E. An Exalted King and an Exalted Nation
I recently discovered another missionary presentation which encourages worship of a human. This missionary work pointed to all the references in scripture which describe devotion to the Davidic kings.
Psalm 89:28 is quoted where the Davidic king is “most high”. Psalm 72:11 has people bowing to the Davidic king. 1Chronicles 29:20 has the people bowing to God and to the Davidic king, while Jeremiah 30:9 has the people serving God and the Davidic king. The nations are called upon to praise the Davidic king (Psalm 45:18).
What more could scripture say to encourage worship of the Messiah?
When examined in context, it becomes clear that these verses are talking about earthly kings. Psalm 89:28 and 1Chronicles 29:20 are referring to David himself. Psalm 45 talks of a king whose children will take the place of his fathers – not a pre-existing divine being who never got married. It is clear that the obeisance spoken of in these verses, is of the type offered to a human king and not worship of the divine.
Furthermore, we find these same terminologies, and much more directed at the Jewish people. Deuteronomy 26:19, and 28:1 refers to the Jewish nation as “most high”. Genesis 27:29, Isaiah 45:14, 49:23, 60:14, have the nations bowing to the Jews. Genesis 25:23, 27:29, Isaiah 60:10,12, Daniel 7:27 all have different terms of service directed towards the Jewish people. Isaiah 45:14 has the nations praying to the Jews. Deuteronomy 28:10, Psalm 105:38, and Esther 9:2 has the nations fearing and revering the Jews. 2Chronicles 31:8 has a blessing directed at God together with the Jewish people. 2Chronicles 35:3 has the priests serving God and the Jewish people. 2Samuel 7:22,23, and 1Chronicles 17:20,21, has the Jewish people being praised together with God. The specific words of praise directed at the Jewish people in Deuteronomy 33:29 are nowhere else to be found except in praise of God (Exodus 15:11, Psalm 35:10, 71:19, 89:9). This does not mean that the Jewish people are divine. What we can clearly learn from these verses is that the usage of these terms does not tell us anything about the divinity of the entity at whom they are directed.
Originally posted on: https://yourphariseefriend.wor...