The Psalms of Christ - The Messiah Lesson 15

Transcription

1 The Psalms of Christ - The Messiah Lesson 15 In this lesson we will cover three Messianic Psalms. First, we will study Psalm 132. This is the last of the Messianic Psalms which are about the Messiah, but speak of Christ in the third person (He). Psalm 132 The voice of this Psalm is the faithful saints of Israel. Their prayer in this Psalm consists of reminding the LORD of His promise to raise up a descendant of David's who would sit on the throne of Israel forever (verse 11). They also pray for His priests to be clothed in righteousness (verse 9). This would be fulfilled by the Messiah who would clothe His priests (a nation of priests which includes the Church) [a] with His righteousness. [b] The superscription only says that it is "A song of ascents." This gives us no firm idea of when it was written, but most believe this was written several centuries after David, and perhaps even after the return from exile. The "songs of ascents" (there are 14 of them) were usually sung by the pilgrims returning year after year as they ascended the Judean highlands on the way to Jerusalem and the great Feasts (Passover and Tabernacles). The whole purpose of these Feasts was to point to the promised Messiah. Psalm 132 A song of ascents. 1 / 14

2 132:1 O LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured. 132:2 He swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: 132:3 "I will not enter my house or go to my bed-- 132:4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, 132:5 till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob." 132:6 We heard it in Ephrathah, [c] we came upon it in the fields of Jaar the field of trees: [d] 132:7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool-- 132:8 arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, [e] you and the ark of your might. [f] 132:9 May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy." 132:10 For the sake of David your servant, do not reject your anointed one. [g] 132:11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne-- 132:12 if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever." [h] 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion, [i] he has desired it for his dwelling: 132:14 "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-- 132:15 I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. 132:16 I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy. 132:17 "Here I will make a horn grow for David 2 / 14

3 [j] and set up a lamp for my anointed one. [k] 132:18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent." The Non Attested First Person Messianic Psalms When we began this study, we started with Psalms that were written in the first person (I, me) and spoke of Jesus Christ. All of these were attested as speaking of Jesus Christ by Jesus Christ himself, or the Apostles. This last group of Psalms, I believe are also speaking of Jesus Christ in the first person. They include almost a dozen Psalms. The first of these numerically, which we will study today are Psalm 18 and Psalm 26. They fit the pattern of the attested Psalms in that they closely describe what we know of Jesus life, yet do not fit what we know of the writer's life, who is usually David. I believe that knowing, as we do, that all the Old Testament speaks of Jesus, [l] we have permission to look for Him throughout the Old Testament, not just in those passages that are quoted in the New Testament. However, I leave it to you to decide whether they are truly Messianic. Psalm 18 There is so much in this Psalm that describes the experience of Jesus Christ that it is hard to 3 / 14

4 deny its Messianic nature. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit from the pen of David, and there are some aspects of the person who is the subject of the Psalm that fits David. However, there is so much of it does not fit David and fits Jesus Christ, that I have to conclude that He is the subject. In Romans Paul quotes verse 49 of this Psalm: "Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name." There Paul indicates that the meaning of this passage should be understood in the light of the coming of the Messiah: Romans 15:8-9 "For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore I (Christ) will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.'" Therefore, Paul is making the argument that, according to Psalm 18, the Messiah was prophesied to have a ministry of bringing praise to God among the Gentiles. This also supports the view that the Psalm is Messianic. Psalm 18 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song in the day the L ord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: [m] 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 18:3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 18:4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 18:5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 18:6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my 4 / 14

5 voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 18:7 The earth trembled and quaked, [n] and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 18:8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. [o] 18:9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 18:10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 18:11 He made darkness his covering, [p] his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky. 18:12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, [q] with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 18:13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. [r] 18:14 He shot his arrows and scattered [the enemies], great bolts of lightning and routed them. 18:15 The valleys of the sea were exposed The river (or channel) of the waters was revealed [s] and the foundations of the earth [t] laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. 18:16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. [u] 18:17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18:18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. 18:19 He brought me out into a spacious place; [v] he rescued me because he delighted [w] in me. 18:20 5 / 14

6 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 18:21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God. 18:22 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 18:23 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. [x] 18:24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 18:25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 18:26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. [y] 18:27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 18:28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 18:29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 18:31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. 18:33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 18:34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 18:35 You give me your shield of victory, [z] and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. 18:36 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. 18:37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 18:38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 18:39 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. 6 / 14

7 18:40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 18:41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-- to the LORD, but he did not answer. [aa] 18:42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets. 18:43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations; people I did not know are subject to me. [bb] 18:44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me; foreigners (their) sons [cc] cringe before me. 18:45 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 18:46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 18:47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 18:48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. 18:49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name. 18:50 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, [dd] to David and his descendants seed [ee] forever. Psalm 26 7 / 14

8 Clearly, this Psalm is not about David. For one thing, there was no "house" for the Lord when David lived as the Temple was not built until the 11 th year of Solomon's reign. Up to that point, there was a tabernacle (or tent). Secondly, although David never turned away from God, David certainly did not match the description of the "blameless" man who "trusted in the LORD without wavering" (verse 1). Nor could it be said that David did not sit with deceitful men (verse 4). Joab, his nephew, chief of staff and close friend was about as deceitful as you can get in his murders of Abner (2 Samuel 3:26-27) and Amasa (2 Samuel 20:8-10). Psalm 26 Of David. 26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 26:2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 26:3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. 26:4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; 26:5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. 26:6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, 26:7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. 26:8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells. [ff] 26:9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, 26:10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. [gg] 26:11 But I lead a blameless life; redeem me [hh] and be merciful to me. 8 / 14

