Parental love as metaphor for divine-human love

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Jun 2003 by Patterson, Richard D

O look upon us, we pray,

for we are all your people (Isa 64:8).

But God assures his children that he loves them still (Isa 43:4) and that he will one day call them back to himself:

I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'

and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'

Bring my sons from afar

and my daughters from the ends of the earth (Isa 43:6).

As a corollary to this covenant relationship, certain conduct is expected on the son's part. Like any proper Israelite son, not only should he heed his father's instruction (Prov 3:1-4), but he should emulate the father's faithfulness (Deut 32:4-6) and honor him.

"A son honors his father,

and a servant his master.

If I am a father,

where is the honor due me?

If I am a master,

where is the respect due me?"

says the LORD Almighty (Mal 1:6).

Since the full passage underscores the person of God himself (cf. vv. 11, 14), Walter Kaiser correctly observes, "In direct proportion to which mortals grasp the greatness of the person, character, and attributes of God (-his name), to that degree will their own inadequacies, falseness, and diluted worship take on credibility, substance, acceptance, and posture."38

In turn, God the father's faithfulness to the covenant demands that he discipline his child or children when such is needed (Prov 3:12). At times judgment must come:

"Woe to the obstinate children,"

declares the LORD,

"to those who carry out plans that are not mine" (Isa 30:1).

"These are rebellious people, deceitful children,

children unwilling to listen to the LORD'S instruction" (Isa 30:9).39

The parent-child metaphor takes on special significance in key passages that have messianic implications. Building upon the foundation of God the father's promise to his son David and David's heirs (2 Sam 7:14-16), the psalmist Ethan affirms the inviolability of the Davidic Covenant (Ps 89:26-29).40

In a passage generally conceded to have distinct messianic force David declares,

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:

He said to me, "You are my Son;

today I have become your Father" (Ps 2:7).41

Here one can perceive the Near Eastern precedents noted previously.42 Like Sargon of Agade and the Ugaritic king Kirta, David is Yahweh's son.43 Unlike the claims of the ancient Near Eastern kings, however, neither David nor any Israelite king declared himself to be divine.44 Moreover, as E. Lohse observes, "Israel took good care lest the designation son of God might be falsely linked to the physical divine sonship which was so widely spoken of in the ancient Orient."45 In accordance with the terms of the Davidic Covenant the king is promised a wide ranging (Ps 2:8-9; Isa 9:6-7) and enduring (Ezek 37:27-28) rulership.

2. The New Testament. The crucial nature of the Davidic Covenant with this reference to God's "son" and his heirs made Ps 2:7 a natural text to be drawn upon by the NT writers. Here God's "beloved son" (Matt 3:17) Jesus is identified as a recipient par excellence of Ps 2:7. This is further authenticated by his resurrection (Acts 13:32-34), his high priestly position (Heb 5:4-10), and his superiority to the angels (Heb 1:5). All of this is in keeping with Jesus' own adopting of the parent-child metaphor in addressing God as his father (e.g. John 17:1) and declaring, "The Father loves the Son" (John 3:35).