What Old Testament prophecies support Saul's declaration that "He is the Son of God"? Introducing Saul’s Bold Claim Acts 9:20 records Saul “proclaiming in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” For devout Jews, such a statement had to be anchored in the Hebrew Scriptures. Below are key prophetic passages Saul could point to, each affirming that the promised Messiah would truly be God’s Son. Psalm 2 – God Publicly Declares His Son • Psalm 2:7: “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’” • Messianic kingship is tied directly to divine sonship. • The psalm ends with a call to “Kiss the Son… blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (v. 12), identifying the Son as a worthy object of trust—language that transcends any merely human ruler. 2 Samuel 7 – The Covenant with David • 2 Samuel 7:12–14: “I will raise up your offspring after you… I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son.” • The promise is ultimately fulfilled in a King whose throne is “forever,” pointing beyond Solomon to a divine–human ruler whom God owns as Son. • Hebrews 1:5 cites this passage to prove Jesus’ unique sonship. Psalm 89 – Firstborn over Earthly Kings • Psalm 89:26–27: “He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father…’ I will also appoint him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” • “Firstborn” expresses supremacy and preeminence, signaling a ruler elevated above all others with an intimate Father–Son relationship. Isaiah 7 – Immanuel, “God with Us” • Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and she will call Him Immanuel.” • “Immanuel” means “God with us,” underscoring that the coming Son embodies God’s own presence. Isaiah 9 – A Son with Divine Titles • Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” • “Mighty God” directly attributes deity to the child; “Everlasting Father” speaks to eternal, divine nature—further validating the Son of God identity. Proverbs 30 – The Enigmatic Son • Proverbs 30:4: “Who has ascended to heaven and come down? … What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!” • The text anticipates revelation of God’s Son who shares in divine prerogatives like ascending and descending from heaven (cf. John 3:13). Psalm 110 – David’s Lord at God’s Right Hand • Psalm 110:1: “The LORD said to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” • David calls his own descendant “my Lord,” placing the Messiah in a position of equality with God at His right hand—a status befitting the Son of God. Daniel 7 – The Son of Man with Everlasting Dominion • Daniel 7:13–14: “Behold, One like a Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven… And to Him was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the peoples… should serve Him.” • “Serve” (Aramaic palach) is used elsewhere of worship rendered only to deity, indicating divine honor for the Son of Man—Jesus’ favorite self-title connecting to His sonship (cf. Mark 14:61-62). Micah 5 – Eternal Origins of the Coming Ruler • Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you shall come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from the days of eternity.” • An eternal pre-existent ruler born in Bethlehem matches the profile of a divine Son entering human history. Pulling It Together Saul’s preaching that Jesus “is the Son of God” stood on a solid prophetic foundation: • Direct declarations of divine sonship (Psalm 2; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89) • Explicit divine titles for the promised child (Isaiah 7; Isaiah 9) • Passages portraying an exalted, eternal, worship-worthy ruler (Psalm 110; Daniel 7; Micah 5) • Hints of God having a Son who shares His heavenly nature (Proverbs 30) Together these texts confirm that the Messiah is none other than God’s own Son—precisely the truth Saul boldly announced in the synagogues. |
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