Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ

The Theology of Worms - 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2004-11-28

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his study on the biblical imagery of worms, focusing on how Christ is compared to a worm in Job 25:6 and Psalm 22:6. He explains that while man is likened to a maggot (rimah) due to his fallen nature, Christ is called a worm (tola'ath) in His humiliation. The sermon explores Christ's incarnation, suffering, and death as the scarlet worm who attaches to the tree, dies, and stains it red, providing redemption. Weaver emphasizes that Christ became a worm to bear reproach and sin, and that believers, though worms, are covered by His blood and made instruments of God's purposes.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bibles today to two passages, the same two we opened to last week, Job 25 and Psalm 22. I'll take just a few moments and review, especially for those who were not here last week. But I've been preaching last Sunday and this Sunday on the subject of the theology of worms, and you will find the text Job 25 and verse six. where Bildad says, How much less man that is a worm, and the Son of man which is a worm. And then if you look in your Bible to Psalm 22 and verse 6, and we'll go over this passage just for a moment here. In verse 6, Christ says, But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people. Now, I certainly cannot give you in a few minutes that which it took me over an hour to cover last week on the fact that how worms are used in the Bible. So let me just point out the very beginning that we looked at worms in the manna in Exodus chapter 16 and just looking at how the manna bred worms when the people disobeyed and how it did not breed worms when the people obeyed.

[John Weaver] I pointed out three things that we could learn. from the worms in the man. First of all, I pointed out the fact that anything that is done in lust and covetousness. And disobedience is bound to putrefy. And bound to destroy its all of that manner that they laid up extra and above when God told them not to red worms and stink. And secondly, I pointed out. How that when they obeyed They did not bring worms and stink, and so therefore obedience is commended while disobedience is condemned. And then I also pointed out how the Bible said, He that gathered little lacked nothing, and he that gathered much had nothing left over. In other words, God can bless the least that we have when we're obedient, and God can make that little go a mighty long way, just like he did the widdest crews of oil.

[John Weaver] And of course, the widest meal there. So there are very obviously lessons that can be learned just from a cursory study of worms in the Bible. However. When I look at this passage in Job 25 and verse six, where Bill says, how much less man that is a worm. And I told you that the word worm there in reference to man is the Hebrew word Rema, which literally means maggot. So he's likening man, therefore, to a maggot.

[John Weaver] And since maggots are indeed agents of disease, destruction, and decay, they're certainly a perfect picture of the fallen nature of man. Now, last week, I pointed out how maggots were compared and contrasted to man in four specific ways. First of all, by way of origination. Since worms are of the earth, earthy, so is man. And I showed how that our origination is from the earth. God created us out of the dust of the earth. And God said, since we were taken from the dust, unto dust that we shall return. Since man is a worm, basically speaking, he's going to be eaten by worms. So the second thing I pointed out was Obfuscation. Now, obfuscation is a word which means basically something that is darkened, something that is not capable of understanding. So man is only compared to a worm by way of origination, but by way of obfuscation. What can a worm comprehend? What can a worm understand?

[John Weaver] And the answer is absolutely nothing. It has no understanding at all. And then I took you to the Bible and showed you especially Ephesians 4 and verse 18. where it says that fallen man is alienated from God through the ignorance that is in him. He does not and he cannot understand the things of God. He's totally and absolutely ignorant. So just like a worm is ignorant, so man by nature is ignorant. And then thirdly, I showed you that man is compared to a worm by way of degradation. That is, corruption, depravity, As low as it gets, that's what man is by nature. He sins, he's wicked, he's vile. And then, of course, fourthly, I pointed out worms are compared to man by way of destination. And I showed you how Job was literally being eaten of worms and how the Bible declares That man shall be eaten of worms, not just physically, but then spiritually. And I went then to the book of Mark, into the book of Isaiah, and showed you where our Lord said, the worm of their conscience, or the worm, not the fires not quenched, and the worm there referred to the consciousness of man, and how that man would be tormented, those who die without

[John Weaver] Jesus Christ. If you look very quickly in your Bibles, I want to just sum this up, the review up. But look at Psalm 113, because I showed you in this passage the absolute sovereign grace and mercy of God and how God condescended to save us. And look, if you would please, Psalm 113, verse one. Let me just read it again. Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun and going down to the same, the Lord's name is to be praised. Watch carefully. The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens. So here's the sovereign, omnipotent, glorious, majestic God. Verse 5 said, Who is likened to our God, who dwelleth on high.

[John Weaver] There is none like Him. Now look. who humbleth himself, that is the marvelous condescension of God, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth. And what does God do in this marvelous and gracious condescension? He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy out of the what? The dunghill. He visits the worms. He visits the maggots.

[John Weaver] And what does he do? that he may sit with princes, even with the princes of his people. And the Bible tells us that he hath made us kings and priests under our God. So here's the marvelous, gracious condensation of God Our condescension of God, where God condescends them, not only to behold the things in heaven and earth, but also to deliver us and to raise us up and to make us kings and priests unto Him.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I want to cover the second half of this verse today. Because Bildad says, How much less man that is a worm, and the son of man which is a worm. Now, last week we saw man compared to a worm. This week we're going to look at Christ as compared to a worm. Now, no believer would ever dare suggest that Christ, the sinless Son of God, should be compared to a worm unless there was a specific biblical warrant to do so. Now, the term, the Son of Man in Job 25 and verse 6, points to Christ specifically. Even if one wants to object and say, well, how can you get Christ out of Job 25 and verse 6? There can be absolutely no objection to Psalm 22 and verse 6. So look there very quickly if you would as well, because here is what you and I would call a messianic psalm. And in Psalm 22 and verse 6, Christ is said Christ says, But I am a worm, and no man, or reproach of men, and despise of the people.

[John Weaver] Now let me just tell you very quickly that Psalm 22, Psalm 23, and Psalm 24 are a trilogy. That is, they go together. They all have basically the same subject, and the same subject is Jesus Christ Messiah. Psalm 22 gives us Jesus Christ as the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. Psalm 23 gives us Christ as the great shepherd who provides for his sheep. And then Psalm 24 depicts Christ as the chief shepherd who promotes his own to glory. So when you get to Psalm 22, it's almost as obvious as you would say the nose on someone's face not to recognize Psalm 22 as a messianic psalm. That is a psalm that speaks concerning the Messiah. If you look in verse one of Psalm 22, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

[John Weaver] Why aren't those so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring? And of course, everyone knows that these words, my God, my God, why has not forsaken me are quoted by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 27. We're going to look at that passage a little bit later.

[John Weaver] Now, there is in scripture. That which is known as prophetic telescoping. Prophetic telescoping, what do I mean by that? That is, when you have a passage where the author may be talking about himself or someone else in the immediate context, but the text also refers to another individual in the future.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you. I want you to hold Psalm 22. We're going to come right back there, but turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 7. 2 Samuel chapter 7. And look if you would please beginning there with verse 12. Here is an illustration of what we call prophetic telescoping and then we're going to go back to Psalm 22 and see it there. In 2 Samuel chapter 7.

[John Weaver] God makes a covenant with David. This is known as the Davidic covenant. God wanted to or David wanted to build a house for God and God said, look, You wanted to build me a house, but David, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to build you a house. And so he enters into this covenant and look what he says to David in 2 Samuel 7, verse 12.

[John Weaver] And when by days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers. I will set up thy seat after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a very obvious question. Who is verse 12 referring to in the immediate context? Who was David's son? Solomon. So very obviously he's talking about Solomon. However, do you realize that Jesus Christ is also referred to as David's son? And what was he called? Thou son of David. Have mercy upon me. So actually, what you have in this passage, and I'm going to show it to you, you have the immediate context speaking of Solomon, but really Christ is being spoken of as well, because Jesus Christ is the true seed of David and God the Father is going to establish his kingdom. Watch.

[John Weaver] He shall build a house. For my name and I will establish a throne of his kingdom forever. Now, who is it that built a house for? God. Solomon did. But whose kingdom is it that's established forever? Jesus Christ. You see, so here you have in this context, It's a double reference. When you get to verse 14, I will be his father and he shall be my son. Of course, that's Christ. And, of course, referring to Solomon. But when he says, if he committed iniquity, now we're talking about Solomon.

[John Weaver] I will chase him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men. But my mercy shall not depart away from him as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. So that passage is referring directly then to Solomon. And so when he says in verse 16, and my house and my kingdom shall be established forever before thee and my throne shall be established forever.

[John Weaver] Now he's talking about the greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Psalm 22, you'll find that Psalm 22, of course, was written by David. And Psalm 22 has an application of David, but it has a greater application to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true seed and the true son of David. So when you look at verse one, my God, my God, my house are forsaken me. David may have said that David was being chased by Saul. David was left out in the wilderness. But, you know, as well as I do, these words are applied directly to Jesus Christ. Now skip down to verse four. Here's what our Lord says, Our fathers trusted in thee, they trusted and thou didst deliver them. How many times did God deliver Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Over and over. They cried unto thee, and were delivered. They trusted thee, and were not confounded. What does Christ say concerning himself?

[John Weaver] But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of other people. And all they that see me laugh me to scorn. They shoot out the lip. They shake their heads, saying, He trusts on the Lord, that he will deliver him. Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

[John Weaver] Now these words are spoken directly concerning Christ in the New Testament. So it's not just David who is in the context here. Skip down to verse 12. Many bulls have compassed me. Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths as a rabbiting and roaring lion. Now look what Christ says. I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax.

[John Weaver] It melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws. Thou hast brought me to the dust of death.

[John Weaver] Now, he's speaking primarily Of Christ in verse 16, he says for dogs have accomplished me the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me. There he is at the crucifixion. Watch, they pierced my hands and my feet. So we're talking directly of Jesus Christ, verse 22. I will declare thy name unto thy brethren in the midst of the congregation while I praise thee. Christ speaks these words in the book of Hebrews.

[John Weaver] Look if you would in verses 27 through 31. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship. All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, and none can keep his soul alive, his own soul.

[John Weaver] A seed shall serve him. That's Christ. It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born that he had done this. So here is an example of prophetic telescoping because David. In Psalm 22, of course, speaks concerning himself. Immediately, but in the future he is speaking concerning Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now when you go back to Job 25, And look at verse 6. I just read it earlier, but let me read it again. Job 25 verse 6. How much less man that is worm and the son of man, which is a worm. Another indication that Job 25 in verse 6, that is the latter half, speaks concerning Christ. Can be found in the title the son of man. Do you realize? That Christ referred to himself as the Son of Man more than any other title that is used in the New Testament that refers to Christ. For instance, it is true that usually this term refers to Christ. Occasionally it is used to refer to other men, but when it does, it pictures them as a representative of Jesus Christ. Who can tell me the one man in the Old Testament that is referred to as the Son of Man more than any other? Anybody know? Now, we're talking about an Old Testament character.

[John Weaver] There's a book that was written by him and named for him, Ezekiel. Ezekiel is called the Son of Man. In that sense of the word, Ezekiel is a picture of Jesus Christ. Remember that Ezekiel was a priest who was called to be a prophet as well. So there are two of the offices of Jesus Christ right there, priest and prophet. Now, the title Son of Man. Occurs 196 times in our Bibles. And it occurs in 192 verses, some verses Son of Man is referred to more than once. But when you get to the New Testament, the New Testament has the title Son of Man 88 times. And in each and every instance, the title Son of Man refers directly to Jesus Christ. So he says, how much Less man that is a worm and then the Son of Man, which is a worm.

[John Weaver] So here's the question that I want to answer today. How can the word worm apply to Jesus Christ, the Son of God? How could the Son of God be referred to as a worm? And the answer is, it is used to refer to our Lord's humiliation.

[John Weaver] Now let me just stop for a moment and explain the term humiliation. You may read in theological books about the humiliation of Christ. You hear preachers preach about the humiliation of Christ. What exactly is the humiliation of Christ? The humiliation of Christ consists in the fact that our Lord laid aside his divine majesty, which was his as the sovereign ruler of the universe. and assumed human nature, that is, he assumed the form of man and came in the form of a servant who himself was the supreme lawgiver and yet he came in the form of a servant and now is made subject to the very law that he gave and has become subject to the curse of that law.

[John Weaver] So the humiliation of Christ then actually refers, first of all, to his incarnation, that is to his birth, to his sufferings, both active and passive, also to his death and to his burial. So when you talk about the humiliation of Christ, you're talking about basically the whole time that Christ was on earth from his incarnation, from his birth to his death, to his resurrection. Now the resurrection actually begins as glorification. But that whole time in between is known as his humiliation.

[John Weaver] Now, you don't have to turn to 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. Let me just quote it for you. But I do want you to turn to the other passages, OK? In 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16, the Bible says this, and without all controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Let me just stop there. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, when you say God was manifest in the flesh, that refers to His incarnation. But the incarnation is the beginning of His humiliation.

[John Weaver] Because that is where He laid aside His divine splendor and became man and came in the form of a servant. And that one who gave the law is now made under the law. And therefore, he's now under the curse. Look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 3. Galatians chapter 3. And notice, if you would please, verse 13. Galatians chapter 3, verse 13. Look what the Bible says. Galatians 3 verse 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

[John Weaver] For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. How did Christ redeem us from the curse of the law? He became a curse for us. In order to be made a curse for us, he must be made under the law. Look in your Bibles to Galatians chapter 4 verses 4 and 5. Now, we're talking about the humiliation of Christ. Look carefully, Galatians four verses four and five. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. What did God do? God sent forth his son made of a woman, no, made under the law. to redeem them that run of the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. Now turn over in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2.

[John Weaver] This is a very important passage. Philippians 2. We're going to begin reading there at verse 5. Here's another passage that demonstrates our Lord's humiliation. So we know that he was made under the law. We know that he was made a curse for us. Look at it in Philippians 2. Here is a summary. of our Lord's humiliation. Philippians 2 verse 5. Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus. Now what was the mind? Watch carefully.

[John Weaver] Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. In other words, he was God. He was with God. But what did he do? Verse 7. But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross."

[John Weaver] Now just stop right there. That is his humiliation. When you get to verse 9, that is the beginning of his glorification.

[John Weaver] Now what did Christ do? He was God. He created the world. He gave the law, but he became man. He became a servant and was made under the law, became a curse of the law. And the Bible said he made himself of no reputation. Now, the word reputation is very important. The Greek word is the word Kanao. This passage is usually referred to as the Kenosis passage. But literally, it means he emptied himself. That is, he emptied himself of his divine splendor and his divine glory. Now, he was still God, but he emptied himself. He laid all that aside and took upon himself the form of man and the form of a servant.

