The Messiah - The Lamb and the Lion

By Jan Willem van der Hoeven

He was born in the city of David, Bethlehem, as the Tanach prophesied He would be:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (The prophet Micah 5:2)

He was the promised, true “Son of David,” as His genealogies reported by the Jewish historians Matthew and Luke clearly show. Both Joseph, though not His physical father, and Miriam (Mary) are listed as the physical descendants of King David (See Luke 3:23-38 and Matthew 1:1-16). So even in a very physical sense He carried the credentials to sit on David’s throne and rule His people Israel as King.

If He was not Israel’s King and Messiah, then it certainly seems unlikely today that Israel will ever have a Messiah born in the city of David and from the house of David. For Bethlehem was sadly given away by an Israeli government to the Palestinian Arabs who will never allow a Jew to settle there and give birth to a child which, even if this did happen, would still have to be from the house of David to qualify as Ruler of Israel!

It is because of the parting from the essential conditions that need to be fulfilled by any would-be Messiah that some of the Jewish people through history – from Bar Kochba until today – have trusted in individuals to be their hope and salvation who were neither from the stock and family of David nor born in his city, the city of Bethlehem. And yet these were essential prerequisites for anyone wishing to be taken seriously as King Messiah of Israel.

Some Jewish scholars in the past, however, had difficulty trying to ascertain the identity of the promised One. For while certain scriptural passages referred to Him as a suffering servant of the Lord, others described Him as a coming Ruler and King of His people.

How were they to reconcile these seemingly opposing descriptions of their Messiah?

The solution they came up with was this: At the End of Days two Messianic figures would appear. One would be like Joseph, who suffered at the hands of, and was rejected by, his brethren. The other would be like David, who became and ruled as king. The scholars named these two figures Messiah ben Joseph (Messiah son of Joseph) and Messiah ben David (Messiah son of David).

What is amazing is that, in His first coming, Jesus fulfilled all the essentials of “Messiah ben Joseph” – coming as a suffering servant of the Lord and being led as a lamb to the slaughter. And in His much-awaited second coming, He will very much be the reigning “Lion of Judah” or “Messiah ben David!”

In other words, the Jewish scholars came close to the truth in that they ascertained the two faces of the promised Messiah. What they failed to see, however, was that instead of two distinct Messiahs coming AT THE SAME TIME, it would be ONE MESSIAH Who would come TWO TIMES: first as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, and then as reigning King of the House of David.

In a sense the connotations of “Messiah ben Joseph” as the suffering Messiah and “Messiah ben David” as the ruling, royal Messiah are not strictly accurate. Both these men were first rejected and suffered – Joseph by his brethren and David by Saul – before they each entered the time of their power and rule – Joseph as second to Pharaoh and David as king over all Israel. In this way each one indicated in his life story the characteristics of the life and story of the Messiah, who was to be rejected and to suffer grievously before He would be welcomed to reign as a true descendant and Son of David over all of Israel, and over all other nations who would pay Him homage.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD 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 the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:1-5, 10)

But, before we dwell on these passages which describe the wonderful reality that comes to this earth when the Messiah has been received in Jerusalem and reigns gloriously on the throne of David, let us first ponder the verses which describe the suffering and rejection that were to precede His coming in power and majesty.

We have already noted that a number of God’s servants in the Tanach symbolized in their life’s course the same realities as foreseen in the coming Messiah: They had to go through a time of rejection, suffering and humiliation before they came into their place and position of rulership. So it was also to be with the Messiah.

Here is how the prophet Isaiah describes Him:

And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. … Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:2b-6, 10-11)

Luke tells us how two Jewish travelers, heartbroken because of what had happened to Jesus, suddenly found themselves joined by the just-risen Lord Who wanted to know the reason for their sadness.

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:18-27)

“Ought not the Messiah to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"

That was the main point of what must certainly have been one of the most wonderful Bible lessons ever expounded concerning the Messiah: First suffering and only then the time of His glory.

This is also what the old Jewish man, Simeon, prophesied in the Temple over the Messiah on the day of His circumcision:

"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." … Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel.. (Luke 2: 29-32, 34)

So what were the scriptures – from the books of Moses and throughout all the prophet – that this Stranger and Messiah quoted to these two perplexed and sorrowful Jewish men, each verse of which pointed to the life and person of the Messiah He Himself was?

