches beyond human history.
8. Jesus Claims the Divine Lordship Revealed in Scripture
Jesus did not merely accept the title Messiah. He revealed Himself as the divine Lord.
He declared:
“Before Abraham was, I am.”
— John 8:58 (KJV)
The phrase “I am” echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus:
“I AM THAT I AM.”
— Exodus 3:14 (KJV)
Jesus claimed eternal existence.
Thomas, after seeing the risen Christ, confessed:
“My Lord and my God.”
— John 20:28 (KJV)
Jesus did not reject this worship. He accepted Thomas’s confession.
The final book of Scripture describes Jesus as:
“KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
— Revelation 19:16 (KJV)
The title belongs to the supreme ruler of all creation.
Conclusion: David’s Lord Is Jesus Christ
David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealed a mystery greater than himself:
“The LORD said unto my Lord...”
— Psalm 110:1
The Messiah would be David’s descendant, yet David would worship Him as Lord.
Solomon’s wisdom pointed toward the eternal Son associated with God’s creative power and wisdom.
The prophets announced a child who would be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father.
The New Testament identifies this Messiah as Jesus Christ.
Jesus is not another god beside Yahweh. He is the Lord revealed within the biblical confession of the One LORD.
The God of Israel has revealed Himself fully through His Son:
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.”
— 1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
Therefore, the confession of the Church is the same truth revealed through David:
Jesus Christ is our Lord.
Jesus Christ is the divine Messiah.
Jesus Christ is the One LORD revealed to humanity.
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
No comments:
Post a Comment