[John Weaver] I was telling Ed outside that I read an excellent illustration this week of what one of the old Puritans said. The Puritan said that the fisherman doth not cast in a bare hook. But he wants to catch a fish. But he hides the hook with a worm. And then, of course, he catches the fish. And he said, likewise, Christ hid his divinity with the worm of human flesh. Christ hid his divinity with the flesh of man. He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a man.

[John Weaver] Now, in simple words, he became a nothing. He became a worm.

[John Weaver] Now, Christ is called a worm not because he is mean and contemptible in and of himself, but because he was mean and contemptible in the eyes of others. You see, the Bible said he came into his own and his own received him not. Well, the Jews in Christ's time viewed him as a worm and treated him as such. He was viewed as loathsome to them and hated by them, and everyone trampled upon him and trod him under their feet, just like multitudes do today. In fact, if you will look in your Bibles very quickly, To the book of Hebrews 10 and verse 29, you will see that very phrase used. Hebrews 10, look at verse 29. The Bible asks this question.

[John Weaver] Of how much sore or worse punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy who have trodden underfoot the Son of God? Let me ask you, when you're walking down the sidewalk and you see a worm, do you go around the worm normally? No. Most of the time, you don't. You just walk on. A worm is insignificant. He's nothing. You just tread upon him and keep right on going. Well, here Christ is likened to a worm and that he was trod under the foot of unbelievers. Now, there is an agreement in some things between the worm and Christ.

[John Weaver] In a state of humiliation. As in its uncomeliness and disagreeable appearance. So Christ. Was not discerned to have any form or comeliness to be desired. By people look in your Bibles to Isaiah 53 everyone is familiar with this passage Isaiah 53. And notice if you would please beginning there with verse one. Look what the prophet says Isaiah 53 verse 1. Notice very carefully. Scripture says who have believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord reveal now we're talking about Christ for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant. as a root out of dry ground, he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

[John Weaver] He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, unacquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised, and we have seen him not." Let me ask you a question. How many of you really enjoy looking upon a mass of writhing, wiggling worms? You don't. No one does. And a worm has no form nor comeliness. No one wants to be around worms.

[John Weaver] I mean, you might fish with them, but that's the exception. You don't want to necessarily be around them. You don't keep them in your house. Well, here's the price compared to a worm. He has no form nor comeliness that when we see him that we should desire him. Now stop and think about a worm. In its weakness, the worm is impotent, unarmed, and a defenseless creature. And though Christ, who is the mighty God and also the Son of Man, whom God made strong for Himself, yet there was a weakness in Him through which He was crucified. Now, I'm not saying that Christ was sinful.

[John Weaver] I did not say that. I'm only saying what Scripture said. Hold Isaiah 53. We're going to come right back there, okay? But look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 4. And what I mean when I say there was a weakness through which he was crucified, I mean only what the Scripture means. Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says concerning Christ. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 4. In fact, let's read verse 3. He says, Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you it is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he, that is Christ, was crucified through weakness, Yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you." So there was a sense in which he was crucified through weakness.

[John Weaver] In other words, he came as a man. He assumed the nature of man, and therefore he came to die as a man.

[John Weaver] Now go back in your Bibles to Isaiah 53, and let's begin reading there in verse 7. I said 53 verse 7. No, what the Scripture says concerning Christ, he was oppressed and he was afflicted. Yeah, he opened not his mouth. He's brought as a lamb to the slaughter and sheep before shears is done, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people was he stricken, and he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

[John Weaver] Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He had put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands."

[John Weaver] Now let's just stop and think of what Christ suffered in weakness being made a man and suffering reproach and death. Let me ask you a question. I don't know if it's ever entered into your mind. But if Christ had not been made a worm, so to speak, He could have never suffered and died. How else could the omnipotent, sovereign God of heaven and earth be made to suffer? Christ said in Psalm 22 in verse 6, But I am a worm and no man.

[John Weaver] Those words are a miracle in language. How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement not only to be lower than the angels, but to be lower than men. Who could trample the mighty Son of God under His feet if Christ had not made Himself a worm? And the answer is no one could have. I wish I had time to preach upon this, but I believe there is an awesome contrast between when Christ told His people And those who came to get him and his enemies there in the garden, when they asked who he was, he said, I am.

[John Weaver] And you know what happened? They just went backwards and fell down. All he had to say is I am. What was the name of God? I am that I am. What a contrast between the I am. And I am a worm. The only way Christ could have ever been made to suffer and die was he had to become a worm. And yet you see, our Lord was one person with two natures. He was perfect God and he was perfect man. And yet as perfect man, he came to die.

[John Weaver] And he felt himself to be compared to a helpless, powerless, defenseless, downtrodden worm, passive, crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him. Our Lord, when he likens himself to a creature, selects the weakest of all creatures, a worm, which is all flesh. Let me ask you a question. What happens to a worm when you step on it? Well, he just simply becomes a writhing, quivering piece of flesh. A worm is devoid of all power and has no strength except to suffer and to die. And our Lord likens himself to a worm because in his body And in his soul, in his sufferings, he became a mass of misery, the very essence of agony in the dying pains of his crucifixion. Our Lord said that he was a worm and no man. And when he says that, in one sense of the word, he actually places himself beneath man on account of the scorn that is heaped upon him. And of course, the sufferings that he endured. And then he adds That he is a worm and no man.

[John Weaver] Look back in your Bible, Psalm 22. Let me show you something. This is very interesting. Psalm 22. Notice what our Lord said. Begin reading there with verse four. Our fathers trusted in thee and they trusted and thou didst deliver them.

[John Weaver] Now think of all the deliverance that God gave Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all the patriarchs, all the believers. Our fathers trusted in thee, and they trusted thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and they were delivered. They trusted in thee, and they were not confounded. But, he said, I am a worm and no man. In other words, the privileges and the blessings which belonged to the fathers, he could not obtain while deserted by God.

[John Weaver] And common acts of humanity were not allowed him, for he was rejected of men. He was outlawed from the society of earth and shut out from the smile of heaven. How utterly and completely did our Lord empty himself of all glory and become of no reputation for our sakes.

[John Weaver] Now, when the Lord says in verse six of Psalm 22, but I'm a worm and no man. He explains that phrase no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people. When he says that he was not man, that does not mean that he was not really and truly a man. He was really and truly a man because he assumed a true body and a reasonable soul.

[John Weaver] He partook of the flesh and blood of the seed of Abraham. Look in your Bibles. Hebrews chapter 2. Let me show you. I'm telling you what he does not mean first. Hebrews chapter 2. Notice if you would please beginning there with verse 16. Hebrews 2. and verse 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham, wherefore all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

[John Weaver] For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted he is able to succor them that are tempted. Now watch. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, But he took on him the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren." So he was in reality a real, genuine man. He was flesh and blood. Look in Hebrews 4 and verse 15. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, But was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. In other words, Christ was a real, genuine man.

[John Weaver] He went through everything that we go through. Sin accepted. That is, he never sinned. He was the perfect, sinless Son of God. Well, what does it mean then when Christ says that he is a worm and no man? It means that he was a man of no figure. He was a man who bore no office. He had no title of honor. He was not a recognized rabbi.

[John Weaver] He was not a member of the Sanhedrin. He had no share in government, either ecclesiastical or civil. He was a carpenter's son, and he was a carpenter. He was not even treated as a man. But he was treated in the most inhumane manner. He was despised and rejected of men. He was called a madman. He was said to have a devil. He was a reproach of men. He was reproached by men as the worst of men. And even the reproaches of God and His people fell on him.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 69, since you're almost there. Here is a passage that is so heart-rending If you ever see and comprehend this, you will grasp in some manner the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Look in Psalm 69, beginning there with verse 7. Look what he says. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach, shame hath covered my face. I've become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

[John Weaver] Do you realize even his own brothers and sisters, they were half-brothers and sisters, but at first they despised him. They did not believe him. They mocked him. So he says, I have become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my own mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.

[John Weaver] Whoever reproached God reproached Christ. Anyone who mocked the Father mocked the Son. When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment, and I became a proverb to them.

[John Weaver] Now watch, they that sit in the gate speak against me, and I was the song of drunkards. Let me tell you, I don't want to do this today. I want to show you a passage at how men mocked and ridiculed the sinless son of God. But can you imagine that he was the song of drunkards? So despised so rejected. Look at verse 19. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor.

[John Weaver] Mine adversaries are all before thee. Look in verse 21. Let's read verse 20. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. None would comfort him. Look, they gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. No one comforted our Lord. No one consoled him.

[John Weaver] He was basically treated as a worm. He was despised, rejected, counted absolutely worthless. He was reckoned a reproach to men and to be seen in his company or to be thought to belong to him or to be a disciple of him. was to nothing but to heap scorn upon oneself. Many times in the Bible you will find out about individuals who might have believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, but they would not confess Him publicly. Why? Because they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to John chapter 12. Here's an illustration of that, John 12. In other words, they could not put up with the scorn and the reproach of having them converted and saying they belonged to Jesus Christ. In John chapter 12, verse 42, the Word of God says this. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also, many believed on him. But because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Why? For they love the praise of men more than the praise of God. Do you remember in John chapter 9 when the blind man was converted and healed by our Lord and he tried then to preach to these Pharisees?

[John Weaver] You know what they said? Thou art His disciple, but we're Moses' disciple. In other words, nothing but scorn. and unbelief. He was a reproach of men. He was their common jest. He was a byword and a proverb to them. He was a sport to them. He was rabble to them. He was a scorn of their rulers. Look in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27. Matthew 27. You know, most of us have never thought about the caustic power of reproach.

[John Weaver] Yet none of us enjoy having what we call our feelings hurt. We do not like to be ridiculed. We do not like to be scorned. We do not like to be made fun of about. Well, look at Matthew 27. And notice, if you would please, verse 39. Matthew 27, verse 39, of course, Christ is crucified. He's hanging on the cross. And they that pass by reviled him, wagging their heads. They cast all kind of slurs and ridicules and made motions with their heads, and said, Thou that destroyest the temple that built it in three days, save thyself, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders said, He saved others, himself he cannot save, if he be the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we'll believe him. Oh, he trusted in God, let him deliver him, now he'll have him, for he said, I am the Son of God. Thieves also who were crucified with him cast the same in his feet.

[John Weaver] What were they doing? Mocking. Ridiculing. Scorning. Despising. What did he say in Psalm 69? I sought for comforters and found none. Why? Because everyone that walked by him reviled him. You said you were the Son of God? Let's see if God will have you now. You said you were the King of Israel? Come off that cross and we'll believe you. He was reproached as a bad man, as a blasphemer, as a Sabbath breaker, as a line debber, as a false prophet, as an enemy to Caesar, and a confederate with the Prince of Death. He was despised of the people as a mean, contemptible man, not worth taking notice of.

[John Weaver] He had no honor in his own country. His friends were poor men, fishermen. None of his followers came from the Sanhedrin. No. He was ridiculed as a foolish man. And he was said not only to have deceived others, but also to have deceived himself. Those who saw him hanging on a cross laughed into scorn. So far were they from pitying him or concerning themselves for him, they added to his affliction with their gestures, with their expression of insolence, upbraiding him and mocking him, making merry over him and making jest at his sufferings.

[John Weaver] They shoot out the lips. They shake the head. All of these things were literally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Why? Because he was counted as a warner. You know, the interesting thing is that our Lord's crucifixion, even the common people were against him. The very people who once tried to crown him, now condemned him. That shows you what man is. The very people who had been cured by him and benefited by him now sneered at him in his woes.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to this statement. Sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt. Let me say that again. I haven't finished, but sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt, and for this reason, Jesus Christ, the sin-bearer, was given up thus to be unworthily and shamefully entreated, because he was bearing the sins of his people. Christ was trodden underfoot, trampled on, maltreated, buffeted, spit upon, mocked, and tormented and seemed to me more like a worm than a man. All the contempt that was cast upon him. There is a passage in Hebrews 12 in verse 2 that I want to quote. Listen carefully. Not quoting the whole verse, just the passage that I want to apply.

[John Weaver] He despised the shame endearing the cross. He despised the shame enduring the cross for the joy that was set before Him. Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who despised the shame and endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. What was the joy that was set before him? Number one, his obedience to his father. Number two, the salvation of his people. He endured the cross, despising the shame, the reproach for the joy that was set before him.

[John Weaver] In a state of humiliation, our Lord redeemed His own. Part of that humiliation involves our redemption.

[John Weaver] Now, when Bildad said that man was a worm, he used the term maggot. But you know by now, There's a totally different word. When he said in the Son of Man, who is a worm? And in Psalm 22 and verse six, when Christ said, I'm a worm and no man. It is the same word that Vildad uses. In Job 25 and verse six, it is certainly not the word maggot. Well, what is the word that describes Christ as a worm? Well, the word is Tolea. Tolea. Now, before I tell you what kind of worm that is, let me tell you how that word is translated in our Bibles. Tolea is translated in our Bibles as scarlet 34 times. It's translated as worm eight times and crimson as one time.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to pause just for a moment and think how prominent, how often the word scarlet or the color scarlet is associated with the tabernacle, the temple and the priestly gardens. And of course, all of those things were typical of the Lord Jesus Christ. So in Psalm 22 in verse 6, and in Job 25, the latter part of verse 6, when it refers to the Son of Man as a worm, it's the same word that is translated as scarlet. Now my question has to be, why would a color be associated with a worm?

[John Weaver] And the answer is very simple. because the Toleal worm is also known as the Costus ileus, better known as the scarlet worm. This unusual worm was designed by our Heavenly Father to securely and permanently attach her body to the trunk of a tree when she was ready to give birth to her young. She deposited her eggs under her body. And they stayed there until they hatched. However, when she attached herself to that tree, when she gave birth, she would die. And when the scarlet worm died, the color scarlet would stain her body and the bark of the tree. Commercial dyes were derived from the dead bodies of the scarlet worms.

[John Weaver] You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 1? For as much as you know, you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation in the past, but you were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. Know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 24? Now listen carefully. Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree.

[John Weaver] That we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness by whose stripes we are healed. The Bible says that Christ died on the tree. And the blood that flowed was the blood that gave life to his children. We have peace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. Let me give you just a couple of applications today. If I were to ask you, ladies especially, what is one of the most difficult stains to remove from clothes? If you would think, you would probably say blood stains, and they are really tough to remove. However, I suggest that really the most difficult stains to remove are what you and I would call sin stains.

