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Monday, October 28, 2013

Jonathan Edwards' thoughts on the Angel of the Lord



Isaiah 63-7-9 "I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has granted them according to His compassion and according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses. 8 For He said, “Surely, they are My people, sons who will not deal falsely.” So He became their Savior. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old."

Introduction:
Yesterday we considered how God the Son appeared as the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament and how what He did paralleled what He would do as God in human flesh, Jesus Christ.  In today's post I would like the reader to consider this short piece on the Angel of the Lord from one of the premier theological thinkers of all time pictured above - Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758). Jonathan Edwards was a pastor, scholar, leader of the First Great Awakening in New England and died shortly after having begun his presidency over what is today Princeton University. May you be edified by this short paragraph and use it to enrich your understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Edward's thoughts on 'The Angel of the Lord' 
"Genesis 2:2. 'And on the seventh day God ended all his works'. The word translated work, is Greek or Hebrew, angel or messenger, and therefore most properly signifies a work done in the execution of some function to which the workman is appointed, as the angel, messenger, officer, or workman of another, and so is fitly used concerning the work of creation; which was performed by the Son of God, who is often called the angel of the Lord: he being the Father's great officer, and artificer, through whom he performs all his work, and executes his eternal counsels and purposes."1

Endnotes:
1. This paragraph is taken from the compilation of Jonathan Edwards works entitled: "The works of Jonathan Edwards" and is available on Kindle.