The Psalms of Christ - The Messiah Lesson 8

Transcription

1 The Psalms of Christ - The Messiah Lesson 8 This lesson, we are continuing our study of those Messianic Psalms which are about Jesus Christ, the Messiah by a third party. These are Psalms that are clearly marked as Messianic either by citation as such in the New Testament, or by subject matter. These can be about Him in any aspect of either His First or Second Advent. Last week we studied Psalm 8, Psalm 9, and Psalm 34. Today we will study Psalm 45, Psalm 48, and Psalm 68. We are going through these Psalms in numerical order. Psalm 45 Hebrews 1:8-9 clearly establishes this Psalm as Messianic. It quotes verses 6 and 7 and says those verses are speaking about "the Son." Hebrews 1:8-9 "But about the Son he says, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'" Besides this, even the superscripiton points to the Messianic character of the Psalm. The tune is "Lilies." Lilies are identified with the restored Israel. Hosea 14:5-7 "I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.." Psalm 80 is to the tune "Lilies" and also deals with the ultimate restoration of Israel by the Messiah. See also Song of Songs 2:1 where the Solomon of that story, who is a type of Christ, says,"i am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." 1 / 11

2 The superscription also says this is "A wedding song." In scripture, the idea of a & quot;wedding" is most often used in connection with the Wedding of the Lamb referred to in Revelation when Jesus is about to return in final victory. Revelation 19:7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." [a] This Psalm is very much like the Song of Songs. Its subject is the marriage of the Bride and the Bridegroom, the culmination of a great romance. The Bridegroom in Song of Songs is named Solomon, but he is clearly not the historical Solomon. The name Solomon means "Peace." The Prince of Peace and the establisher of "peace" is clearly established in scripture as Jesus Christ. [b] The specific author of this Psalm is not named, but we know that it was written by one of the Sons of Korah. Who were the Sons of Korah? Their very name was a testimony to God's grace. Their ancestor Korah and most of his family were destroyed because of their open rebellion against God's authority (Numbers 16, Number 26:10-11). Only a few were left, perhaps only one son. Out of the survivors came the "Sons of Korah." They are a testimony that God never holds the sins of the parents against their children. The Sons of Korah wrote eleven of the Psalms. The genealogy of Korah is written in 1 Chronicles 6:22-28 and 1 Chronicles 6: Among the famous descendants on this list was the last Judge, Samuel, and Heman the chief musician at the Tabernacle in David's time. Either one of them might have written this Psalm. It was written about the same time as Song of Songs. Its conversational style and identical subject make me wonder if the writer of this is the writer of the Song of Songs. The first verse is an introduction and is addressed to the reader. Verses 2-9 are addressed to the King (Jesus Christ). Verses are addressed to the bride. Verses are again addressed to the King (Jesus Christ). 2 / 11

3 Psalm 45 For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. [c] A wedding song. 45:1 My heart is stirred [d] by a noble theme, as I recite my verses for I say what I have composed touching the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. 45:2 You are the most excellent of men [f] and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. [g] 45:3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. 45:4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. 45:5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; [h] let the nations fall beneath your feet. 45:6 Your throne, O God, [i] will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice [j] will be the scepter of your kingdom. [k] 45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, [l] has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil [e] 3 / 11

4 [m] of joy. [n] 45:8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes [o] and cassia; [p] from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. 45:9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. [q] 45:10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. [r] 45:11 The king is enthralled by desires [s] your beauty; [t] honor him, for he is your lord. 45:12 The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. [u] 45:13 All glorious is the princess within [her chamber] ; [v] her gown is interwoven with gold. 45:14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions [w] follow her and are brought to you. 45:15 They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. 45:16 Your sons [x] will take the place of your fathers; [y] you will make them princes throughout the land. 45:17 4 / 11

5 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. [z] Psalm 48 Although there is no direct quote from this Psalm in the New Testament, the correct translation of verse 2 as speaking of the very place where Jesus Christ was crucified opens up new and deeper meanings which make the Psalm unquestionably Messianic. Psalm 48 A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. 48:1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. [a a] 48:2 It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. Beautiful for lifting up an offering, [bb] the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the side of the north, the city of the Great King. 5 / 11

6 [cc] 48:3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. 48:4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, 48:5 they saw [her] and were astounded; they fled in terror. 48:6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. [dd] 48:7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish [ee] shattered by an east wind. 48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. [ff] Selah 48:9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. 48:10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. 48:11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. 48:12 Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, 48:13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, [gg] that you may tell of them to the next generation. 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. [a] Also see Matthew 9:15, Matthew 22:2, Matthew 25:1-12, Mark 2:19-20, Luke 5:34, Luke 14:8, John 3:29, Isaiah 62:5, Jeremiah 2:1, Joel 2:16, Revelation 21:2, 9-10 [b] Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 6 / 11

