The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

The Jews Perplexed

These texts perplexed the Jews. Here was a problem they could not solve: if David called him Lord, how was he then his son? How could he be a child born of the seed of David, and yet be Immanuel—God with us? Yet Isaiah, their own prophet, declared, “A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ⁵¹ GSAM 49.3

Christ well knew the question that would put to silence the caviling Pharisees, hence he asked them, “What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” ⁵² GSAM 50.1

This subject is again alluded to in Psalm 45:6, 7: “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” ⁵³ With these Scriptures before the mind, the Jewish people must have had exalted conceptions of the character of the future Ruler and Restorer. It could not have been otherwise. GSAM 50.2