In fact, nearly all the patriarchs and prophets symbolized in their life histories some of the elements of suffering and rejection by their own kinsmen the Messiah would one day face Himself. We have already mentioned Joseph and David – initially rejected and then welcomed and received as rulers. But what about Moses, who too was first rejected by his kinsmen and pushed out into the desert, there to be welcomed by the family and house of Jethro before – upon his return with his brother Aaron, being welcomed as the hoped-for deliverer?

And what about Jacob, out of jealousy rejected by his own brother – just as his son Joseph would later be – and so having to flee to Laban in Mesopotamia before he could come back and be received and welcomed with tears and embrace by the very Esau who had first planned to kill him?

But there must have been more in the teaching on the way to Emmaus by this Stranger as:

“He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things CONCERNING HIMSELF.” (Luke 24:27)

Who, then, was this Stranger Who had appeared before:

to Abraham as he sat outside his tent?
to Jacob at Peniel, near the river Jabbok?
to Moses at the burning bush in the wilderness?
to Joshua in the plains of Jericho?
to Samson’s mother at the threshing place?
to Daniel’s friends in the fiery oven?

Who was He, this, Angel of the Lord?

Was He indeed the Messiah Himself who said, “I saw Abraham’s day?”

Was He the Seed of the woman, which God Himself promised would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), and about Whom Isaiah prophesied when he said:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14)?

And a few verses later:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

That God has a Son, the only begotten One, is already clear from the Tanach. Elohim is in the plural form, and “let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26) also implies more than one person in the Godhead. Also, today’s oft-repeated verse from the Hebrew Scriptures – “Shma Israel, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad” – and which uses the Hebrew word Echad rather than Yachid, does not exclude plurality. As the Messiah Himself said when He was on earth: “I and My Father are ONE” (John 10:30), using the word Echad and not Yachid).

Look at the amazing words of David and of Agur:

"I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalms 2:7-12)

Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know? (Proverbs 30:2-4)

During the many appearances of the Messiah or “the Angel of the Lord,” there seems to be a blurring between who this Person was and the God He represented – as if they were actually ONE. So we see that, after wrestling all night with this strange Angel of the Lord at Jabbok, Jacob called the place Peni’el for, as he said:

“I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:30)

This is so similar to the words of the Messiah Himself, who said to Philip:

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” (John 14:9b-11)

This very same aspect comes out in the wonderful story of the appearance of the Angel of the Lord to Manoah and his wife. Here is how the Bible describes this appearance:

Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

So the woman came and told her husband, saying,"A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name.

Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, "O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born."

And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.

Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, "What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?"

And the Angel of the LORD said to him,"Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?"

So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the LORD. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on — it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar — the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. When the Angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the LORD.

And Manoah said to his wife,"We shall surely die, because we have seen God!" (Judges 13:2-6, 8-9, 17-22)

The story of the Messiah’s appearance and visit to Abraham is very beautiful and revealing. Three angels appear to Abraham at noon when he is sitting in front of his tent under the shadow of a tree, but it is only One of the angels Whom Abraham feels led to call Lord and worship.

Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said." So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes." And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, in the tent." And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Genesis 18:1-10)

This ‘Lord’ could not be God himself – as the Bible clearly teaches that no one can see or meet God and live. Who then was this stranger Whom Abraham worshiped and called Lord, and Who promised that his wife would bear a son within a year, as God Himself had promised?

This is how the Messiah could say when He was on earth: “I saw Abraham’s day.”

We find the same kind of blurring in the story of the appearance of the Angel of the Lord to Moses in the burning bush:

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:2-6)

When Moses first notices the burning bush, the Bible tells us that the Angel of the Lord appeared and spoke to him. Later it is God speaking to Moses. This incident reminds us of Joshua in the plain of Jericho meeting the captain of the Lord of hosts, and just as Moses was, Joshua is also instructed by God to put off his shoes.

Now we come to that part and position of the Messiah which is still reserved for the future, when He will come in great majesty and power to rule forever from Jerusalem, seated on the throne of David.

There are so many prophecies and verses concerning this aspect of the Messiah’s coming that it is quite understandable that many Jews formed their opinion about the Messiah based mainly on these verses: that He would be a mighty King who would deliver them from all their enemies.

Although He did not fulfill these, their hopes and expectations, in His first coming, He will certainly fulfill them at His second, as the Bible clearly teaches.