7 Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Colossians 1:20 "And through him (Christ) to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Also John 14:27, John 16:33, Acts 10:36, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 3:16. [c] Maskil (means "instructing") - denotes a song enforcing some lesson of wisdom or piety, a didactic song. [d] The Hebrew word here is vj'r: {rä khash'} which denotes "to bubble up as a fountain." This might easily describe the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at work in the writer. [e] I have substituted the more literal Darby Translation. [f] Clearly Jesus Christ, the only perfect man. [g] The King to whom this is addressed is not David, but the promised King of Kings, the son of David. It is addressed prophetically as if His time is present. [h] See Numbers 24:8, Isaiah 49:2, and Zechariah 9:14 for other prophecies which speak of the Messiah's arrows. [i] In verse 2, the King is described as a man. In this verse, the King is described as God. 7 / 11

8 This is clearly, the God Man Jesus Christ. [j] Isaiah 11:4a "but with righteousness he (the Christ) will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. [k] Verses 6-7 are quoted in Hebrews 1:8-10 as speaking of Jesus Christ. [l] Similar in concept to Psalms 110:1 "The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." [m] Probably speaking of Jesus' annointing by Mary at Bethany in preparation for His death (Matthew 26:6-7, Mark 14:3, John 12:3). [n] Hebrews 12:2 "who for the joy set before him endured the cross." [o] Nicodemus brought myrrh and aloes to wrap in the linen strips with Jesus body when He was buried. John 19:36. [p] Cassia is one of the principal spices of the holy anointing oil (Ex. 30:24) [q] The royal bride of Christ is Israel, and by extension the Church who is grafted into Israel. [r] The lesson is that as the Bride of Christ, we must understand that our new identity as Christ's bride is by far a greater identity than who we are in this world. 8 / 11

9 [s] The Hebrew word here is hw:a; {ä vä'} which means "to desire" or "to long for." The NIV word, "enthrall" means to reduce to slavery, which is certainly not a word which can ever be applied to God. [t] What is the beauty that God desires? 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." [u] Tyre is usually associated with Satan and worldliness. God has no respect for "men of wealth." Considering the context, it would seem that this verse is speaking of the temptations of the world. [v] The NIV supplied a "[her chamber]" which isn't there. Evidently, they couldn't make out what the Psalm was talking about. What it is saying is that the Bride of Christ doesn't need worldly gifts to make her beautiful, because she is beautiful within. She has been given the beauty of her Lord. She has been dressed in the gown which the Son of God supplied by His life. Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes will - be dressed in white." [w] Who are these other princesses (verse 9) and virgin companions. I don't know precisely, but they are of those who partake of the consequences and joy of the wedding. Perhaps the elect angels, perhaps nature itself (Romans 8: 19-21). [x] The sons or daughters of the King through regeneration. [y] That which was dead through sin, the fathers of the human race. [z] It is only the LORD that is worthy of praise. Revelation 5:12b-13 " Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" 9 / 11

10 [aa] This Psalm is speaking of the true glory and true temple on Mt. Zion, the cross of Jesus! [bb] The phrase "for lifting up an offering" is derived from the Hebrew word 4&1ï - nowph which occurs only in this verse. Translators have chosen to translate this elevation, loftiness, or situation, but this word is derived from the root word %41% - nuwph {noof} which means a wave offering, or something lifted up to the Lord. [cc] It was precisely on the north side of Mt. Zion that Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross at Golgotha. It was on a rocky ridge which overlooked the Roman wall of that time right to the west of the Temple, which on that day was filled with worshippers waiting to bring their Passover lambs to be slain. Instead, before the noontime start of the sacrifices, darkness covered the face of the earth and God's Passover lamb was slain. [dd] This could be speaking of the demon rulers who surrounded the cross ("bulls of Bashan") expecting to see the defeat of Christ only to see His victory and their defeat. [ee] Tarshish is associated with Tyre (Isaiah 23, Ezekiel 27:12,25) as the ships of Tarshish carried the merchandise of Tyre. Tyre, and the King of Tyre are associated with Satan and his works (Ezekiel 28:11-19). Therefore the implication is that this verse is speaking of the defeat of Satan at the cross. [ff] This is obviously speaking of a time in the future, since after the writing of this Psalm, probably around the 10 th century BC, Jerusalem was destroyed at least three times. It is also speaking more in the spiritual sense than the physical sense. Mt. Zion was the place of the cross, and speaks of the security of our salvation. [gg] The true ramparts and citadels of Zion are the life and death of Jesus Christ. See Isaiah 26:1"God makes salvation its walls and ramparts." 10 / 11

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