Did Old Testament Prophecy Speak Of a Coming Messiah Who Would Be YHWH? – Should We Worship the Messiah Part 6

Before we begin, let us recap what we have looked at so far in our “Should We Worship The Messiah?” series:

• I And My Father Are One: Does This Mean The Messiah Is The Father? – Should We Worship the Messiah Part 5
• Is Isaiah 9:6 Saying The Messiah Is The Mighty Elohiym (God)?: Should We Worship the Messiah Part 4
• Did the Messiah Worship Himself? Should We Worship The Messiah (Part 3):
• Worship In the Mind of the Hebrew: Should We Worship the Messiah Part 2
• Who did the Messiah and Apostles Worship? Should We Worship The Messiah Part 1

 

The Importance of Old Testament Prophecy

In our short “Understanding the Bible” series, we looked at how our new testament belief is false if it does not have a prophetic precedence in the old testament.

This is because YHWH does nothing before first telling his servants the prophets, who of course cannot keep it to themselves, but must tell us.

Amos 3:7 Surely YHWH Elohiym will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture (Tanakh/old testament) is given by inspiration of YHWH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Therefore, if the coming Messiah will be YHWH, the prophets must have heralded it as such. They must have spoken of YHWH himself coming as the Messiah.

Did the prophets prophesy that the Messiah will be YHWH? Let us see what YHWH told the prophets about the coming Messiah.

See Why Our Belief Is False If It Does Not Have an Old Testament Foundation: Understanding the Bible 2

 

My Servant

While digging into old testament prophecies, the most profound prophecy we see was for that of a coming servant! Now how can YHWH be a servant to himself? In the first verse we will look at, we will see if he was speaking of himself, or of a man.

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Now let us examine this verse. There are 2 distinct clues here emphasized in bold letters above.

1. My Servant
2. I have put my spirit upon him

1) Biblical Usage of the Word Servant

YHWH uses the word servant many times to describe men or groups of men. We will see that the name servant is not unique to the Messiah.

Abraham was called his servant (Gen 26:24), so was Moses (Num 12:7), as was Caleb (Num 14:24), and David (2 Sam 3:18), and Jacob (Jer 46:27) and even King Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 43:10).

Therefore, the usage of the word servant in referring to the Messiah is not unique to the Messiah and shows its usage as referring to a separate man instead of pointing to YHWH himself.

 

2) I Have Put My Spirit Upon Him

Secondly, let us look at this term, “I have put my spirit upon him.”

Is this term unique to the Messiah? The fact that YHWH put his spirit upon the Messiah, does that mean the Messiah is YHWH? Let’s see.

Numbers 11:25
And YHWH came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him (Mosheh), and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Num 11:27 — Num 11:29
And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My master Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that YHWH would put his spirit upon them!

So we see YHWH put his spirit upon other men! Does this now mean that these men were YHWH? YHWH forbid!

Because of this, we must bear in mind that the Messiah was a man just like the preceding “servants” described above.

1Tim 2:5 For there is one Elohiym (God), and one mediator between Elohiym and men, the man HaMashiach Yahushua;

By the way, here is another verse with the same promise of the spirit resting on the Messiah.

Isa 11:1 — Isa 11:2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH;

The spirit of YHWH was prophesied to rest upon a certain man. Does that make that man to be YHWH? Certainly not!

 

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

The gift of Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) was given freely to all men (who wish to receive it), starting in the Book of Acts.

It was nothing surprising, but was the fulfillment of a prophecy most famously quoted from the Book of Joel, but also found in Pro 1:23, Isa 32:15, Isa 44:3, Eze 39:29.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Kefa (Peter) confirmed the prophecy fulfillment in Acts 2:16-21.

Now pouring out his Spirit on all flesh, which results in us now having that Spirit living in us (1 Cor 3:16), does that make us YHWH Elohiym? YHWH forbid!

We are still humans, but now can be led by the Father’s Spirit, if we allow it to (quench not the Spirit – 1 Thess 5:19).

However, if we allow the Spirit to lead us, we become Sons of YHWH, just as the Messiah, who is the firstborn son of YHWH.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of YHWH, they are the sons of YHWH.

Likewise the Spirit poured out on the Messiah without measure (John 3:34) does not make him to be YHWH, but the firstborn son of YHWH!

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he (Messiah) might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

The Servant in the Form of Elohiym

Php 2:5-6 Let this mind be in you, which was also in HaMashiach Yahushua:
Who, being in the form of Elohiym, thought it not robbery to be equal with Elohiym:

Now what does it mean to be in the form of Elohiym? We see 2 meanings of the word “form’ as used in Philipians 2:6.

Greek: μορφή
Transliteration: morphē
Pronunciation: mor-fay’
Perhaps from the base of G3313 (through the idea of adjustment of parts); shape; figuratively nature: – form.

Meanings:

• Shape
• Figuratively Nature

Now which is it? We know YHWH is a spirit, so he cannot have a physical shape. That eliminates the word “shape.”

Therefore, it must have the figurative meaning that the Messiah had the nature of the Father/Elohiym.

Now what made the Messiah have the nature of Elohiym was this fact:

John 3:34 For he whom Elohiym hath sent speaketh the words of Elohiym: for YHWH giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

He was given the full “dose” of the Father’s spirit. That made him have the nature of the Father. We are given the Spirit in measure according to the will of the Father (1 Cor 12:7-31). The Messiah was given it all.

Now the difference with the Messiah (the servant), was that through his obedience, he was exalted above every other men. He was the first fruit, the firstborn so that in all things he can have preeminence: he will always be first (Col 1:18).

