The Gospel of Isaiah: Ch. 65:16, The God of Amen

The Gospel of Isaiah: Ch. 65:16, The God of Amen.

WANTED: An imaginative scribe who can write exquisite poetry. A faithful, articulate believer in Yahweh who can switch from one extreme to another at the Lord’s command… from a sublime vision of God’s glory, to a ridiculous demonstration of shameful nakedness; from confronting the people over their sinfulness, to comforting people with hopefulness; from being an outspoken messenger one minute, to a living object lesson the next; from having one foot in the immediate surroundings one minute, to one foot in the future messianic realm the next. Must be adaptable, thick-skinned, and extraordinarily brave. Person who answers, “Here I am. Send me!” will be especially considered. (from The Jerusalem Post, 740 BC).

“Whoever pronounces a blessing on himself (or others) shall do so saying, ‘May the God of Amen bless me;’ and whoever takes an oath shall swear by the God of Amen.” (65:16).

AMEN: A Hebrew word related to the same root as the word for truth and faithfulness to promises.

1. A positive assent to a truthful statement or prayer; “And all the people gathered as one at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Teachings of Moses (the Pentateuch) which the Lord had given to Israel. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” (Nehemiah 8:1, 5, 6).
2. This Hebrew word has many similar English meanings; Yes!; I/we agree; this is absolutely true; this is certain and true; this is trustworthy and assured; so be it; let this be true; I/we heartily approve; I/we believe this with all our heart and soul!’ “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Hallelujah. (Psalm 106:48); “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen!” (Revelation 7:11-12).
3. A word of affirmation that concludes a section of the Psalms (Ps. 42:13, Ps. 72:19), an epistle (Galatians 6:18), and the New Testament (Rev. 22:20).
4. An OT word to confirm an important announcement (1 Kings 1:36).
5. A formal way to conclude and affirm a Jewish blessing. Jewish law requires individuals to answer Amen whenever they hear a blessing recited.

AMEN, AMEN: A phrase from Jesus that increased the intensity of what is about to be said; Jesus is saying the listeners better pay attention, for what He is about to say is most assuredly true. “Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, Amen, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM!’” (John 8:58). “Jesus’ peculiar use of Amen in John is an affirmation that what He is about to say is an echo from the Father.” (Raymond Brown). Different translations put it as “Truly, Truly,” or “Verily, Verily.”

In the Psaltery, the double Amen was used as a doxology to confirm the truth of each of the four books of the Psalms. The Psaltery is divided into four books, and the psalmist editors saw fit to conclude each book with some beautiful words of faith followed by the double Amen: This is the truth! This is the truth! He is truly faithful!

“Blessed be Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, from eternity to eternity! Amen! Amen!” (Psalm 41:13).

“Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders; May His name be forever blessed. May the whole world be filled with His glory! Amen! Amen!” (Psalm 72:19).

“Blessed be Yahweh our God forever and ever and forevermore! Amen! Amen!” (Psalm 89:52).

CHRIST IS THE AMEN. A descriptive divine title Christ gave to Himself in Revelation 3:14, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness…” (Revelation 3:14).

1. A fulfillment of the prophetic title given to the Lord in Isaiah 65:16, “The God of Amen.”  (translated widely as “The God of truth”).
2. By giving Himself that title, Jesus is declaring that, not only is He full of truth (John 1:14), and that He came into the world to testify to the truth (John 18:37), but also that He is The Truth, Truth incarnate, Truth-in-the-flesh; He is the final accomplishment of the promise of God; He is the most certain fact in the universe, the world’s sure thing; He is the fulfillment of God’s purpose and will; He is the ultimate Yes! to questions about truth; He is the concluding Word of God; He is the Blessed Assurance; He is the Last Word; He is the Great Amen to all the godly prayers ever spoken; He Himself is the word of approval that completes the Father’s plan.

Second Corinthians 1:20: “All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding Yes! And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ ascends to God for His glory.” (New Living Translation); “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen. God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting His Yes within us. By His Spirit He has stamped us with His eternal pledge – a sure beginning of what He is destined to complete.” (the Message).

And now, considering that a simple Double Amen meant doubly truthful and important and glorious, I wonder what Handel was inspired to think as he wrote his Amen Chorus with 82 Amens!

ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY: Worthy is the Lamb & Amen Chorus from Handel’s Messiah – YouTube