9 26:12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly [ii] I will praise the LORD. [a] Exodus 19:5-6 "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Revelation 1:5b-6 "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father - to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." [b] Galatians 3:26-27 "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of yo u who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." [c] Micah 5:2 - the region that included Bethlehem - the place of Christ's birth, and David's. [d] As such Jaar is not a known place, but the word refers to forests or trees, this could as easily be translated "the field of trees." It could be taken to refer to the three "trees" which constituted the place of Christ's death on Golgotha. However, Kirjath-jaarim (also spelled Kirjath-jearim), the city where the Ark resided after the return by the Philistines also means City of Trees. [e] "Resting place" - not where God rests, but where we rest. Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke 9 / 14

10 upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." [f] Not only is this an allusion to the coming of Christ (the Ark), but it may be an indication that this Psalm was written after the destruction of the first temple, when the physical Ark disappeared forever. [g] This seems to indicate that this was long enough after the death of David, that the people were beginning to dispair that the LORD would keep His promise. [h] Only one "son of David" qualified. It was Jesus Christ. It was because of His work that God was able to fulfill the Davidic Covenant with the line of David. He was also the one who made possible the fulfillment of the Adamic Covenant and Abrahamic Covenant. [i] Zion is primarily the place of the Cross not of Solomon's Temple. [j] This verse was referred to by Zechariah when he prophesied about the ministry of his son John as the forerunner of the Christ: Luke 1:69-79 "He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us-- to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." [k] This brings forth the image of the Lampstand in the Holy Place which had seven lights 10 / 14

11 (Revelation 1:20) which speak of the Church. The Cross on Mt. Zion is the message of the Church. [l] Luke 24:27 "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." Luke 24:44 "He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'" [m] Beth Moore asserts that this song which is also recorded as 2 Samuel 22:2-51 was sung many times by David at the time he was delivered from his enemies and was a pre-existing Psalm. I believe that is true. Note that the superscription does not say that David wrote it, only that He sang it. Certainly, it did not specifically refer to David because David certainly did not have "clean hands" (Psalms 18:20). [n] Matthew 27:51,54 "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split." --- "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, Surely he was the Son of God!'" [o] Perhaps speaking of the judgement of our sins carried by the person of Christ. Certainly, the coals of the altar spoke of that. [p] Matthew 27:45 "From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land." [q] Revelation 1:7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him," See also Daniel 7: / 14

12 [r] See John 12:28-31 " Father, glorify your name!' Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.' The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.'" [s] Literally "the river of the waters was revealed." At the end of time from the tree of life and the throne of God will flow the river of living waters (Revelation 22:1). It is my belief that this channel was first revealed when the spear thrust of the Roman soldier revealed a miraculous gush of blood and water out of the side of Jesus. This flow was so unusual that John, who reports this in John 19:34, reassures his readers that he was an eyewitness. [t] The foundations of the earth could speak of the chambers of Hell which are in the heart of the earth. We know that Jesus went and proclaimed His victory to the demons in Hell. 1 Peter 3:18-20 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built." [u] In the obvious Messianic Psalm 69, Jesus speaks of being rescued from the "deep waters" in verse 14. [v] This is reminiscent of the Messianic Psalm 31:8 "You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place." [w] Jesus was the one in whom the Lord "delighted" as confirmed by Matthew where Isaiah 42:1 was quoted describing Jesus: Matthew 12:17-18a "This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 12:18 Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight.'" See also Psalm 22:8. [x] This song is clearly not about David! David was not sinless. The Lord did not rescue David from the grave or from the deep waters (judgment for sin). Neither did he make darkness his canopy when he rescued him. All these things, however, were true of Christ. 12 / 14

13 [y] See Luke 19:21 and Matthew 25:24 for illustrations of this teaching in Jesus' parables. [z] The shield of victory is faith (Ephesians 6:16 "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." 1 John "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.") [aa] Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" [bb] This clearly does not describe David when He was delivered from Saul. This describes Jesus Christ, the ruler of the world. [cc] The Hebrew word here is Ÿ {bän} which means sons. The "their" is implied. [dd] The anointed (Messiah) is Jesus Christ who is the descendant of David, and the answer to God's promise to David that one of his descendants would be the Messiah. [ee] Literally "seed" from the Hebrew word 39' {zeh'-rah}. It is in the masculine singular. This refers not to descendants, but one descendant, Jesus Christ. [ff] See Psalms 69:9 and John 2:17 which testifies to Jesus' "zeal for" the Lord's House. 13 / 14

14 [gg] May be speaking of the thirty pieces of silver used to bribe Judas Iscariot. [hh] The question has been raised, how could this apply to Jesus. He redeems us by His blood, how could He possibly need redemption Himself? Psalms 31:6 and Psalms 69:18, other Messianic Psalms also speaks of the redemption of the Messiah. Another Messianic passage Lamentation 3:58 also speaks of this redemption. Perhaps the sense is that Jesus Christ, having totally identified Himself with fallen mankind, still had to rely on the acceptance by the Father of His redemptive payment for all mankind of whom He was a part. That is one reason the Resurrection of Jesus was so significant. It signified the acceptance by the Father of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. [ii] Four times in the Psalms (Psalms 40:9-10, Psalms 26:12, Psalms 22:25 and Psalms 35:18) the voice of the Psalmist speaks of giving thanks or praise in the "great assembly." Each of the others are Messianic Psalms, and speak of Jesus Christ standing up in the "great assembly" which occurred on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37-38) 14 / 14