Php 2:8 – 9 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself (as the ultimate servant), and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake. Wherefore YHWH also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

This servant was exalted by the Father. The Messiah was not the Father, the Father exalted him the Messiah to give him preeminence over the Father’s creation. The Mashiach (Messiah) is King, first in all things in the new creation (Rom 8:14-25).

 

My Servant David

Yechezqel (Ezekiel) especially prophesied of his servant David (referring to the Messiah). David was a man. He was not YHWH.

Consequently, the prophecies of my servant David shown below (referring to Messiah), was in prophecy of the coming Messiah who was to be a man. Therefore, the coming Messiah was a separate man from YHWH and not YHWH (the Spirit) himself.

Ezk 34:23
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Ezk 34:24
And I YHWH will be their Elohiym, and my servant David a prince among them; I YHWH have spoken it.

Ezekiel 37:25
And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

Ezk 37:24
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

The prophet Yechezqel especially prophesied using the term “my servant David.” Because of this, some Jews are looking for David himself to come back as the Messiah.

This is an error on the part of the Jews, as Jeremiah spoke of the seed of David my servant, who is Yahushua. Just as YHWH promised Abraham an everlasting covenant (Gen 17:7) through his seed (Yahushua):

Jer 33:22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant (through the Messiah), and the Levites (priests) that minister unto me.

Notice the similarity here:

Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

So the seed of David referred to one, as interpreted here. First to Abraham:

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is the Messiah.

Finally, the same applies to the seed of David:

Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Yahushua HaMashiach our Master, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

So the promises to my servant David was to his seed, Yahushua HaMashiach, the king of Israel, the firstborn of the new creation. Confirmation?

Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

 

More Examples of Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah

In the verse below, we see the servant also being described as a messenger. The Messiah was the ultimate messenger between YHWH and men. He was not YHWH nor prophesied to be.

Isaiah 42:19
Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as YHWH’S servant?

 

No other Elohiym (God) Will Be Formed

Below, YHWH was telling us that he alone is Elohiym and that there would be none other Elohiym formed.

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith YHWH, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no Elohiym formed, neither shall there be after me.

First of all, the servant referred to above, was chosen, but was also formed by YHWH.

Now if the Messiah was Elohiym (God), that would contradict this prophecy as YHWH said he will form no other Elohiym! But how do we know the Messiah was formed?

We were all formed by YHWH in our mothers’ wombs:

Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

See also Isaiah 44:2, Isaiah 44:24, Deut 32:18.

Likewise the Messiah was born of a woman and therefore was also formed in the belly. Therefore he cannot be Elohiym as he was formed. Here is a prophecy of him being formed in his mother’s womb:

Isa 49:5 And now, saith YHWH that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of YHWH, and my Elohiym shall be my strength.

See Isaiah 49:1-13.

 

The Promise of His Servant Being Exalted

Isa 52:13-15 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

The fact that the Messiah is seated at the right hand of the Father (exalted) does not mean he is the Father. It was prophesied that the servant will be exalted (by the Father). Now here is the fulfillment of that prophecy:

Php 2:9 Wherefore YHWH also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

He was exalted by YHWH the Father. The Father didn’t exalt himself; he exalted his son.

 

The Messiah Was Appointed A High Priest

We were told that we would be a kingdom of priests. This is a prophecy from Yirmeyahu:

Jer 33:22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant (through the Messiah), and the Levites (priests) that minister unto me.

This prophecy was connected to this promise by YHWH:

Exo 19:5 — Exo 19:6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Now through Yahushua the High Priest, we become a kingdom of priests. This is the fulfillment of the promise:

1 Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Because the Messiah is the firstborn and has preeminence in all things in the new creation, he was appointed a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Note carefully that he did not make himself a high priest, but he was appointed by the Father. Therefore, he cannot be the Father.

Heb 6:20
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Yahushua, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 3:1
Who (Yahushua) was faithful to him (YHWH) that appointed him, as also Mosheh was faithful in all his house.

Heb 5:5
So also the Messiah glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Heb 5:10
Called of YHWH an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

Does the Old Testament Prophesy of the Messiah Being YHWH?

The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the New Testament hidden and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Amos 3:7 and 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that everything in the New Testament has an old Testament foundation.

Now we know that there is only one Elohiym (God). See Deut 6:4.

Therefore, if the coming Messiah would be YHWH, to be worshiped as YHWH, it would have its foundation in the Old Testament.

However, we dod not see that. We see a statement of the true Elohiym being confirmed by the Messiah.

What do we see? We even see the Messiah confirming an old testament prophet that YHWH is the ONE TRUE ELOHIYM!!!

Jer_10:10 But YHWH is the true Elohiym (God), he is the living Elohiym, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Joh_17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohiym (God), and Yahushua HaMashiac, whom thou hast sent.

We also see the promise of a coming servant of the seed of David. We see YHWH declaring that no Elohiym will be formed. We see a declaration of a Messiah that will be made a high priest. We see the promise to exalt his servant, not that he YHWH will be his own servant.

Therefore, Old Testament prophecies do not support the modern worship of the Messiah as YHWH. It tells of a coming king over the earth, a righteous “Branch.” That was manifested to us almost 2000 years ago in the man Yahushua BenYoseph (son of Joseph) who had the Spirit of YHWH without measure. The Messiah was not YHWH himself and he is not to be worshiped as YHWH.

Indeed the coming Messiah was prophesied to be raised up. How can you raise up Elohiym who was before the beginning? How can YHWH raise up himself?

Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Indeed, YHWH made him Master and Messiah. The Messiah was not “self made.”

Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that YHWH hath made that same Yahushua, whom ye have crucified, both Master and Messiah.

The Messiah is not YHWH and therefore not to be worshiped as YHWH (the Most High). If you are still unconvinced, our series continues.

 

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