[John Weaver] because they are of a much deeper dye than simple bloodstains. Sin stains us in our hearts and in our consciences, and nothing can remove those stains other than the blood of Jesus Christ. Moreover, those stains are open and they're flagrant and notorious to all and especially to God.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bibles to Isaiah 1 and verse 18. Isaiah 1, verse 18. Look what the prophet Isaiah wrote. Isaiah 1, verse 18. Wonderful, wonderful verse. Come now, he says, let us reason together. Though your sins be as what? Scarlet. They shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

[John Weaver] Now, if you take a scarlet stain and then you put a different scarlet stain on it, can you see the original stain? No. Our Lord says here, are your scarlet and crimson stains. They're bold, they shine. But when my scarlet and crimson blood covers them, you can't see the original stain. And therefore, in the eyes of God, there's white as snow. They're pure, whiter than snow. Do you understand that God's pardon of our sin does not necessarily take the sin out of our nature, nor does it change the nature of the sin, nor does it cause it to cease to be sin. But what it does, it purifies us in the eyes of God and justifies us with his law so that we're clean and white and we're said to be without spot and without wrinkle in him.

[John Weaver] Now, just one quick Bible. Question. Do you happen to know what color of robe our Lord wore was placed upon him during his humiliation and crucifixion? You'll find it in Matthew 27 verse 20, but I'll tell you, and they clothed him with a scarlet robe. And they clothed him with a scarlet robe. You know what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21? For he, that is God the Father, hath made him, God the Son, to be sin for us who knew no sin. Why? that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. That's why the Bible says that the saints were clothed with clean linen, pure and white. Because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Look in your Bible, one other passage, Isaiah chapter 41. And I get excited when I see a passage like this. Isaiah 41. And look at it in verse 14. Isaiah 41, verse 14. Look what God says to Jacob. Fear not, thou worm, Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

[John Weaver] Fear not thy worm, Jacob. Now, God calls Jacob a worm. You remember, Bildad said man was a worm and he used the word maggot. The lowest. The stinkiest. The worst. Now, God calls Jacob a worm. But guess what? Toliah, the scarlet worm. He says, Fear not, thou scarlet worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help thee, saith the Lord. You know why? Because Jacob and his people had been covered with the blood of Jesus Christ. And I said, I'll help you. I'll not be against you.

[John Weaver] And let me show you, just for those who tend to be discouraged, look at verse 15. After God tells Jacob and the men of Israel that He will help them, He says, Behold, I will make thee a new, sharp, threshing instrument, having teeth. Thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, And the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them. And thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. Did you hear what God said to Jacob?

[John Weaver] He called him a worm. You know what a mountain is representative of in the Bible? A kingdom. He says, you worm, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to make you a threshing instrument, having shark teeth. and you will thresh the kingdoms of the earth. God will take a worm and destroy the kingdom of man. God will take the smallest, most powerful, most insignificant creature and destroy the proud, haughty, arrogant, New World Order. Because he takes a worm that's covered with the blood.

[John Weaver] Go back to verse 10. Here's what he says again. Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. What a worm, hmm? Oh, let me tell you, I'd rather be a worm like Jacob and covered with the blood of Christ than be the richest, most powerful man in the entire world without Christ. Our Lord is a worm, but a redeeming one, one from whom we derive our purity, our whiteness, our righteousness. He's the scarlet worm who redeems us from sin. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ. We thank you, Father, that he was made a worm, that he might redeem us and bring us unto We thank Thee that He was made a worm, that He might suffer and bleed and die. For how else could the Lord of glory ever, ever been in the hands of men except He be made a worm? And Lord, in being made a worm, He conquered.

[John Weaver] And now He makes by His blood conquering worms. worms who are a new, threshing instrument and who will ultimately tread down the kingdom of man and bring all into submission to Jesus Christ by His Word and by His Spirit and for the honor and glory of the great God of all the earth. We give Thee praise in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Theology of Worms - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	140572420
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-11-28
Dictation Name
Book	Book 097: The Theology of Worms — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	89

Formatted Transcript

Review of Part 1: Man as a Worm

Weaver reviews the previous sermon on Job 25:6, where Bildad calls man a worm (rimah, maggot), and the lessons from worms in the manna (Exodus 16). He recaps the four comparisons: origination, obfuscation, degradation, and destination.

All right, let's open our Bibles today to two passages, the same two we opened to last week, Job 25 and Psalm 22. I'll take just a few moments and review, especially for those who were not here last week. But I've been preaching last Sunday and this Sunday on the subject of the theology of worms, and you will find the text Job 25 and verse six, where Bildad says,

Scripture Reading — Job 25:6

"How much less man that is a worm, and the Son of man which is a worm."

And then if you look in your Bible to Psalm 22 and verse 6, and we'll go over this passage just for a moment here. In verse 6, Christ says, "But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people." Now, I certainly cannot give you in a few minutes that which it took me over an hour to cover last week on the fact that how worms are used in the Bible. So let me just point out the very beginning that we looked at worms in the manna in Exodus chapter 16 and just looking at how the manna bred worms when the people disobeyed and how it did not breed worms when the people obeyed.

I pointed out three things that we could learn from the worms in the manna. First of all, I pointed out the fact that anything that is done in lust and covetousness and disobedience is bound to putrefy and bound to destroy. It's all of that manner that they laid up extra and above when God told them not to, bred worms and stink. And secondly, I pointed out how that when they obeyed, they did not bring worms and stink, and so therefore obedience is commended while disobedience is condemned. And then I also pointed out how the Bible said, "He that gathered little lacked nothing, and he that gathered much had nothing left over." In other words, God can bless the least that we have when we're obedient, and God can make that little go a mighty long way, just like he did the widow's cruse of oil.

And of course, the widow's meal there. So there are very obviously lessons that can be learned just from a cursory study of worms in the Bible. However, when I look at this passage in Job 25 and verse six, where Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm," and I told you that the word worm there in reference to man is the Hebrew word Rimah, which literally means maggot. So he's likening man, therefore, to a maggot. And since maggots are indeed agents of disease, destruction, and decay, they're certainly a perfect picture of the fallen nature of man. Now, last week, I pointed out how maggots were compared and contrasted to man in four specific ways. First of all, by way of origination. Since worms are of the earth, earthy, so is man. And I showed how that our origination is from the earth. God created us out of the dust of the earth. And God said, since we were taken from the dust, unto dust that we shall return. Since man is a worm, basically speaking, he's going to be eaten by worms. So the second thing I pointed out was obfuscation. Now, obfuscation is a word which means basically something that is darkened, something that is not capable of understanding. So man is not only compared to a worm by way of origination, but by way of obfuscation. What can a worm comprehend? What can a worm understand?

And the answer is absolutely nothing. It has no understanding at all. And then I took you to the Bible and showed you especially Ephesians 4 and verse 18, where it says that fallen man is alienated from God through the ignorance that is in him. He does not and he cannot understand the things of God. He's totally and absolutely ignorant. So just like a worm is ignorant, so man by nature is ignorant. And then thirdly, I showed you that man is compared to a worm by way of degradation. That is, corruption, depravity. As low as it gets, that's what man is by nature. He sins, he's wicked, he's vile. And then, of course, fourthly, I pointed out worms are compared to man by way of destination. And I showed you how Job was literally being eaten of worms and how the Bible declares that man shall be eaten of worms, not just physically, but then spiritually. And I went then to the book of Mark, into the book of Isaiah, and showed you where our Lord said, the worm of their conscience, or the worm, not the fires not quenched, and the worm there referred to the consciousness of man, and how that man would be tormented, those who die without

Jesus Christ. If you look very quickly in your Bibles, I want to just sum this up, the review up. But look at Psalm 113, because I showed you in this passage the absolute sovereign grace and mercy of God and how God condescended to save us. And look, if you would please, Psalm 113, verse one. Let me just read it again.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun and going down to the same, the Lord's name is to be praised."

Watch carefully.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens."

So here's the sovereign, omnipotent, glorious, majestic God. Verse 5 said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Who is likened to our God, who dwelleth on high."

God's Condescension to Worms

Psalm 113 is read to show God's sovereign grace in humbling Himself to raise the poor from the dust and dunghill, visiting worms and making them princes.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun and going down to the same, the Lord's name is to be praised."

Watch carefully.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens."

So here's the sovereign, omnipotent, glorious, majestic God. Verse 5 said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Who is likened to our God, who dwelleth on high."

There is none like Him. Now look. "Who humbleth himself," that is the marvelous condescension of God, "who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth." And what does God do in this marvelous and gracious condescension? He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy out of the what? The dunghill. He visits the worms. He visits the maggots.

And what does he do?

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"That he may sit with princes, even with the princes of his people."

And the Bible tells us that he hath made us kings and priests under our God. So here's the marvelous, gracious condescension of God, where God condescends, not only to behold the things in heaven and earth, but also to deliver us and to raise us up and to make us kings and priests unto Him. Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I want to cover the second half of this verse today. Because Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm, and the son of man which is a worm." Now, last week we saw man compared to a worm. This week we're going to look at Christ as compared to a worm. Now, no believer would ever dare suggest that Christ, the sinless Son of God, should be compared to a worm unless there was a specific biblical warrant to do so. Now, the term, the Son of Man in Job 25 and verse 6, points to Christ specifically. Even if one wants to object and say, well, how can you get Christ out of Job 25 and verse 6? There can be absolutely no objection to Psalm 22 and verse 6. So look there very quickly if you would as well, because here is what you and I would call a messianic psalm. And in Psalm 22 and verse 6, Christ says, "But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people."

Introduction to Christ as a Worm

The second half of Job 25:6 and Psalm 22:6 are introduced, showing that the Son of Man refers to Christ. Psalm 22 is identified as a messianic psalm.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I want to cover the second half of this verse today. Because Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm, and the son of man which is a worm." Now, last week we saw man compared to a worm. This week we're going to look at Christ as compared to a worm. Now, no believer would ever dare suggest that Christ, the sinless Son of God, should be compared to a worm unless there was a specific biblical warrant to do so. Now, the term, the Son of Man in Job 25 and verse 6, points to Christ specifically. Even if one wants to object and say, well, how can you get Christ out of Job 25 and verse 6? There can be absolutely no objection to Psalm 22 and verse 6. So look there very quickly if you would as well, because here is what you and I would call a messianic psalm. And in Psalm 22 and verse 6, Christ says, "But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people."

Now let me just tell you very quickly that Psalm 22, Psalm 23, and Psalm 24 are a trilogy. That is, they go together. They all have basically the same subject, and the same subject is Jesus Christ Messiah. Psalm 22 gives us Jesus Christ as the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. Psalm 23 gives us Christ as the great shepherd who provides for his sheep. And then Psalm 24 depicts Christ as the chief shepherd who promotes his own to glory. So when you get to Psalm 22, it's almost as obvious as you would say the nose on someone's face not to recognize Psalm 22 as a messianic psalm. That is a psalm that speaks concerning the Messiah. If you look in verse one of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

"Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring?" And of course, everyone knows that these words, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," are quoted by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 27. We're going to look at that passage a little bit later. Now, there is in scripture that which is known as prophetic telescoping. Prophetic telescoping, what do I mean by that? That is, when you have a passage where the author may be talking about himself or someone else in the immediate context, but the text also refers to another individual in the future.

Prophetic Telescoping in Scripture

Weaver explains prophetic telescoping using 2 Samuel 7 (Solomon and Christ) and Psalm 22 (David and Christ), demonstrating how texts have immediate and future messianic applications.

Now let me show you. I want you to hold Psalm 22. We're going to come right back there, but turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 7. 2 Samuel chapter 7. And look if you would please beginning there with verse 12. Here is an illustration of what we call prophetic telescoping and then we're going to go back to Psalm 22 and see it there. In 2 Samuel chapter 7.

God makes a covenant with David. This is known as the Davidic covenant. God wanted to—or David wanted to build a house for God and God said, look, you wanted to build me a house, but David, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to build you a house. And so he enters into this covenant and look what he says to David in 2 Samuel 7, verse 12.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 7:12-16

"And when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom."

Now, let me ask you a very obvious question. Who is verse 12 referring to in the immediate context? Who was David's son? Solomon. So very obviously he's talking about Solomon. However, do you realize that Jesus Christ is also referred to as David's son? And what was he called? "Thou son of David, have mercy upon me." So actually, what you have in this passage, and I'm going to show it to you, you have the immediate context speaking of Solomon, but really Christ is being spoken of as well, because Jesus Christ is the true seed of David and God the Father is going to establish his kingdom. Watch.

"He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." Now, who is it that built a house for God? Solomon did. But whose kingdom is it that's established forever? Jesus Christ. You see, so here you have in this context, it's a double reference. When you get to verse 14, "I will be his father and he shall be my son." Of course, that's Christ. And, of course, referring to Solomon. But when he says, "If he commit iniquity," now we're talking about Solomon.

"I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men. But my mercy shall not depart away from him as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee." So that passage is referring directly then to Solomon. And so when he says in verse 16, "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever." Now he's talking about the greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Psalm 22, you'll find that Psalm 22, of course, was written by David. And Psalm 22 has an application of David, but it has a greater application to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true seed and the true son of David. So when you look at verse one, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" David may have said that. David was being chased by Saul. David was left out in the wilderness. But, you know, as well as I do, these words are applied directly to Jesus Christ. Now skip down to verse four. Here's what our Lord says, "Our fathers trusted in thee, they trusted and thou didst deliver them." How many times did God deliver Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Over and over. "They cried unto thee, and were delivered. They trusted in thee, and were not confounded." What does Christ say concerning himself?

"But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn. They shoot out the lip. They shake their heads, saying, He trusted on the Lord, that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."

Now these words are spoken directly concerning Christ in the New Testament. So it's not just David who is in the context here. Skip down to verse 12. "Many bulls have compassed me. Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and roaring lion." Now look what Christ says. "I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax."

"It is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws. Thou hast brought me to the dust of death."

Now, he's speaking primarily of Christ. In verse 16, he says, "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me." There he is at the crucifixion. Watch, "They pierced my hands and my feet." So we're talking directly of Jesus Christ. Verse 22, "I will declare thy name unto thy brethren in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." Christ speaks these words in the book of Hebrews. Look if you would in verses 27 through 31. "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship. All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, and none can keep his own soul alive."

