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"I believe with perfect faith in the coming of Messiah, and though he may tarry, still I await him every day." is a principle of faith amongst religous Jews (Principle 12 of Rambam's 13 Principles of Faith): However, there are not many that have a good Biblical understanding of the concept of the Messiah.
When searching the Old Testament for clues about the Messiah, it can be quite hard to pinpoint specific prophecies and know with certainty that they are indeed referring to the Messiah.
Of course one needs to be aware that through the course of history, many differing concepts concerning the Messiah have arisen; some of which even deny that He is a person - but rather a spiritual climate or age.
What this study proposes to do is to examine the Old Testament and focus on those prophecies (there are more than 300 according to some sources - see Evidence That Demands A Verdict. Volume 1. p.175. Josh McDowell: Thomas Nelson Publishers.) which are most obviously speaking about the Messiah and His work. In this way the controversial aspects of some Messianic prophecies should be diminished.
A look in any dictionary or encyclopedia will define messiah as 'anointed', or 'anointed one'; specifically the expected king and deliverer of the Jewish People.
This study will take the definition a stage further and examine what the Old Testament reveals regarding (King) Messiah, the 'anointed one'. These messianic prophecies give us an insight into such things as His character, lineage, place of birth, ministry and even to the time of His appearing.
They can easily be grouped together according to which facets of the Messiah that they are referring to.
Such groups could be: (links below open in a new window)
From the above Scriptures, it can be seen that God, through His prophets, has foretold that the Messiah would come to bring Jacob back to Himself and to be a light to the Gentiles (Yesha`yahu / Isaiah 49:5-6).
It is obvious that this is more than restoring the relationship that the children of Israel had through the Law (the covenant had been broken [Yirmeyahu / Jeremiah 10:11]), and it is equally obvious that the central issue of sin is dealt with once for all through His sacrificial death. The provisions under the Law could only atone for sin - they could never take sin away; but this is exactly, according to the above prophecies, what the work of Messiah will accomplish.
Since quite a few of the above prophecies are found in Yesha`yahu / Isaiah 53, it would seem appropriate to clarify, from Scripture, who exactly the 'suffering servant' is. This is necessary because traditional Jewish interpretation teaches that it is the Jewish Nation in exile (the Diaspora). However, when viewed in the light of Scripture, this is clearly shown to be false as verse 11 describes Him as 'my righteous servant', whereas the passage below describes the Jewish Nation as anything but righteous! (please read the whole of Yechezkel / Ezekiel chapter 36 to see the context):
16 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings: their way before me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.
18 "Therefore I poured out my wrath on them for the blood which they had poured out on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols;
19 "and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
20 "When they came to the nations, where they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.'
21 "But I had regard for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, where they went.
22 "Therefore tell the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I don't do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went.
23 "I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes...."
Yechezkel / Ezekiel 36:16-23
That this isn't referring just to the Babylonian exile, as some might say, but also, and more so, to the present day diaspora, can be seen from the continuation of the passage as these have yet to be fulfilled:
24 "For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them.
28 "You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29 "I will save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you.
30 "I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that you may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.
31 "Then shall you remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
32 "Nor for your sake do I this," says the Lord GOD, "be it known to you: be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel."
Yechezkel / Ezekiel 36:24-32
Next: "Have any of these prophecies been fulfilled?"
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