DIVINITY OF CHRIST part 8
The writings of the prophets (Micah 5:2, Daniel 7:13-14, and Malachi 3:1-2)
Part 8 of the sermon series, Divinity of Christ.
The first three sermons showed that Jesus is God through the writings of John. The fourth examined Paul’s witness to Christ’s divinity. The fifth drew from the book of Hebrews. The sixth sermon was from the letters of Peter. The seventh sermon highlighted the divinity of Christ as seen in the writings of Isaiah, the prophet. This eighth sermon will proclaim that Christ is God based on the prophecies of Micah, Daniel, and Malachi.
Messiah from Ancient Days
In Micah 5:2, Micah, the prophet, once foretold. Someone coming from of old. From Bethlehem, though small among Judah’s clans, that was part of God’s plans. A ruler would come from this humble land; His sacrifice would be so grand. The promised One came from the ancient days, another way to say eternity in display. In other words, this divine being is from everlasting. It can only mean the prophecy relates to the deity. The ruler to rise could only be Christ.
Micah 5:2: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.Matthew 2:2: saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
The NT fulfilled this prophecy, which resounds Christ’s deity. In Matthew 2:1-6, wise men from the east searched for the newborn king of the Jews, intending to worship Him. Their intent reveals a knowledge we now know. Worship belongs to God alone, and they intended to offer it to Christ. In the same text, when Herod asked the chief and scribes where the Messiah would be born, they cited Micah’s prophecy confirming Bethlehem as the place.
Gems in the text
1. Christ is from Bethlehem, a fulfillment of the prophecy.
2. The Messiah is from of old, from ancient days, a way of saying very old or eternal.
3. The Magi, wise men from the East, sought the King of the Jews so that they could worship Him, which meant that they believed the child to be God.
Ancient of Days
Daniel, the prophet, saw in vision a figure “like a son of man,” riding on the clouds of heaven and presented before the Ancient of Days. To Him was given glory, dominion, and a kingdom that shall not fade or fall. All peoples, nations, and tongues would serve His name; serve is a word in Daniel that implies worship and acclaim.
Daniel 7:13-14: I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyedMark 14:62: And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
This Son of Man receives eternal reign and divine privileges that by right are only God’s, by design. Jesus claimed this title, Son of Man, while walking below and, at His trial, declared it so. He spoke of His return with clouds and might, seated in power at the Father's right. In Revelation, the Lamb was worshiped from people of all nations.[1]
Gems in the text
1. The one like the son of man would rule forever, eternally.
2. The son of man would be given glory and dominion over all nations.
3. Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man, and heaven worshiped Him in heaven as Daniel prophesied.
Temple Visit
Malachi, the prophet, foretells the arrival of the Lord in His temple. It is a warning to the people. A messenger would come first to prepare the way, fulfilled in John the Baptist, as Scripture did say.[2] Then, the Lord Himself would come to His temple on that prophesied day. Prophecy was fulfilled in Christ.
Malachi 3:1-2: Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
The Hebrew word ha’adon (הָאָד֣וֹן), meaning "the Lord," can refer to earthly masters or God, but in this prophetic context, it clearly points to God Himself, appearing suddenly and divinely in His temple. He is called the “messenger of the covenant,” not merely announcing it, but embodying and enacting it. He is God entering His own house.
When Jesus entered the temple, He did so with divine authority, as the Lord to whom the temple belongs. Malachi asks, “Who can endure the day of His coming?” His arrival was not gentle but purifying, like a refiner’s fire and fullers’ soap. This is a cleansing judgment, meant to restore holiness.
The passage reveals the Messiah as both divine and purifying: Christ the Lord, who fulfills the covenant and transforms His people by fire and truth.
Gems in the text
1. Malachi prophesied that the Lord would visit His temple, referring to God.
2. Christ fulfilled the visit to the Temple, as Malachi prophesied. Christ is the God who fulfilled the prophecy.
Application
1. Believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Proclaim the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Defend the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[1] Revelation 5:12 and 7:9
[2] Matthew 11:10 and Mark 1:2
Poem
ANCIENT OF DAYS by Ed Pilapil Jr. From old, from the ancient of days Tell me now, what did Micah say From Bethlehem, He would come forth Magi from the East, not the North Daniel, through visions of the night God opened his spiritual sight The son of man with dominion Glory and eternal kingdom All nations will worship and serve In Scripture, that’s what we observe Temple scene, we also observe The people forgot how to serve He spoke of the unseen kingdom Sovereign, He has dominion Let us pray for spiritual sight Meditate on this day and night Speak of it, east, west, south, and north Christ is divine, let us go forth They are one, that’s what Scripture says Son of Man and Ancient of Days
Study Guide
1. Explain the divinity of Christ in Micah 5:2.
2. Explain the divinity of Christ in Daniel 7:13-14.
3. Explain the divinity of Christ in Malachi 3:1-2.
An expanded study guide is found in the downloadable files.
Downloadable files in English and Tagalog.