"A seed shall serve him." That's Christ. "It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born that he hath done this." So here is an example of prophetic telescoping because David in Psalm 22, of course, speaks concerning himself immediately, but in the future he is speaking concerning Jesus Christ. Now when you go back to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I just read it earlier, but let me read it again. Job 25 verse 6: "How much less man that is a worm and the son of man, which is a worm." Another indication that Job 25 in verse 6, that is the latter half, speaks concerning Christ can be found in the title "the son of man." Do you realize that Christ referred to himself as the Son of Man more than any other title that is used in the New Testament that refers to Christ? For instance, it is true that usually this term refers to Christ. Occasionally it is used to refer to other men, but when it does, it pictures them as a representative of Jesus Christ. Who can tell me the one man in the Old Testament that is referred to as the Son of Man more than any other? Anybody know? Now, we're talking about an Old Testament character.

The Title 'Son of Man' and Christ's Humiliation

The title 'Son of Man' is examined, occurring 88 times in the New Testament for Christ. The humiliation of Christ is defined as His incarnation, suffering, death, and burial, where He emptied Himself of divine glory.

Now when you go back to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I just read it earlier, but let me read it again. Job 25 verse 6: "How much less man that is a worm and the son of man, which is a worm." Another indication that Job 25 in verse 6, that is the latter half, speaks concerning Christ can be found in the title "the son of man." Do you realize that Christ referred to himself as the Son of Man more than any other title that is used in the New Testament that refers to Christ? For instance, it is true that usually this term refers to Christ. Occasionally it is used to refer to other men, but when it does, it pictures them as a representative of Jesus Christ. Who can tell me the one man in the Old Testament that is referred to as the Son of Man more than any other? Anybody know? Now, we're talking about an Old Testament character.

There's a book that was written by him and named for him, Ezekiel. Ezekiel is called the Son of Man. In that sense of the word, Ezekiel is a picture of Jesus Christ. Remember that Ezekiel was a priest who was called to be a prophet as well. So there are two of the offices of Jesus Christ right there, priest and prophet. Now, the title Son of Man occurs 196 times in our Bibles. And it occurs in 192 verses, some verses Son of Man is referred to more than once. But when you get to the New Testament, the New Testament has the title Son of Man 88 times. And in each and every instance, the title Son of Man refers directly to Jesus Christ. So he says, "How much less man that is a worm and then the Son of Man, which is a worm."

So here's the question that I want to answer today. How can the word worm apply to Jesus Christ, the Son of God? How could the Son of God be referred to as a worm? And the answer is, it is used to refer to our Lord's humiliation.

Now let me just stop for a moment and explain the term humiliation. You may read in theological books about the humiliation of Christ. You hear preachers preach about the humiliation of Christ. What exactly is the humiliation of Christ? The humiliation of Christ consists in the fact that our Lord laid aside his divine majesty, which was his as the sovereign ruler of the universe, and assumed human nature, that is, he assumed the form of man and came in the form of a servant who himself was the supreme lawgiver and yet he came in the form of a servant and now is made subject to the very law that he gave and has become subject to the curse of that law.

So the humiliation of Christ then actually refers, first of all, to his incarnation, that is to his birth, to his sufferings, both active and passive, also to his death and to his burial. So when you talk about the humiliation of Christ, you're talking about basically the whole time that Christ was on earth from his incarnation, from his birth to his death, to his resurrection. Now the resurrection actually begins as glorification. But that whole time in between is known as his humiliation.

Now, you don't have to turn to 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. Let me just quote it for you. But I do want you to turn to the other passages, OK? In 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16, the Bible says this,

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:16

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh."

Let me just stop there. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, when you say God was manifest in the flesh, that refers to His incarnation. But the incarnation is the beginning of His humiliation.

Because that is where He laid aside His divine splendor and became man and came in the form of a servant. And that one who gave the law is now made under the law. And therefore, he's now under the curse. Look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 3. Galatians chapter 3. And notice, if you would please, verse 13. Galatians chapter 3, verse 13. Look what the Bible says. Galatians 3 verse 13:

Scripture Reading — Galatians 3:13

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." "For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree."

How did Christ redeem us from the curse of the law? He became a curse for us. In order to be made a curse for us, he must be made under the law. Look in your Bibles to Galatians chapter 4 verses 4 and 5. Now, we're talking about the humiliation of Christ. Look carefully, Galatians 4 verses 4 and 5: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." What did God do? God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Now turn over in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2.

This is a very important passage. Philippians 2. We're going to begin reading there at verse 5. Here's another passage that demonstrates our Lord's humiliation. So we know that he was made under the law. We know that he was made a curse for us. Look at it in Philippians 2. Here is a summary of our Lord's humiliation. Philippians 2 verse 5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Now what was the mind? Watch carefully.

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." In other words, he was God. He was with God. But what did he do? Verse 7: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Now just stop right there. That is his humiliation. When you get to verse 9, that is the beginning of his glorification. Now what did Christ do? He was God. He created the world. He gave the law, but he became man. He became a servant and was made under the law, became a curse of the law. And the Bible said he made himself of no reputation. Now, the word reputation is very important. The Greek word is the word Kenoo. This passage is usually referred to as the Kenosis passage. But literally, it means he emptied himself. That is, he emptied himself of his divine splendor and his divine glory. Now, he was still God, but he emptied himself. He laid all that aside and took upon himself the form of man and the form of a servant.

Christ as the Worm: Weakness and Reproach

Christ is compared to a worm in His weakness, defenselessness, and the reproach He endured. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are used to show He had no comeliness and was despised, trodden underfoot.

I was telling Ed outside that I read an excellent illustration this week of what one of the old Puritans said. The Puritan said that the fisherman doth not cast in a bare hook. But he wants to catch a fish. But he hides the hook with a worm. And then, of course, he catches the fish. And he said, likewise, Christ hid his divinity with the worm of human flesh. Christ hid his divinity with the flesh of man. He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a man.

Now, in simple words, he became a nothing. He became a worm. Now, Christ is called a worm not because he is mean and contemptible in and of himself, but because he was mean and contemptible in the eyes of others. You see, the Bible said he came into his own and his own received him not. Well, the Jews in Christ's time viewed him as a worm and treated him as such. He was viewed as loathsome to them and hated by them, and everyone trampled upon him and trod him under their feet, just like multitudes do today. In fact, if you will look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Hebrews 10 and verse 29, you will see that very phrase used. Hebrews 10, look at verse 29. The Bible asks this question.

"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God?" Let me ask you, when you're walking down the sidewalk and you see a worm, do you go around the worm normally? No. Most of the time, you don't. You just walk on. A worm is insignificant. He's nothing. You just tread upon him and keep right on going. Well, here Christ is likened to a worm and that he was trod under the foot of unbelievers. Now, there is an agreement in some things between the worm and Christ.

In a state of humiliation. As in its uncomeliness and disagreeable appearance. So Christ was not discerned to have any form or comeliness to be desired by people. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah 53. Everyone is familiar with this passage. Isaiah 53. And notice if you would please beginning there with verse one. Look what the prophet says. Isaiah 53 verse 1. Notice very carefully. Scripture says, "Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" Now we're talking about Christ. "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Let me ask you a question. How many of you really enjoy looking upon a mass of writhing, wiggling worms? You don't. No one does. And a worm has no form nor comeliness. No one wants to be around worms. I mean, you might fish with them, but that's the exception. You don't want to necessarily be around them. You don't keep them in your house. Well, here's the Christ compared to a worm. He has no form nor comeliness that when we see him that we should desire him. Now stop and think about a worm. In its weakness, the worm is impotent, unarmed, and a defenseless creature. And though Christ, who is the mighty God and also the Son of Man, whom God made strong for Himself, yet there was a weakness in Him through which He was crucified. Now, I'm not saying that Christ was sinful.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 53:1-3, 7-10

I did not say that. I'm only saying what Scripture said. Hold Isaiah 53. We're going to come right back there, okay? But look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 4. And what I mean when I say there was a weakness through which he was crucified, I mean only what the Scripture means. Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says concerning Christ. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 4. In fact, let's read verse 3. He says, "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you." So there was a sense in which he was crucified through weakness. In other words, he came as a man. He assumed the nature of man, and therefore he came to die as a man. Now go back in your Bibles to Isaiah 53, and let's begin reading there in verse 7. I said 53 verse 7. Now, what the Scripture says concerning Christ: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." Now let's just stop and think of what Christ suffered in weakness being made a man and suffering reproach and death. Let me ask you a question. I don't know if it's ever entered into your mind. But if Christ had not been made a worm, so to speak, He could have never suffered and died. How else could the omnipotent, sovereign God of heaven and earth be made to suffer? Christ said in Psalm 22 in verse 6, "But I am a worm and no man."

Those words are a miracle in language. How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement not only to be lower than the angels, but to be lower than men. Who could trample the mighty Son of God under His feet if Christ had not made Himself a worm? And the answer is no one could have. I wish I had time to preach upon this, but I believe there is an awesome contrast between when Christ told His people and those who came to get him and his enemies there in the garden, when they asked who he was, he said, "I am." And you know what happened? They just went backwards and fell down. All he had to say is "I am." What was the name of God? "I am that I am." What a contrast between the "I am" and "I am a worm." The only way Christ could have ever been made to suffer and die was he had to become a worm. And yet you see, our Lord was one person with two natures. He was perfect God and he was perfect man. And yet as perfect man, he came to die.

And he felt himself to be compared to a helpless, powerless, defenseless, downtrodden worm, passive, crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him. Our Lord, when he likens himself to a creature, selects the weakest of all creatures, a worm, which is all flesh. Let me ask you a question. What happens to a worm when you step on it? Well, he just simply becomes a writhing, quivering piece of flesh. A worm is devoid of all power and has no strength except to suffer and to die. And our Lord likens himself to a worm because in his body and in his soul, in his sufferings, he became a mass of misery, the very essence of agony in the dying pains of his crucifixion. Our Lord said that he was a worm and no man. And when he says that, in one sense of the word, he actually places himself beneath man on account of the scorn that is heaped upon him. And of course, the sufferings that he endured. And then he adds that he is a worm and no man.

Look back in your Bible, Psalm 22. Let me show you something. This is very interesting. Psalm 22. Notice what our Lord said. Begin reading there with verse four. "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them."

Now think of all the deliverance that God gave Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all the patriarchs, all the believers. "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded." But, he said, "I am a worm and no man." In other words, the privileges and the blessings which belonged to the fathers, he could not obtain while deserted by God. And common acts of humanity were not allowed him, for he was rejected of men. He was outlawed from the society of earth and shut out from the smile of heaven. How utterly and completely did our Lord empty himself of all glory and become of no reputation for our sakes.

Now, when the Lord says in verse six of Psalm 22, "But I am a worm and no man," He explains that phrase "no man" as "a reproach of men and despised of the people." When he says that he was not man, that does not mean that he was not really and truly a man. He was really and truly a man because he assumed a true body and a reasonable soul.

The Meaning of 'No Man' and Christ's Rejection

Christ's statement 'I am a worm and no man' means He was treated as less than human, rejected by society, and bore reproach. Psalm 69 and Matthew 27 illustrate the mockery He suffered.

He partook of the flesh and blood of the seed of Abraham. Look in your Bibles. Hebrews chapter 2. Let me show you. I'm telling you what he does not mean first. Hebrews chapter 2. Notice if you would please beginning there with verse 16. Hebrews 2 and verse 16:

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:16-18

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."

Now watch.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:16-18

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren."

So he was in reality a real, genuine man. He was flesh and blood. Look in Hebrews 4 and verse 15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." In other words, Christ was a real, genuine man. He went through everything that we go through. Sin excepted. That is, he never sinned. He was the perfect, sinless Son of God. Well, what does it mean then when Christ says that he is a worm and no man? It means that he was a man of no figure. He was a man who bore no office. He had no title of honor. He was not a recognized rabbi.

He was not a member of the Sanhedrin. He had no share in government, either ecclesiastical or civil. He was a carpenter's son, and he was a carpenter. He was not even treated as a man. But he was treated in the most inhumane manner. He was despised and rejected of men. He was called a madman. He was said to have a devil. He was a reproach of men. He was reproached by men as the worst of men. And even the reproaches of God and His people fell on him.

I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 69, since you're almost there. Here is a passage that is so heart-rending. If you ever see and comprehend this, you will grasp in some manner the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Look in Psalm 69, beginning there with verse 7. Look what he says.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 69:7-12, 19-21

"Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children."

Do you realize even his own brothers and sisters, they were half-brothers and sisters, but at first they despised him. They did not believe him. They mocked him. So he says, "I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." Whoever reproached God reproached Christ. Anyone who mocked the Father mocked the Son. "When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them."

Now watch, "They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards." Let me tell you, I don't want to do this today. I want to show you a passage at how men mocked and ridiculed the sinless son of God. But can you imagine that he was the song of drunkards? So despised, so rejected. Look at verse 19. "Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor." "Mine adversaries are all before thee." Look in verse 21. Let's read verse 20. "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." None would comfort him. Look, "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." No one comforted our Lord. No one consoled him.

He was basically treated as a worm. He was despised, rejected, counted absolutely worthless. He was reckoned a reproach to men and to be seen in his company or to be thought to belong to him or to be a disciple of him was to nothing but to heap scorn upon oneself. Many times in the Bible you will find out about individuals who might have believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, but they would not confess Him publicly. Why? Because they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God. Look in your Bibles to John chapter 12. Here's an illustration of that, John 12. In other words, they could not put up with the scorn and the reproach of having them converted and saying they belonged to Jesus Christ. In John chapter 12, verse 42, the Word of God says this:

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."

Why?

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Do you remember in John chapter 9 when the blind man was converted and healed by our Lord and he tried then to preach to these Pharisees?

You know what they said? "Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples." In other words, nothing but scorn and unbelief. He was a reproach of men. He was their common jest. He was a byword and a proverb to them. He was a sport to them. He was rabble to them. He was a scorn of their rulers. Look in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27. Matthew 27. You know, most of us have never thought about the caustic power of reproach.

Yet none of us enjoy having what we call our feelings hurt. We do not like to be ridiculed. We do not like to be scorned. We do not like to be made fun of. Well, look at Matthew 27. And notice, if you would please, verse 39. Matthew 27, verse 39, of course, Christ is crucified. He's hanging on the cross.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:39-44

"And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads."

They cast all kind of slurs and ridicules and made motions with their heads, and said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:39-44

"Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:39-44

"He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."

