“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)
Living in a day 2000+ years after the incarnation of Jesus Christ, it is somewhat difficult to fully comprehend prophecy.
But, even in ancient times prophecies were rare, as millions of people lived over thousands of years of history, and yet the number of true prophets of God were no more than a few hundred. And without modern communication and transportation methods, most people would have never seen or heard a prophet in their lifetimes.
And yet, there were times when the Spirit of God spoke directly to men, and revealed to them God's Word.
In this passage we find Solomon turning aside from his nuggets of wisdom for living to give a brief set of questions to us about the Son of God.
He opens by confirming that there is a Creator God, who can move between earth and heaven, who has the power to gather all the water of the earth in his garment and hold the wind in his hand.
He then asks the reader to confirm the name of this God. Remember, Solomon lived in a land surrounded by pagans, and only the Jews worshiped the Creator, and they knew his name: Jehovah!
But then, Solomon asked his students to answer one more thing: the name of God's Son. But wait a minute, how did Solomon know that God has a Son? And how could his readers know his name?
But, even in ancient times prophecies were rare, as millions of people lived over thousands of years of history, and yet the number of true prophets of God were no more than a few hundred. And without modern communication and transportation methods, most people would have never seen or heard a prophet in their lifetimes.
And yet, there were times when the Spirit of God spoke directly to men, and revealed to them God's Word.
In this passage we find Solomon turning aside from his nuggets of wisdom for living to give a brief set of questions to us about the Son of God.
He opens by confirming that there is a Creator God, who can move between earth and heaven, who has the power to gather all the water of the earth in his garment and hold the wind in his hand.
He then asks the reader to confirm the name of this God. Remember, Solomon lived in a land surrounded by pagans, and only the Jews worshiped the Creator, and they knew his name: Jehovah!
But then, Solomon asked his students to answer one more thing: the name of God's Son. But wait a minute, how did Solomon know that God has a Son? And how could his readers know his name?
In the Old Testament, there is only one other reference to the Son of God -- in Dan. 3:25, when Nebuchadnezzar watches in amazement as the three Hebrew children walk around unharmed in the fiery furnace, and with them is a fourth person -- the Son of God! But, that reference is about 400 hundred years AFTER Solomon. And yet, four centuries earlier, Solomon somehow knew that God had a son.
There are several "theophonies" in the Old Testament... that is, pre-incarnate appearances of Christ; but none identify Him as God's Son prior to the Daniel reference. (eg. Abram and the King of Melchizedek, Gen 14:18; Joshua and the Man with the Sword, Joshua 5:13-15)
While I don't have the answers for it all, it is obvious that Solomon was hoping in the coming Messiah, who would be more than just a military ruler and king of Israel, and more than one of Solomon's descendants, he would be God's Son.
When we see the depth of faith and knowledge the O.T. saints had without the full revelation of the Bible, we are without excuse. We know the name of God's Son - Jesus Christ - and we have the complete revelation of God in our hands.
Today, there are still those who ask the question, “Who is God’s Son?” Well, for Bible-believers, there is no question as to that answer. 1 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
The incarnation (meaning “made into flesh”) revealed that God’s Son is none other than Jesus Christ! John's Gospel says it this way, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
As we celebrate His birth this week, let’s take time to answer the question “and what is his son’s name?”
As we celebrate His birth this week, let’s take time to answer the question “and what is his son’s name?”
Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
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