Othniel - A Type of Christ

[Matthias]

Othniel is one of the elohim - in fact, the first elohim whom Yahweh used to judge and save Israel. He is a type of the Messiah.

“There is a saying that goes like this, ‘the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.’ As we study the stories of the OT, we can see glimpses of the Christ who would come in the NT. Jesus often taught His disciples that the OT ultimately pointed to Himself (Lyke 24:27; John 5:39). One of the most insightful ways to study the OT is prophetically - that is, looking for the ways in which the people and events model and foreshadow Christ. The technical word for these parallels are called types.

The book of Judges is interesting in this regard, because the heroes who deliver Israel from her oppressors are intended to model the ultimate deliverer who was to come - Jesus Christ.

The first judge that we read about is a man named Othniel. His story is told in two passages Judges 1:12-15 and 3:7-11. Otgniel’s name means ‘Lion of God’ and he was from the tribe of Judah, which is fitting since the lion was this tribe’s mascot ((Gen. 49:9). …

When you assemble all those facts about Othniel you can begin to see a sketch of Jesus and His saving work emerge. Notice the parallels.

Othniel, from the tribe of Judah, was ‘the Lion of God.’ Jesus traced his lineage from the tribe of Judah and is called ‘The Lion of the Tribe of Judah’ (Rev. 5:5).

Othniel won his bride by conquering in battle. Likewise, Jesus won His Bride - the church - in a battle on the cross where He gave His life (Eph. 5:25).

Othniel’s victory also secured valuable springs. Just so, Jesus gives to His Bride ‘rivers of living water’ that flow from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).

Othniel was anointed by the Holy Spirit to lead God’s people to victory. At his baptism, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to proclaim good news to the poor, give sight to the blind and to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:16-19).

Othniel’s final conquest delivered Israel from a tyrant and brought about decades of peace. Likewise, we look forward to Jesus’ final conquest when He returns to earth to vanquish Satan and all evil, thus ushering 1,000 years of perfect peace and the glory of eternity (Is. 9:7).”

Othniel - A Type of Christ

There is a saying that goes like this, “the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed...

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[Matthias]

“But they rebelled and were rebellious against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them to turn back to you, and they did great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemy, and they brought trouble to them. Then in the time of their trouble they cried out to you, and you heard from the heavens, and according to your great compassions, you gave them saviors, and you saved them from the hand of their enemies.”

(Nehemiah 9:26-27, LEB)

This is Yahweh in action. It is in keeping with his character that he has historically raised up and sent saviors to save his people. In these last days he has raised up and sent the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, to save his people.

The typology of the judges in general is to point us to the Messiah, who in turn points us to and reconciles us with his God and Father, Yahweh.

 

[Matthias]

“1. The judges in the book of Judges are types of Christ.

The judges were raised up by the Lord and enabled by the Spirit to deliver God’s people, secure rest in the land, and promote obedience to the covenant (Judg. 2:16-19). Modern interpreters commonly view the judges as morally engaging in the depravity of their time. This, however, is not the view of the New Testament or early interpretations of the book.

Consider the assessment in the book of Hebrews. Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah (some of the so-called worst offenders), along with David and Samuel, are described as men ‘who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight’ (Heb. 11:33-34). The commendation of these faithful servants continues through verse 40, and they are further described as people ‘of whom the world was not worthy’ (Heb. 11:38).

This accords well with one of the earliest known historical assessments of the judges. Ben Sira, writes, ‘The Judges too, each when he was called, all men whose hearts were never disloyal, who never turned their backs on the Lord - may their memory be blessed! May their bones flourish again from the tomb, and may the names of those illustrious men be worthily borne by their sons’ (Sir. 46:11-12).

As you encounter the judges narratives, remember that they were written for instruction (Rom. 15:4) in order that we might fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2), who like Samson was raised up by His Lord to lay down His life in order to deliver God’s people (Judg. 16:30).”

3 Things You Should Know about Judges

In the book of Judges, there are two introductions (Judg. 1:1–2:5; 2:6–3:6), two conclusions (Judg. 17:1–18:31; 19:1–21:25), the accounts of twelve judges (six

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[Matthias]

“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.”

(Luke 2:11, NABRE)

”Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

(Acts 2:36, NABRE)

”He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.”

(Acts 10:42), NABRE)

”because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world with justice’ through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead.”

(Acts 17:31, NABRE)

”I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power:”

(2 Timothy 4:1, NABRE)

The judges of Israel are types of the judge - the savior, the Messiah, Jesus the Nazarene - whom God has appointed to judge the entire world.