The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

What were they doing? Mocking. Ridiculing. Scorning. Despising. What did he say in Psalm 69? "I sought for comforters and found none." Why? Because everyone that walked by him reviled him. "You said you were the Son of God? Let's see if God will have you now. You said you were the King of Israel? Come off that cross and we'll believe you." He was reproached as a bad man, as a blasphemer, as a Sabbath breaker, as a liar, as a false prophet, as an enemy to Caesar, and a confederate with the Prince of Death. He was despised of the people as a mean, contemptible man, not worth taking notice of.

He had no honor in his own country. His friends were poor men, fishermen. None of his followers came from the Sanhedrin. No. He was ridiculed as a foolish man. And he was said not only to have deceived others, but also to have deceived himself. Those who saw him hanging on a cross laughed him to scorn. So far were they from pitying him or concerning themselves for him, they added to his affliction with their gestures, with their expression of insolence, upbraiding him and mocking him, making merry over him and making jest at his sufferings.

They shoot out the lips. They shake the head. All of these things were literally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Why? Because he was counted as a worm. You know, the interesting thing is that our Lord's crucifixion, even the common people were against him. The very people who once tried to crown him, now condemned him. That shows you what man is. The very people who had been cured by him and benefited by him now sneered at him in his woes.

I want you to listen to this statement. Sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt. Let me say that again. I haven't finished, but sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt, and for this reason, Jesus Christ, the sin-bearer, was given up thus to be unworthily and shamefully entreated, because he was bearing the sins of his people. Christ was trodden underfoot, trampled on, maltreated, buffeted, spit upon, mocked, and tormented and seemed to me more like a worm than a man. All the contempt that was cast upon him. There is a passage in Hebrews 12 in verse 2 that I want to quote. Listen carefully. Not quoting the whole verse, just the passage that I want to apply.

The Scarlet Worm (Tola'ath) and Redemption

The Hebrew word tola'ath is translated as scarlet and refers to the scarlet worm that dies on a tree, staining it red. This pictures Christ's death on the cross, shedding His blood to redeem sinners.

"He despised the shame enduring the cross." He despised the shame enduring the cross for the joy that was set before Him. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame." What was the joy that was set before him? Number one, his obedience to his father. Number two, the salvation of his people. He endured the cross, despising the shame, the reproach for the joy that was set before him. In a state of humiliation, our Lord redeemed His own. Part of that humiliation involves our redemption.

Now, when Bildad said that man was a worm, he used the term maggot. But you know by now, there's a totally different word. When he said in the Son of Man, who is a worm? And in Psalm 22 and verse six, when Christ said, "I'm a worm and no man," it is the same word that Bildad uses. In Job 25 and verse six, it is certainly not the word maggot. Well, what is the word that describes Christ as a worm? Well, the word is Tola'ath. Tola'ath. Now, before I tell you what kind of worm that is, let me tell you how that word is translated in our Bibles. Tola'ath is translated in our Bibles as scarlet 34 times. It's translated as worm eight times and crimson as one time.

Now, I want you to pause just for a moment and think how prominent, how often the word scarlet or the color scarlet is associated with the tabernacle, the temple and the priestly garments. And of course, all of those things were typical of the Lord Jesus Christ. So in Psalm 22 in verse 6, and in Job 25, the latter part of verse 6, when it refers to the Son of Man as a worm, it's the same word that is translated as scarlet. Now my question has to be, why would a color be associated with a worm? And the answer is very simple. Because the Tola'ath worm is also known as the Coccus ilicis, better known as the scarlet worm. This unusual worm was designed by our Heavenly Father to securely and permanently attach her body to the trunk of a tree when she was ready to give birth to her young. She deposited her eggs under her body. And they stayed there until they hatched. However, when she attached herself to that tree, when she gave birth, she would die. And when the scarlet worm died, the color scarlet would stain her body and the bark of the tree. Commercial dyes were derived from the dead bodies of the scarlet worms.

You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 1? "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ." Know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 24? Now listen carefully. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." "That we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." The Bible says that Christ died on the tree. And the blood that flowed was the blood that gave life to his children. We have peace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. Let me give you just a couple of applications today. If I were to ask you, ladies especially, what is one of the most difficult stains to remove from clothes? If you would think, you would probably say blood stains, and they are really tough to remove. However, I suggest that really the most difficult stains to remove are what you and I would call sin stains.

Application: Sin Stains and the Blood of Christ

Sin stains are like scarlet, but Christ's blood covers them, making believers white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). The scarlet robe placed on Christ symbolizes Him being made sin for us.

Because they are of a much deeper dye than simple bloodstains. Sin stains us in our hearts and in our consciences, and nothing can remove those stains other than the blood of Jesus Christ. Moreover, those stains are open and they're flagrant and notorious to all and especially to God. Now, look in your Bibles to Isaiah 1 and verse 18. Isaiah 1, verse 18. Look what the prophet Isaiah wrote. Isaiah 1, verse 18. Wonderful, wonderful verse.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Now, if you take a scarlet stain and then you put a different scarlet stain on it, can you see the original stain? No. Our Lord says here, are your scarlet and crimson stains. They're bold, they shine. But when my scarlet and crimson blood covers them, you can't see the original stain. And therefore, in the eyes of God, they're white as snow. They're pure, whiter than snow. Do you understand that God's pardon of our sin does not necessarily take the sin out of our nature, nor does it change the nature of the sin, nor does it cause it to cease to be sin. But what it does, it purifies us in the eyes of God and justifies us with his law so that we're clean and white and we're said to be without spot and without wrinkle in him.

Now, just one quick Bible question. Do you happen to know what color of robe our Lord wore was placed upon him during his humiliation and crucifixion? You'll find it in Matthew 27 verse 28, but I'll tell you, "And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe." And they clothed him with a scarlet robe. You know what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21? "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." That's why the Bible says that the saints were clothed with clean linen, pure and white. Because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Look in your Bible, one other passage, Isaiah chapter 41. And I get excited when I see a passage like this. Isaiah 41. And look at it in verse 14. Isaiah 41, verse 14. Look what God says to Jacob. "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."

Jacob the Worm and God's Promise

Isaiah 41:14 calls Jacob a tola'ath worm, but God promises to help and make him a threshing instrument to beat down mountains, symbolizing God using weak, blood-covered believers to conquer kingdoms.

"Fear not, thou worm Jacob." Now, God calls Jacob a worm. You remember, Bildad said man was a worm and he used the word maggot. The lowest. The stinkiest. The worst. Now, God calls Jacob a worm. But guess what? Tola'ath, the scarlet worm. He says, "Fear not, thou scarlet worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel. I will help thee, saith the Lord." You know why? Because Jacob and his people had been covered with the blood of Jesus Christ. And I said, "I'll help you. I'll not be against you."

And let me show you, just for those who tend to be discouraged, look at verse 15. After God tells Jacob and the men of Israel that He will help them, He says, "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel." Did you hear what God said to Jacob? He called him a worm. You know what a mountain is representative of in the Bible? A kingdom. He says, "You worm, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to make you a threshing instrument, having sharp teeth. And you will thresh the kingdoms of the earth." God will take a worm and destroy the kingdom of man. God will take the smallest, most powerless, most insignificant creature and destroy the proud, haughty, arrogant, New World Order. Because he takes a worm that's covered with the blood.

Go back to verse 10. Here's what he says again. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." What a worm, hmm? Oh, let me tell you, I'd rather be a worm like Jacob and covered with the blood of Christ than be the richest, most powerful man in the entire world without Christ. Our Lord is a worm, but a redeeming one, one from whom we derive our purity, our whiteness, our righteousness. He's the scarlet worm who redeems us from sin. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ. We thank you, Father, that he was made a worm, that he might redeem us and bring us unto Thee. We thank Thee that He was made a worm, that He might suffer and bleed and die. For how else could the Lord of glory ever, ever been in the hands of men except He be made a worm? And Lord, in being made a worm, He conquered.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Humiliation of Christ

Summary: Christ's incarnation, suffering, and death are His humiliation, where He emptied Himself of divine glory and became a servant, made under the law and a curse for us.

Evidence: Philippians 2:5-8 is cited: 'Who, being in the form of God... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant... he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.'

Christ as the Suffering Worm

Summary: Christ is likened to a worm in His weakness, defenselessness, and the reproach He endured, being despised and rejected by men.

Evidence: Psalm 22:6: 'But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.' Isaiah 53:2-3: 'he hath no form nor comeliness... he is despised and rejected of men.'

Redemption through the Scarlet Worm

Summary: The tola'ath worm dies on a tree, staining it scarlet, picturing Christ's atoning death. His blood covers sin, making believers pure.

Evidence: 1 Peter 2:24: 'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' Isaiah 1:18: 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'

God's Grace to Worms

Summary: God condescends to save helpless, sinful humans (worms) and exalts them to be princes, as seen in Psalm 113.

Evidence: Psalm 113:7-8: 'He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes.'

The Reproach of Christ

Summary: Christ endured mockery, scorn, and rejection, being treated as less than a man, fulfilling prophecies of His suffering.

Evidence: Matthew 27:39-44 describes passersby reviling Him; Psalm 69:20: 'Reproach hath broken my heart.'

Believers as Conquering Worms

Summary: Though weak and insignificant like worms, believers covered by Christ's blood are made instruments to thresh the kingdoms of the world.

Evidence: Isaiah 41:14-15: 'Fear not, thou worm Jacob... I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains.'

Key Arguments

Christ had to become a worm to suffer and die

Summary: The omnipotent God could not suffer or die unless He humbled Himself to become a weak, defenseless worm. Only by assuming human nature and emptying Himself could He be crucified.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 13:4: 'though he was crucified through weakness.' Philippians 2:7-8: 'made himself of no reputation... he humbled himself.'

The title 'Son of Man' in Job 25:6 points to Christ

Summary: The phrase 'son of man' in Job 25:6, combined with Psalm 22:6, refers to Christ, as the title is used messianically and Christ applied it to Himself.

Evidence: Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm; Christ quotes Psalm 22:1 on the cross. The title 'Son of Man' occurs 88 times in the NT for Christ.

Christ's reproach was substitutionary

Summary: Christ bore the reproach and contempt that sin deserves, being treated as a worm because He was the sin-bearer for His people.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 5:21: 'he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.' Psalm 69:9: 'the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.'

The scarlet worm illustrates Christ's atonement

Summary: The tola'ath worm attaches to a tree, dies, and stains it scarlet, symbolizing Christ's death on the cross and the shedding of His blood for redemption.

Evidence: 1 Peter 2:24: 'bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' The word tola'ath is translated 'scarlet' 34 times.

Christ's blood covers sin stains

Summary: Sin stains are like scarlet, but Christ's scarlet blood covers them, making believers white as snow in God's sight.

Evidence: Isaiah 1:18: 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'

God uses weak worms to conquer kingdoms

Summary: God calls Jacob a worm but promises to make him a threshing instrument to beat down mountains, showing that God empowers the weak to overcome worldly powers.

Evidence: Isaiah 41:14-15: 'Fear not, thou worm Jacob... I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth.'

Scripture References

Job 25:6

Context: Bildad says man is a worm (rimah) and the son of man is a worm (tola'ath), introducing the comparison of Christ to a worm.

Psalm 22:6

Context: Christ says, 'I am a worm and no man,' a key text for His humiliation and reproach.

Exodus 16

Context: The manna bred worms when disobediently gathered, teaching lessons on obedience and God's provision.

Psalm 113:1-8

Context: God's condescension to raise the poor from the dust and dunghill, visiting worms and making them princes.

Psalm 22:1

Context: Christ's cry of forsakenness, quoted in Matthew 27, identifying Psalm 22 as messianic.

2 Samuel 7:12-16

Context: The Davidic covenant, illustrating prophetic telescoping with immediate reference to Solomon and ultimate reference to Christ.

Psalm 22:4-8, 12-16, 22, 27-31

Context: Various verses from Psalm 22 showing Christ's suffering, mockery, and ultimate victory, applied to Jesus in the New Testament.

1 Timothy 3:16

Context: God was manifest in the flesh, referring to Christ's incarnation as the beginning of His humiliation.

Galatians 3:13

Context: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us.

Galatians 4:4-5

Context: God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those under the law.

Philippians 2:5-8

Context: Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, humbling Himself to death on the cross.

Hebrews 10:29

Context: Those who trod underfoot the Son of God, illustrating how Christ was trampled like a worm.

Isaiah 53:1-3, 7-10

Context: Christ had no form or comeliness, was despised, and suffered as a lamb to the slaughter.

2 Corinthians 13:4

Context: Christ was crucified through weakness, yet lives by the power of God.

Hebrews 2:16-18

Context: Christ took on the seed of Abraham, being made like His brethren to be a merciful high priest.

Hebrews 4:15

Context: Christ was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.

Psalm 69:7-12, 19-21

Context: Christ bore reproach, became a stranger to His brethren, and was given gall and vinegar.

John 12:42-43

Context: Chief rulers believed but did not confess Christ, loving the praise of men more than God.

Matthew 27:39-44

Context: Christ was reviled and mocked on the cross, fulfilling the reproach of Psalm 22.

Isaiah 1:18

Context: Though sins are scarlet, they shall be white as snow, illustrating Christ's blood covering sin.

Historical References

Puritan illustration of fisherman and worm

Context: A Puritan said the fisherman hides the hook with a worm to catch fish; likewise, Christ hid His divinity with human flesh to redeem sinners.

Scarlet worm (Coccus ilicis) used for commercial dyes

Context: The tola'ath worm was used to produce scarlet dye from its dead body, illustrating Christ's death producing redemptive blood.

Important Quotes

But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Significance: This is the central text for the sermon, where Christ identifies Himself as a worm in His humiliation.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Significance: Isaiah 53 describes Christ's rejection and lack of comeliness, fitting the worm imagery.

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Significance: Psalm 69 expresses the depth of Christ's suffering and isolation during His passion.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Significance: This verse connects the scarlet worm imagery to the cleansing power of Christ's blood.

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Significance: God addresses Jacob as a tola'ath worm, showing that even weak believers are helped and used by God.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding Christ as a 'worm' deepen your appreciation for His humiliation and suffering?

Context: The sermon emphasizes that Christ became a worm to suffer and die, being despised and rejected.

In what ways does the scarlet worm (tola'ath) illustrate the atonement of Christ?

Context: The worm attaches to a tree, dies, and stains it scarlet, picturing Christ's death on the cross.

Why is it significant that Christ was 'made under the law' and 'made a curse for us'?

Context: Galatians 3:13 and 4:4-5 show Christ's submission to the law to redeem sinners.

