Messianic expectations as prophetic responses to crisis : a Zimbabwean perspective

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: What stimulates the emergence of messianic expectations or messianic figures in asociety such as ancient Israel? Messianic expectations emerged as propheticresponses to social, economic, political and religious crises. This could be traced fromthe historical background of the pre-exilic, exilic and post-exilic periods. Messianicexpectations in pre-exilic Israel were triggered by the failure of the Davidic dynasty touphold Yahweh's instructions and they depict the shift in focus from the anointed kingsto the birth of a new Davidic prince (Isa. 9:1-7).The exilic period drew attention to agentile king, Cyrus as Messiah (Isa. 44:28-45:1-8) who would restore Israel from exile.However, messianic expectations in Daniel 9:25-27 came about as a response to theextended subjection to foreign rule after the return from exile. The expectation for amessiah therefore changed from focusing on a historical figure to an apocalyptic figurein the post-exilic period.This approach is triggered by the situation in Zimbabwe where messianic rhetoric is nowbeing used in an attempt to address the fragile socio-economical situation. It is shownthat recent characterization of President Robert Mugabe as a messianic figure based onhis role as a former liberator is a skilful propaganda and manipulation of theexpectations of a messiah to legitimize his leadership amidst growing opposition.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University