Again, He would first come as a sacrificial LAMB, and only then as a mighty KING!

This future aspect of the Messiah coming in great glory and majesty to the aid of His people, also as a mighty, mighty Warrior against all the enemies who will have gathered against His people, is foreign to most of the theologians of the church, many of them seeing Him, (if they still see Him at all), as the Lamb that was slain rather than the Lion of Judah coming to reign!

In this way the old Jewish prophet Simeon had spoken on the day when the Messiah was brought into the Temple to be circumcised: He would be “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." (Luke 2:32) And that “this Child is destined for the fall AND RISING OF MANY in Israel…” (Luke 2:34). And so it will be.

The Jewish people that have suffered so much in relation to Him will have their day of Glory and Rising also because of Him. This is the wonderful truth of Scripture.

Although Moses’ people first rejected him when, as Pharaoh’s adopted son, he was in a position and willing to help them, they later received him – when he came back (with Aaron his brother) – and he became a great savior to them.

So too Joseph, who was first totally rejected out of jealousy by his brethren and sold to the Midianites, was later embraced by them with much weeping, and became the savior and rescuer of his people.

So it will be with the Messiah Who, when He returns, will be received and become the cause of delivering His people from all their sins and enemies.

Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here." Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him. (Genesis 45:1-4, 13-15)

Yes when He, the Messiah, comes again, it will be for “the rising” and glory and victory of Israel. That is the clear teaching of Scripture. It will be for their comfort and redemption.

As the Lamb of God the Messiah came to a stable in Bethlehem, but as King the Messiah will come to a palace, the holy third Temple in Jerusalem, just as David, born in Bethlehem, then came to reign in Jerusalem. This is why the Messiah is often so appropriately called “the Son of David.”

So this time the Messiah will not be born – for He was already born, died and rose again.\

This time He will come on the clouds of heaven, in mighty power and glory, to save His people from all their troubles, and to be their King, in His holy Temple, in Jerusalem.

Thus Daniel describes this in one of his wonderful visions:

"I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one Which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

And thus the prophet Ezekiel describes this soon-coming and glorious event:

Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw--like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me.

And He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name, they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places.” (Ezekiel 43:1-7)

According to the verses quoted from Ezekiel 43, there will therefore be no coming of the Messiah without a temple FIRST being built for the King. He is not coming to a Western Wall, certainly not to the Dome of the Rock! As it is written:

“He will suddenly come to His Temple.” (Malachi 3:1)

So, if we truly want Him to come to us and reside in Jerusalem, we will have to build Him a Temple, as described by Ezekiel, to welcome Him and His Shekinah presence back to His city. This is generally not understood by those who want to have Messiah now! If we really want Him, then we have to build Him a house of prayer for all nations to welcome Him.

Without it He will not come.

So the Messiah will return, not as a baby to Bethlehem, but as a Lion, taking the place of defender of His people as many scriptures clearly indicate, even though this aspect of His coming is little heard about or understood by many, many Christians today. Had they understood it, they would have already now taken their stand – like the Messiah – in defense of His people.

Here are some of the verses which reveal this aspect of the coming battle when the Messiah will truly fight for His own people as the Lion of Judah:

In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place--Jerusalem. "The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. (Zechariah 12:6-8)

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You. It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light; the lights will diminish. It shall be one day which is known to the Lord-- neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light.

And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be-- "The Lord is one," and His name one. All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin's Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses. The people shall dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor's hand; Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be gathered together: Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance. (Zechariah 14:1-14)

Come near, you nations, to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter. For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (Isaiah 34:1-2, 8)

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall ascend with acceptance on My altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory. "Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their roosts?

Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; and the ships of Tarshish will come first, to bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them, to the name of the Lord your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has glorified you. "The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in My wrath I struck you, but in My favor I have had mercy on you. Therefore your gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession. For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined. (Isaiah 60:1-12)

A Song of Ascents. "Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth," let Israel now say – "Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long." The Lord is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked.

Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. Neither let those who pass by them say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon you; We bless you in the name of the Lord!" (Psalms 129:1-8)

"They shall walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses," Says the Lord. (Hosea 11:10-11)

When He comes again, then He will take up the cause of His people. He will fight with and deliver them from all their enemies. He will roar like a Lion; He will judge the nations ‘with the rod of His mouth. And His resting place shall be glorious!

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. And His resting place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:4, 10b)

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