How should the reproach Christ endured affect our willingness to bear reproach for Him?

Context: Christ was mocked and scorned; believers may face similar treatment (John 12:42-43).

What does it mean that God calls Jacob a 'worm' yet promises to make him a threshing instrument?

Context: Isaiah 41:14-16 shows God using weak, blood-covered believers to conquer kingdoms.

How does the concept of 'prophetic telescoping' help us interpret Old Testament passages about Christ?

Context: 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 22 have immediate and future messianic applications.

Applications

Trust in Christ's blood for cleansing from sin

Summary: Just as scarlet stains are covered by scarlet blood, believers' sins are covered by Christ's blood, making them white as snow.

Evidence: Isaiah 1:18: 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'

Embrace weakness as a means of God's power

Summary: Like Jacob the worm, believers are weak but God makes them threshing instruments to overcome worldly powers.

Evidence: Isaiah 41:14-15: 'Fear not, thou worm Jacob... I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument.'

Endure reproach for Christ's sake

Summary: Christ endured mockery and rejection; believers should not fear the scorn of men but confess Christ openly.

Evidence: John 12:42-43 warns against loving the praise of men more than God.

Recognize the depth of Christ's humiliation

Summary: Meditating on Christ becoming a worm helps believers appreciate the extent of His love and sacrifice.

Evidence: Philippians 2:5-8: 'he humbled himself and became obedient unto death.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:12:33Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:50:14Z

Clean Transcript

The Theology of Worms - 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bibles today to two passages, the same two we opened to last week, Job 25 and Psalm 22. I'll take just a few moments and review, especially for those who were not here last week. But I've been preaching last Sunday and this Sunday on the subject of the theology of worms, and you will find the text Job 25 and verse six, where Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm, and the Son of man which is a worm." And then if you look in your Bible to Psalm 22 and verse 6, and we'll go over this passage just for a moment here. In verse 6, Christ says, "But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people." Now, I certainly cannot give you in a few minutes that which it took me over an hour to cover last week on the fact that how worms are used in the Bible. So let me just point out the very beginning that we looked at worms in the manna in Exodus chapter 16 and just looking at how the manna bred worms when the people disobeyed and how it did not breed worms when the people obeyed.
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I pointed out three things that we could learn from the worms in the manna. First of all, I pointed out the fact that anything that is done in lust and covetousness and disobedience is bound to putrefy and bound to destroy. It's all of that manner that they laid up extra and above when God told them not to, bred worms and stink. And secondly, I pointed out how that when they obeyed, they did not bring worms and stink, and so therefore obedience is commended while disobedience is condemned. And then I also pointed out how the Bible said, "He that gathered little lacked nothing, and he that gathered much had nothing left over." In other words, God can bless the least that we have when we're obedient, and God can make that little go a mighty long way, just like he did the widow's cruse of oil.
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And of course, the widow's meal there. So there are very obviously lessons that can be learned just from a cursory study of worms in the Bible. However, when I look at this passage in Job 25 and verse six, where Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm," and I told you that the word worm there in reference to man is the Hebrew word Rimah, which literally means maggot. So he's likening man, therefore, to a maggot.
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And since maggots are indeed agents of disease, destruction, and decay, they're certainly a perfect picture of the fallen nature of man. Now, last week, I pointed out how maggots were compared and contrasted to man in four specific ways. First of all, by way of origination. Since worms are of the earth, earthy, so is man. And I showed how that our origination is from the earth. God created us out of the dust of the earth. And God said, since we were taken from the dust, unto dust that we shall return. Since man is a worm, basically speaking, he's going to be eaten by worms. So the second thing I pointed out was obfuscation. Now, obfuscation is a word which means basically something that is darkened, something that is not capable of understanding. So man is not only compared to a worm by way of origination, but by way of obfuscation. What can a worm comprehend? What can a worm understand?
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And the answer is absolutely nothing. It has no understanding at all. And then I took you to the Bible and showed you especially Ephesians 4 and verse 18, where it says that fallen man is alienated from God through the ignorance that is in him. He does not and he cannot understand the things of God. He's totally and absolutely ignorant. So just like a worm is ignorant, so man by nature is ignorant. And then thirdly, I showed you that man is compared to a worm by way of degradation. That is, corruption, depravity. As low as it gets, that's what man is by nature. He sins, he's wicked, he's vile. And then, of course, fourthly, I pointed out worms are compared to man by way of destination. And I showed you how Job was literally being eaten of worms and how the Bible declares that man shall be eaten of worms, not just physically, but then spiritually. And I went then to the book of Mark, into the book of Isaiah, and showed you where our Lord said, the worm of their conscience, or the worm, not the fires not quenched, and the worm there referred to the consciousness of man, and how that man would be tormented, those who die without
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Jesus Christ. If you look very quickly in your Bibles, I want to just sum this up, the review up. But look at Psalm 113, because I showed you in this passage the absolute sovereign grace and mercy of God and how God condescended to save us. And look, if you would please, Psalm 113, verse one. Let me just read it again. "Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun and going down to the same, the Lord's name is to be praised." Watch carefully. "The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens." So here's the sovereign, omnipotent, glorious, majestic God. Verse 5 said, "Who is likened to our God, who dwelleth on high."
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There is none like Him. Now look. "Who humbleth himself," that is the marvelous condescension of God, "who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth." And what does God do in this marvelous and gracious condescension? He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy out of the what? The dunghill. He visits the worms. He visits the maggots.
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And what does he do? "That he may sit with princes, even with the princes of his people." And the Bible tells us that he hath made us kings and priests under our God. So here's the marvelous, gracious condescension of God, where God condescends, not only to behold the things in heaven and earth, but also to deliver us and to raise us up and to make us kings and priests unto Him.
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Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I want to cover the second half of this verse today. Because Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm, and the son of man which is a worm." Now, last week we saw man compared to a worm. This week we're going to look at Christ as compared to a worm. Now, no believer would ever dare suggest that Christ, the sinless Son of God, should be compared to a worm unless there was a specific biblical warrant to do so. Now, the term, the Son of Man in Job 25 and verse 6, points to Christ specifically. Even if one wants to object and say, well, how can you get Christ out of Job 25 and verse 6? There can be absolutely no objection to Psalm 22 and verse 6. So look there very quickly if you would as well, because here is what you and I would call a messianic psalm. And in Psalm 22 and verse 6, Christ says, "But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people."
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Now let me just tell you very quickly that Psalm 22, Psalm 23, and Psalm 24 are a trilogy. That is, they go together. They all have basically the same subject, and the same subject is Jesus Christ Messiah. Psalm 22 gives us Jesus Christ as the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. Psalm 23 gives us Christ as the great shepherd who provides for his sheep. And then Psalm 24 depicts Christ as the chief shepherd who promotes his own to glory. So when you get to Psalm 22, it's almost as obvious as you would say the nose on someone's face not to recognize Psalm 22 as a messianic psalm. That is a psalm that speaks concerning the Messiah. If you look in verse one of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
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"Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring?" And of course, everyone knows that these words, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," are quoted by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 27. We're going to look at that passage a little bit later.
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Now, there is in scripture that which is known as prophetic telescoping. Prophetic telescoping, what do I mean by that? That is, when you have a passage where the author may be talking about himself or someone else in the immediate context, but the text also refers to another individual in the future.
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Now let me show you. I want you to hold Psalm 22. We're going to come right back there, but turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 7. 2 Samuel chapter 7. And look if you would please beginning there with verse 12. Here is an illustration of what we call prophetic telescoping and then we're going to go back to Psalm 22 and see it there. In 2 Samuel chapter 7.
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God makes a covenant with David. This is known as the Davidic covenant. God wanted to—or David wanted to build a house for God and God said, look, you wanted to build me a house, but David, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to build you a house. And so he enters into this covenant and look what he says to David in 2 Samuel 7, verse 12.
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"And when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom."
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Now, let me ask you a very obvious question. Who is verse 12 referring to in the immediate context? Who was David's son? Solomon. So very obviously he's talking about Solomon. However, do you realize that Jesus Christ is also referred to as David's son? And what was he called? "Thou son of David, have mercy upon me." So actually, what you have in this passage, and I'm going to show it to you, you have the immediate context speaking of Solomon, but really Christ is being spoken of as well, because Jesus Christ is the true seed of David and God the Father is going to establish his kingdom. Watch.
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"He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." Now, who is it that built a house for God? Solomon did. But whose kingdom is it that's established forever? Jesus Christ. You see, so here you have in this context, it's a double reference. When you get to verse 14, "I will be his father and he shall be my son." Of course, that's Christ. And, of course, referring to Solomon. But when he says, "If he commit iniquity," now we're talking about Solomon.
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"I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men. But my mercy shall not depart away from him as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee." So that passage is referring directly then to Solomon. And so when he says in verse 16, "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever."
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Now he's talking about the greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Psalm 22, you'll find that Psalm 22, of course, was written by David. And Psalm 22 has an application of David, but it has a greater application to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true seed and the true son of David. So when you look at verse one, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" David may have said that. David was being chased by Saul. David was left out in the wilderness. But, you know, as well as I do, these words are applied directly to Jesus Christ. Now skip down to verse four. Here's what our Lord says, "Our fathers trusted in thee, they trusted and thou didst deliver them." How many times did God deliver Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Over and over. "They cried unto thee, and were delivered. They trusted in thee, and were not confounded." What does Christ say concerning himself?
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"But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn. They shoot out the lip. They shake their heads, saying, He trusted on the Lord, that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."
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Now these words are spoken directly concerning Christ in the New Testament. So it's not just David who is in the context here. Skip down to verse 12. "Many bulls have compassed me. Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and roaring lion." Now look what Christ says. "I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax."
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"It is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws. Thou hast brought me to the dust of death."
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Now, he's speaking primarily of Christ. In verse 16, he says, "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me." There he is at the crucifixion. Watch, "They pierced my hands and my feet." So we're talking directly of Jesus Christ. Verse 22, "I will declare thy name unto thy brethren in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." Christ speaks these words in the book of Hebrews.
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Look if you would in verses 27 through 31. "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship. All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, and none can keep his own soul alive."
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"A seed shall serve him." That's Christ. "It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born that he hath done this." So here is an example of prophetic telescoping because David in Psalm 22, of course, speaks concerning himself immediately, but in the future he is speaking concerning Jesus Christ.
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Now when you go back to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I just read it earlier, but let me read it again. Job 25 verse 6: "How much less man that is a worm and the son of man, which is a worm." Another indication that Job 25 in verse 6, that is the latter half, speaks concerning Christ can be found in the title "the son of man." Do you realize that Christ referred to himself as the Son of Man more than any other title that is used in the New Testament that refers to Christ? For instance, it is true that usually this term refers to Christ. Occasionally it is used to refer to other men, but when it does, it pictures them as a representative of Jesus Christ. Who can tell me the one man in the Old Testament that is referred to as the Son of Man more than any other? Anybody know? Now, we're talking about an Old Testament character.
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There's a book that was written by him and named for him, Ezekiel. Ezekiel is called the Son of Man. In that sense of the word, Ezekiel is a picture of Jesus Christ. Remember that Ezekiel was a priest who was called to be a prophet as well. So there are two of the offices of Jesus Christ right there, priest and prophet. Now, the title Son of Man occurs 196 times in our Bibles. And it occurs in 192 verses, some verses Son of Man is referred to more than once. But when you get to the New Testament, the New Testament has the title Son of Man 88 times. And in each and every instance, the title Son of Man refers directly to Jesus Christ. So he says, "How much less man that is a worm and then the Son of Man, which is a worm."
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So here's the question that I want to answer today. How can the word worm apply to Jesus Christ, the Son of God? How could the Son of God be referred to as a worm? And the answer is, it is used to refer to our Lord's humiliation.
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Now let me just stop for a moment and explain the term humiliation. You may read in theological books about the humiliation of Christ. You hear preachers preach about the humiliation of Christ. What exactly is the humiliation of Christ? The humiliation of Christ consists in the fact that our Lord laid aside his divine majesty, which was his as the sovereign ruler of the universe, and assumed human nature, that is, he assumed the form of man and came in the form of a servant who himself was the supreme lawgiver and yet he came in the form of a servant and now is made subject to the very law that he gave and has become subject to the curse of that law.
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So the humiliation of Christ then actually refers, first of all, to his incarnation, that is to his birth, to his sufferings, both active and passive, also to his death and to his burial. So when you talk about the humiliation of Christ, you're talking about basically the whole time that Christ was on earth from his incarnation, from his birth to his death, to his resurrection. Now the resurrection actually begins as glorification. But that whole time in between is known as his humiliation.
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Now, you don't have to turn to 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. Let me just quote it for you. But I do want you to turn to the other passages, OK? In 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16, the Bible says this, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." Let me just stop there. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, when you say God was manifest in the flesh, that refers to His incarnation. But the incarnation is the beginning of His humiliation.
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Because that is where He laid aside His divine splendor and became man and came in the form of a servant. And that one who gave the law is now made under the law. And therefore, he's now under the curse. Look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 3. Galatians chapter 3. And notice, if you would please, verse 13. Galatians chapter 3, verse 13. Look what the Bible says. Galatians 3 verse 13: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."
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"For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." How did Christ redeem us from the curse of the law? He became a curse for us. In order to be made a curse for us, he must be made under the law. Look in your Bibles to Galatians chapter 4 verses 4 and 5. Now, we're talking about the humiliation of Christ. Look carefully, Galatians 4 verses 4 and 5: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." What did God do? God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Now turn over in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 2.
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This is a very important passage. Philippians 2. We're going to begin reading there at verse 5. Here's another passage that demonstrates our Lord's humiliation. So we know that he was made under the law. We know that he was made a curse for us. Look at it in Philippians 2. Here is a summary of our Lord's humiliation. Philippians 2 verse 5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Now what was the mind? Watch carefully.
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"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." In other words, he was God. He was with God. But what did he do? Verse 7: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
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Now just stop right there. That is his humiliation. When you get to verse 9, that is the beginning of his glorification.
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Now what did Christ do? He was God. He created the world. He gave the law, but he became man. He became a servant and was made under the law, became a curse of the law. And the Bible said he made himself of no reputation. Now, the word reputation is very important. The Greek word is the word Kenoo. This passage is usually referred to as the Kenosis passage. But literally, it means he emptied himself. That is, he emptied himself of his divine splendor and his divine glory. Now, he was still God, but he emptied himself. He laid all that aside and took upon himself the form of man and the form of a servant.
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I was telling Ed outside that I read an excellent illustration this week of what one of the old Puritans said. The Puritan said that the fisherman doth not cast in a bare hook. But he wants to catch a fish. But he hides the hook with a worm. And then, of course, he catches the fish. And he said, likewise, Christ hid his divinity with the worm of human flesh. Christ hid his divinity with the flesh of man. He made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a man.
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Now, in simple words, he became a nothing. He became a worm.
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Now, Christ is called a worm not because he is mean and contemptible in and of himself, but because he was mean and contemptible in the eyes of others. You see, the Bible said he came into his own and his own received him not. Well, the Jews in Christ's time viewed him as a worm and treated him as such. He was viewed as loathsome to them and hated by them, and everyone trampled upon him and trod him under their feet, just like multitudes do today. In fact, if you will look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Hebrews 10 and verse 29, you will see that very phrase used. Hebrews 10, look at verse 29. The Bible asks this question.
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"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God?" Let me ask you, when you're walking down the sidewalk and you see a worm, do you go around the worm normally? No. Most of the time, you don't. You just walk on. A worm is insignificant. He's nothing. You just tread upon him and keep right on going. Well, here Christ is likened to a worm and that he was trod under the foot of unbelievers. Now, there is an agreement in some things between the worm and Christ.
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In a state of humiliation. As in its uncomeliness and disagreeable appearance. So Christ was not discerned to have any form or comeliness to be desired by people. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah 53. Everyone is familiar with this passage. Isaiah 53. And notice if you would please beginning there with verse one. Look what the prophet says. Isaiah 53 verse 1. Notice very carefully. Scripture says, "Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" Now we're talking about Christ. "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."
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"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Let me ask you a question. How many of you really enjoy looking upon a mass of writhing, wiggling worms? You don't. No one does. And a worm has no form nor comeliness. No one wants to be around worms.
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I mean, you might fish with them, but that's the exception. You don't want to necessarily be around them. You don't keep them in your house. Well, here's the Christ compared to a worm. He has no form nor comeliness that when we see him that we should desire him. Now stop and think about a worm. In its weakness, the worm is impotent, unarmed, and a defenseless creature. And though Christ, who is the mighty God and also the Son of Man, whom God made strong for Himself, yet there was a weakness in Him through which He was crucified. Now, I'm not saying that Christ was sinful.
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I did not say that. I'm only saying what Scripture said. Hold Isaiah 53. We're going to come right back there, okay? But look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 4. And what I mean when I say there was a weakness through which he was crucified, I mean only what the Scripture means. Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says concerning Christ. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 4. In fact, let's read verse 3. He says, "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you." So there was a sense in which he was crucified through weakness.
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In other words, he came as a man. He assumed the nature of man, and therefore he came to die as a man.
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Now go back in your Bibles to Isaiah 53, and let's begin reading there in verse 7. I said 53 verse 7. Now, what the Scripture says concerning Christ: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."
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"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."
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Now let's just stop and think of what Christ suffered in weakness being made a man and suffering reproach and death. Let me ask you a question. I don't know if it's ever entered into your mind. But if Christ had not been made a worm, so to speak, He could have never suffered and died. How else could the omnipotent, sovereign God of heaven and earth be made to suffer? Christ said in Psalm 22 in verse 6, "But I am a worm and no man."
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Those words are a miracle in language. How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement not only to be lower than the angels, but to be lower than men. Who could trample the mighty Son of God under His feet if Christ had not made Himself a worm? And the answer is no one could have. I wish I had time to preach upon this, but I believe there is an awesome contrast between when Christ told His people and those who came to get him and his enemies there in the garden, when they asked who he was, he said, "I am."
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And you know what happened? They just went backwards and fell down. All he had to say is "I am." What was the name of God? "I am that I am." What a contrast between the "I am" and "I am a worm." The only way Christ could have ever been made to suffer and die was he had to become a worm. And yet you see, our Lord was one person with two natures. He was perfect God and he was perfect man. And yet as perfect man, he came to die.
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And he felt himself to be compared to a helpless, powerless, defenseless, downtrodden worm, passive, crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him. Our Lord, when he likens himself to a creature, selects the weakest of all creatures, a worm, which is all flesh. Let me ask you a question. What happens to a worm when you step on it? Well, he just simply becomes a writhing, quivering piece of flesh. A worm is devoid of all power and has no strength except to suffer and to die. And our Lord likens himself to a worm because in his body and in his soul, in his sufferings, he became a mass of misery, the very essence of agony in the dying pains of his crucifixion. Our Lord said that he was a worm and no man. And when he says that, in one sense of the word, he actually places himself beneath man on account of the scorn that is heaped upon him. And of course, the sufferings that he endured. And then he adds that he is a worm and no man.
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Look back in your Bible, Psalm 22. Let me show you something. This is very interesting. Psalm 22. Notice what our Lord said. Begin reading there with verse four. "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them."
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Now think of all the deliverance that God gave Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all the patriarchs, all the believers. "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded." But, he said, "I am a worm and no man." In other words, the privileges and the blessings which belonged to the fathers, he could not obtain while deserted by God.
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And common acts of humanity were not allowed him, for he was rejected of men. He was outlawed from the society of earth and shut out from the smile of heaven. How utterly and completely did our Lord empty himself of all glory and become of no reputation for our sakes.
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Now, when the Lord says in verse six of Psalm 22, "But I am a worm and no man," He explains that phrase "no man" as "a reproach of men and despised of the people." When he says that he was not man, that does not mean that he was not really and truly a man. He was really and truly a man because he assumed a true body and a reasonable soul.
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He partook of the flesh and blood of the seed of Abraham. Look in your Bibles. Hebrews chapter 2. Let me show you. I'm telling you what he does not mean first. Hebrews chapter 2. Notice if you would please beginning there with verse 16. Hebrews 2 and verse 16: "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
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"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." Now watch. "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren." So he was in reality a real, genuine man. He was flesh and blood. Look in Hebrews 4 and verse 15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." In other words, Christ was a real, genuine man.
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He went through everything that we go through. Sin excepted. That is, he never sinned. He was the perfect, sinless Son of God. Well, what does it mean then when Christ says that he is a worm and no man? It means that he was a man of no figure. He was a man who bore no office. He had no title of honor. He was not a recognized rabbi.
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He was not a member of the Sanhedrin. He had no share in government, either ecclesiastical or civil. He was a carpenter's son, and he was a carpenter. He was not even treated as a man. But he was treated in the most inhumane manner. He was despised and rejected of men. He was called a madman. He was said to have a devil. He was a reproach of men. He was reproached by men as the worst of men. And even the reproaches of God and His people fell on him.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to Psalm 69, since you're almost there. Here is a passage that is so heart-rending. If you ever see and comprehend this, you will grasp in some manner the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Look in Psalm 69, beginning there with verse 7. Look what he says. "Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children."
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Do you realize even his own brothers and sisters, they were half-brothers and sisters, but at first they despised him. They did not believe him. They mocked him. So he says, "I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me."
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Whoever reproached God reproached Christ. Anyone who mocked the Father mocked the Son. "When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them."
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Now watch, "They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards." Let me tell you, I don't want to do this today. I want to show you a passage at how men mocked and ridiculed the sinless son of God. But can you imagine that he was the song of drunkards? So despised, so rejected. Look at verse 19. "Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor."
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"Mine adversaries are all before thee." Look in verse 21. Let's read verse 20. "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." None would comfort him. Look, "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." No one comforted our Lord. No one consoled him.
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He was basically treated as a worm. He was despised, rejected, counted absolutely worthless. He was reckoned a reproach to men and to be seen in his company or to be thought to belong to him or to be a disciple of him was to nothing but to heap scorn upon oneself. Many times in the Bible you will find out about individuals who might have believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, but they would not confess Him publicly. Why? Because they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God.
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Look in your Bibles to John chapter 12. Here's an illustration of that, John 12. In other words, they could not put up with the scorn and the reproach of having them converted and saying they belonged to Jesus Christ. In John chapter 12, verse 42, the Word of God says this: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue." Why? "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." Do you remember in John chapter 9 when the blind man was converted and healed by our Lord and he tried then to preach to these Pharisees?
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You know what they said? "Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples." In other words, nothing but scorn and unbelief. He was a reproach of men. He was their common jest. He was a byword and a proverb to them. He was a sport to them. He was rabble to them. He was a scorn of their rulers. Look in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27. Matthew 27. You know, most of us have never thought about the caustic power of reproach.
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Yet none of us enjoy having what we call our feelings hurt. We do not like to be ridiculed. We do not like to be scorned. We do not like to be made fun of. Well, look at Matthew 27. And notice, if you would please, verse 39. Matthew 27, verse 39, of course, Christ is crucified. He's hanging on the cross. "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads." They cast all kind of slurs and ridicules and made motions with their heads, and said, "Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
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What were they doing? Mocking. Ridiculing. Scorning. Despising. What did he say in Psalm 69? "I sought for comforters and found none." Why? Because everyone that walked by him reviled him. "You said you were the Son of God? Let's see if God will have you now. You said you were the King of Israel? Come off that cross and we'll believe you." He was reproached as a bad man, as a blasphemer, as a Sabbath breaker, as a liar, as a false prophet, as an enemy to Caesar, and a confederate with the Prince of Death. He was despised of the people as a mean, contemptible man, not worth taking notice of.
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He had no honor in his own country. His friends were poor men, fishermen. None of his followers came from the Sanhedrin. No. He was ridiculed as a foolish man. And he was said not only to have deceived others, but also to have deceived himself. Those who saw him hanging on a cross laughed him to scorn. So far were they from pitying him or concerning themselves for him, they added to his affliction with their gestures, with their expression of insolence, upbraiding him and mocking him, making merry over him and making jest at his sufferings.
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They shoot out the lips. They shake the head. All of these things were literally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Why? Because he was counted as a worm. You know, the interesting thing is that our Lord's crucifixion, even the common people were against him. The very people who once tried to crown him, now condemned him. That shows you what man is. The very people who had been cured by him and benefited by him now sneered at him in his woes.
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I want you to listen to this statement. Sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt. Let me say that again. I haven't finished, but sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt, and for this reason, Jesus Christ, the sin-bearer, was given up thus to be unworthily and shamefully entreated, because he was bearing the sins of his people. Christ was trodden underfoot, trampled on, maltreated, buffeted, spit upon, mocked, and tormented and seemed to me more like a worm than a man. All the contempt that was cast upon him. There is a passage in Hebrews 12 in verse 2 that I want to quote. Listen carefully. Not quoting the whole verse, just the passage that I want to apply.
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"He despised the shame enduring the cross." He despised the shame enduring the cross for the joy that was set before Him. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame." What was the joy that was set before him? Number one, his obedience to his father. Number two, the salvation of his people. He endured the cross, despising the shame, the reproach for the joy that was set before him.
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In a state of humiliation, our Lord redeemed His own. Part of that humiliation involves our redemption.
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Now, when Bildad said that man was a worm, he used the term maggot. But you know by now, there's a totally different word. When he said in the Son of Man, who is a worm? And in Psalm 22 and verse six, when Christ said, "I'm a worm and no man," it is the same word that Bildad uses. In Job 25 and verse six, it is certainly not the word maggot. Well, what is the word that describes Christ as a worm? Well, the word is Tola'ath. Tola'ath. Now, before I tell you what kind of worm that is, let me tell you how that word is translated in our Bibles. Tola'ath is translated in our Bibles as scarlet 34 times. It's translated as worm eight times and crimson as one time.
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Now, I want you to pause just for a moment and think how prominent, how often the word scarlet or the color scarlet is associated with the tabernacle, the temple and the priestly garments. And of course, all of those things were typical of the Lord Jesus Christ. So in Psalm 22 in verse 6, and in Job 25, the latter part of verse 6, when it refers to the Son of Man as a worm, it's the same word that is translated as scarlet. Now my question has to be, why would a color be associated with a worm?
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And the answer is very simple. Because the Tola'ath worm is also known as the Coccus ilicis, better known as the scarlet worm. This unusual worm was designed by our Heavenly Father to securely and permanently attach her body to the trunk of a tree when she was ready to give birth to her young. She deposited her eggs under her body. And they stayed there until they hatched. However, when she attached herself to that tree, when she gave birth, she would die. And when the scarlet worm died, the color scarlet would stain her body and the bark of the tree. Commercial dyes were derived from the dead bodies of the scarlet worms.
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You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 1? "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ." Know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 24? Now listen carefully. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree."
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"That we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." The Bible says that Christ died on the tree. And the blood that flowed was the blood that gave life to his children. We have peace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. Let me give you just a couple of applications today. If I were to ask you, ladies especially, what is one of the most difficult stains to remove from clothes? If you would think, you would probably say blood stains, and they are really tough to remove. However, I suggest that really the most difficult stains to remove are what you and I would call sin stains.
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Because they are of a much deeper dye than simple bloodstains. Sin stains us in our hearts and in our consciences, and nothing can remove those stains other than the blood of Jesus Christ. Moreover, those stains are open and they're flagrant and notorious to all and especially to God.
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Now, look in your Bibles to Isaiah 1 and verse 18. Isaiah 1, verse 18. Look what the prophet Isaiah wrote. Isaiah 1, verse 18. Wonderful, wonderful verse. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
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Now, if you take a scarlet stain and then you put a different scarlet stain on it, can you see the original stain? No. Our Lord says here, are your scarlet and crimson stains. They're bold, they shine. But when my scarlet and crimson blood covers them, you can't see the original stain. And therefore, in the eyes of God, they're white as snow. They're pure, whiter than snow. Do you understand that God's pardon of our sin does not necessarily take the sin out of our nature, nor does it change the nature of the sin, nor does it cause it to cease to be sin. But what it does, it purifies us in the eyes of God and justifies us with his law so that we're clean and white and we're said to be without spot and without wrinkle in him.
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Now, just one quick Bible question. Do you happen to know what color of robe our Lord wore was placed upon him during his humiliation and crucifixion? You'll find it in Matthew 27 verse 28, but I'll tell you, "And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe." And they clothed him with a scarlet robe. You know what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21? "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." That's why the Bible says that the saints were clothed with clean linen, pure and white. Because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Look in your Bible, one other passage, Isaiah chapter 41. And I get excited when I see a passage like this. Isaiah 41. And look at it in verse 14. Isaiah 41, verse 14. Look what God says to Jacob. "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
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"Fear not, thou worm Jacob." Now, God calls Jacob a worm. You remember, Bildad said man was a worm and he used the word maggot. The lowest. The stinkiest. The worst. Now, God calls Jacob a worm. But guess what? Tola'ath, the scarlet worm. He says, "Fear not, thou scarlet worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel. I will help thee, saith the Lord." You know why? Because Jacob and his people had been covered with the blood of Jesus Christ. And I said, "I'll help you. I'll not be against you."
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And let me show you, just for those who tend to be discouraged, look at verse 15. After God tells Jacob and the men of Israel that He will help them, He says, "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel." Did you hear what God said to Jacob?
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He called him a worm. You know what a mountain is representative of in the Bible? A kingdom. He says, "You worm, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to make you a threshing instrument, having sharp teeth. And you will thresh the kingdoms of the earth." God will take a worm and destroy the kingdom of man. God will take the smallest, most powerless, most insignificant creature and destroy the proud, haughty, arrogant, New World Order. Because he takes a worm that's covered with the blood.
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Go back to verse 10. Here's what he says again. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." What a worm, hmm? Oh, let me tell you, I'd rather be a worm like Jacob and covered with the blood of Christ than be the richest, most powerful man in the entire world without Christ. Our Lord is a worm, but a redeeming one, one from whom we derive our purity, our whiteness, our righteousness. He's the scarlet worm who redeems us from sin. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ. We thank you, Father, that he was made a worm, that he might redeem us and bring us unto Thee. We thank Thee that He was made a worm, that He might suffer and bleed and die. For how else could the Lord of glory ever, ever been in the hands of men except He be made a worm? And Lord, in being made a worm, He conquered.
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And now He makes by His blood conquering worms. Worms who are a new, threshing instrument and who will ultimately tread down the kingdom of man and bring all into submission to Jesus Christ by His Word and by His Spirit and for the honor and glory of the great God of all the earth. We give Thee praise in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:12:33Z

The Theology of Worms - 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his study on the biblical imagery of worms, focusing on how Christ is compared to a worm in Job 25:6 and Psalm 22:6. He explains that while man is likened to a maggot (rimah) due to his fallen nature, Christ is called a worm (tola'ath) in His humiliation. The sermon explores Christ's incarnation, suffering, and death as the scarlet worm who attaches to the tree, dies, and stains it red, providing redemption. Weaver emphasizes that Christ became a worm to bear reproach and sin, and that believers, though worms, are covered by His blood and made instruments of God's purposes.

Review of Part 1: Man as a Worm

Scripture Reading — Job 25:6

"How much less man that is a worm, and the Son of man which is a worm."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun and going down to the same, the Lord's name is to be praised."

Watch carefully.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens."

So here's the sovereign, omnipotent, glorious, majestic God. Verse 5 said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Who is likened to our God, who dwelleth on high."

God's Condescension to Worms

Psalm 113 is read to show God's sovereign grace in humbling Himself to raise the poor from the dust and dunghill, visiting worms and making them princes.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun and going down to the same, the Lord's name is to be praised."

Watch carefully.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"The Lord is high above all nations and His glory above the heavens."

So here's the sovereign, omnipotent, glorious, majestic God. Verse 5 said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"Who is likened to our God, who dwelleth on high."

And what does he do?

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

"That he may sit with princes, even with the princes of his people."

Introduction to Christ as a Worm

The second half of Job 25:6 and Psalm 22:6 are introduced, showing that the Son of Man refers to Christ. Psalm 22 is identified as a messianic psalm.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 113:1-8

Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to Job 25 and look at verse 6, I want to cover the second half of this verse today. Because Bildad says, "How much less man that is a worm, and the son of man which is a worm." Now, last week we saw man compared to a worm. This week we're going to look at Christ as compared to a worm. Now, no believer would ever dare suggest that Christ, the sinless Son of God, should be compared to a worm unless there was a specific biblical warrant to do so. Now, the term, the Son of Man in Job 25 and verse 6, points to Christ specifically. Even if one wants to object and say, well, how can you get Christ out of Job 25 and verse 6? There can be absolutely no objection to Psalm 22 and verse 6. So look there very quickly if you would as well, because here is what you and I would call a messianic psalm. And in Psalm 22 and verse 6, Christ says, "But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people."

Prophetic Telescoping in Scripture

Weaver explains prophetic telescoping using 2 Samuel 7 (Solomon and Christ) and Psalm 22 (David and Christ), demonstrating how texts have immediate and future messianic applications.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 7:12-16

"And when thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom."

"It is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws. Thou hast brought me to the dust of death."

The Title 'Son of Man' and Christ's Humiliation

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:16

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh."

Let me just stop there. God was manifest in the flesh. Now, when you say God was manifest in the flesh, that refers to His incarnation. But the incarnation is the beginning of His humiliation.

Scripture Reading — Galatians 3:13

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." "For it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree."

Christ as the Worm: Weakness and Reproach

Christ is compared to a worm in His weakness, defenselessness, and the reproach He endured. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are used to show He had no comeliness and was despised, trodden underfoot.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 53:1-3, 7-10

I did not say that. I'm only saying what Scripture said. Hold Isaiah 53. We're going to come right back there, okay? But look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 4. And what I mean when I say there was a weakness through which he was crucified, I mean only what the Scripture means. Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 4. Look what the Bible says concerning Christ. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 4. In fact, let's read verse 3. He says, "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you." So there was a sense in which he was crucified through weakness. In other words, he came as a man. He assumed the nature of man, and therefore he came to die as a man. Now go back in your Bibles to Isaiah 53, and let's begin reading there in verse 7. I said 53 verse 7. Now, what the Scripture says concerning Christ: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

The Meaning of 'No Man' and Christ's Rejection

Christ's statement 'I am a worm and no man' means He was treated as less than human, rejected by society, and bore reproach. Psalm 69 and Matthew 27 illustrate the mockery He suffered.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:16-18

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."

Now watch.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:16-18

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 69:7-12, 19-21

"Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children."

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue."

Why?

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Do you remember in John chapter 9 when the blind man was converted and healed by our Lord and he tried then to preach to these Pharisees?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:39-44

"And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads."

They cast all kind of slurs and ridicules and made motions with their heads, and said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:39-44

"Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:39-44

"He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."

The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

The Scarlet Worm (Tola'ath) and Redemption

The Hebrew word tola'ath is translated as scarlet and refers to the scarlet worm that dies on a tree, staining it red. This pictures Christ's death on the cross, shedding His blood to redeem sinners.

Application: Sin Stains and the Blood of Christ

Sin stains are like scarlet, but Christ's blood covers them, making believers white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). The scarlet robe placed on Christ symbolizes Him being made sin for us.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Jacob the Worm and God's Promise

Isaiah 41:14 calls Jacob a tola'ath worm, but God promises to help and make him a threshing instrument to beat down mountains, symbolizing God using weak, blood-covered believers to conquer kingdoms.

The Theology of Worms - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	140572420
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2004-11-28
Dictation Name
Book	Book 097: The Theology of Worms — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	89

Lecture Guide

Outline

Review of Part 1: Man as a Worm: Weaver reviews the previous sermon on Job 25:6, where Bildad calls man a worm (rimah, maggot), and the lessons from worms in the manna (Exodus 16). He recaps the four comparisons: origination, obfuscation, degradation, and destination.
God's Condescension to Worms: Psalm 113 is read to show God's sovereign grace in humbling Himself to raise the poor from the dust and dunghill, visiting worms and making them princes.
Introduction to Christ as a Worm: The second half of Job 25:6 and Psalm 22:6 are introduced, showing that the Son of Man refers to Christ. Psalm 22 is identified as a messianic psalm.
Prophetic Telescoping in Scripture: Weaver explains prophetic telescoping using 2 Samuel 7 (Solomon and Christ) and Psalm 22 (David and Christ), demonstrating how texts have immediate and future messianic applications.
The Title 'Son of Man' and Christ's Humiliation: The title 'Son of Man' is examined, occurring 88 times in the New Testament for Christ. The humiliation of Christ is defined as His incarnation, suffering, death, and burial, where He emptied Himself of divine glory.
Christ as the Worm: Weakness and Reproach: Christ is compared to a worm in His weakness, defenselessness, and the reproach He endured. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are used to show He had no comeliness and was despised, trodden underfoot.
The Meaning of 'No Man' and Christ's Rejection: Christ's statement 'I am a worm and no man' means He was treated as less than human, rejected by society, and bore reproach. Psalm 69 and Matthew 27 illustrate the mockery He suffered.
The Scarlet Worm (Tola'ath) and Redemption: The Hebrew word tola'ath is translated as scarlet and refers to the scarlet worm that dies on a tree, staining it red. This pictures Christ's death on the cross, shedding His blood to redeem sinners.
Application: Sin Stains and the Blood of Christ: Sin stains are like scarlet, but Christ's blood covers them, making believers white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). The scarlet robe placed on Christ symbolizes Him being made sin for us.
Jacob the Worm and God's Promise: Isaiah 41:14 calls Jacob a tola'ath worm, but God promises to help and make him a threshing instrument to beat down mountains, symbolizing God using weak, blood-covered believers to conquer kingdoms.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Christ had to become a worm to suffer and die

The omnipotent God could not suffer or die unless He humbled Himself to become a weak, defenseless worm. Only by assuming human nature and emptying Himself could He be crucified.

2 Corinthians 13:4: 'though he was crucified through weakness.' Philippians 2:7-8: 'made himself of no reputation... he humbled himself.'

The title 'Son of Man' in Job 25:6 points to Christ

The phrase 'son of man' in Job 25:6, combined with Psalm 22:6, refers to Christ, as the title is used messianically and Christ applied it to Himself.

Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm; Christ quotes Psalm 22:1 on the cross. The title 'Son of Man' occurs 88 times in the NT for Christ.

Christ's reproach was substitutionary

Christ bore the reproach and contempt that sin deserves, being treated as a worm because He was the sin-bearer for His people.

2 Corinthians 5:21: 'he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.' Psalm 69:9: 'the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.'

The scarlet worm illustrates Christ's atonement

The tola'ath worm attaches to a tree, dies, and stains it scarlet, symbolizing Christ's death on the cross and the shedding of His blood for redemption.

1 Peter 2:24: 'bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' The word tola'ath is translated 'scarlet' 34 times.

Christ's blood covers sin stains

Sin stains are like scarlet, but Christ's scarlet blood covers them, making believers white as snow in God's sight.

Isaiah 1:18: 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'

God uses weak worms to conquer kingdoms

God calls Jacob a worm but promises to make him a threshing instrument to beat down mountains, showing that God empowers the weak to overcome worldly powers.

Isaiah 41:14-15: 'Fear not, thou worm Jacob... I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth.'

Scripture References

Job 25:6: Bildad says man is a worm (rimah) and the son of man is a worm (tola'ath), introducing the comparison of Christ to a worm.
Psalm 22:6: Christ says, 'I am a worm and no man,' a key text for His humiliation and reproach.
Exodus 16: The manna bred worms when disobediently gathered, teaching lessons on obedience and God's provision.
Psalm 113:1-8: God's condescension to raise the poor from the dust and dunghill, visiting worms and making them princes.
Psalm 22:1: Christ's cry of forsakenness, quoted in Matthew 27, identifying Psalm 22 as messianic.
2 Samuel 7:12-16: The Davidic covenant, illustrating prophetic telescoping with immediate reference to Solomon and ultimate reference to Christ.
Psalm 22:4-8, 12-16, 22, 27-31: Various verses from Psalm 22 showing Christ's suffering, mockery, and ultimate victory, applied to Jesus in the New Testament.
1 Timothy 3:16: God was manifest in the flesh, referring to Christ's incarnation as the beginning of His humiliation.
Galatians 3:13: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us.
Galatians 4:4-5: God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those under the law.
Philippians 2:5-8: Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, humbling Himself to death on the cross.
Hebrews 10:29: Those who trod underfoot the Son of God, illustrating how Christ was trampled like a worm.
Isaiah 53:1-3, 7-10: Christ had no form or comeliness, was despised, and suffered as a lamb to the slaughter.
2 Corinthians 13:4: Christ was crucified through weakness, yet lives by the power of God.
Hebrews 2:16-18: Christ took on the seed of Abraham, being made like His brethren to be a merciful high priest.
Hebrews 4:15: Christ was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.
Psalm 69:7-12, 19-21: Christ bore reproach, became a stranger to His brethren, and was given gall and vinegar.
John 12:42-43: Chief rulers believed but did not confess Christ, loving the praise of men more than God.
Matthew 27:39-44: Christ was reviled and mocked on the cross, fulfilling the reproach of Psalm 22.
Isaiah 1:18: Though sins are scarlet, they shall be white as snow, illustrating Christ's blood covering sin.

Historical References

Puritan illustration of fisherman and worm: A Puritan said the fisherman hides the hook with a worm to catch fish; likewise, Christ hid His divinity with human flesh to redeem sinners.
Scarlet worm (Coccus ilicis) used for commercial dyes: The tola'ath worm was used to produce scarlet dye from its dead body, illustrating Christ's death producing redemptive blood.

Important Quotes

But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

This is the central text for the sermon, where Christ identifies Himself as a worm in His humiliation.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53 describes Christ's rejection and lack of comeliness, fitting the worm imagery.

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 69 expresses the depth of Christ's suffering and isolation during His passion.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

This verse connects the scarlet worm imagery to the cleansing power of Christ's blood.

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

God addresses Jacob as a tola'ath worm, showing that even weak believers are helped and used by God.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding Christ as a 'worm' deepen your appreciation for His humiliation and suffering?

[Context]

The sermon emphasizes that Christ became a worm to suffer and die, being despised and rejected.

[Question]

In what ways does the scarlet worm (tola'ath) illustrate the atonement of Christ?

[Context]

The worm attaches to a tree, dies, and stains it scarlet, picturing Christ's death on the cross.

[Question]

Why is it significant that Christ was 'made under the law' and 'made a curse for us'?

[Context]

Galatians 3:13 and 4:4-5 show Christ's submission to the law to redeem sinners.

[Question]

How should the reproach Christ endured affect our willingness to bear reproach for Him?

[Context]

Christ was mocked and scorned; believers may face similar treatment (John 12:42-43).

[Question]

What does it mean that God calls Jacob a 'worm' yet promises to make him a threshing instrument?

[Context]

Isaiah 41:14-16 shows God using weak, blood-covered believers to conquer kingdoms.

[Question]

How does the concept of 'prophetic telescoping' help us interpret Old Testament passages about Christ?

[Context]

2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 22 have immediate and future messianic applications.

Applications

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