The Psalms of Christ - The Messiah Chapter 6

The Psalms of Christ - The Messiah Chapter 6 When Paul said, "We have the mind of Christ," he was talking about the Old Testament. At the time he wrote, only four other books of the New Testament had been written. For the first time the Old Testament had been revealed in its full meaning by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have the testimony of Jesus Christ himself that the Old Testament was full of prophecies and scriptures which spoke of Him. Witness the following passage in Luke: Luke 24:44 "He (Jesus) 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." We are studying the Psalms of the Messiah so that we can comprehend the mind of Christ, and begin "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:18b-19) We are limiting this study to the 37 Messianic Psalms. Last week we studied Psalm 69. First, this week we will study Psalms 109 which is quoted in the New Testament as speaking of Jesus Christ. Like many of the rest of the 1 st person Messianic Psalms, it was written by David, though it is manifestly not about David. 1 / 16

Psalm 109 Verse 8 of Psalm 109 is quoted by Peter in Acts 1 whereby he indicates that he understood that Psalm 109 spoke of Jesus Christ. Peter makes it clear that it deals with (among other aspects of Jesus' death) the betrayal by Judas Iscariot. Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 1:16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus-- 1:17 he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." h the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. [a] 1:19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) [b] 1:20 1:18 (Wit "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, " May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, May another take his place of leadership.'" Acts 1:20 contains two quotations from the Psalms, referring to the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. The first quotation was from the Psalm 69, which we studied last week. The second quotation, 2 / 16

"May another take his place of leadership," is from Psalm 109:8. The one who was betrayed is the "I" and "me" of the Psalm. That makes the voice of the Psalm the voice of Jesus Christ. The subject of the first part of the Psalm is the opposition of Jesus' enemies and the betrayal of Judas. Psalm 109 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 109:1 O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 109:2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 109:3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. 109:4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, [c] but I am a man of prayer. 109:5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship. 109:6 Appoint an evil man to oppose him; Give him over to evil; [d] let an accuser stand at his right hand let Satan stand at his right hand. [e] 109:7 When he is tried, [f] let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him. [g] 109:8 His days are few; [h] another will take his place of leadership. [i] 3 / 16

109:9 His children are fatherless and his wife a widow. 109:10 His children are wandering beggars; they are driven from their ruined homes. 109:11 A creditor seizes all he has; [j] strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 109:12 No one extends kindness to him or takes pity on his fatherless children. 109:13 His descendants are cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation. 109:14 The iniquity of his fathers is remembered before the LORD; the sin of his mother never blotted out. [k] 109:15 Their sins always remain before the LORD, so that he cuts off the memory of them from the earth. [l] 109:16 For he never thought of doing a kindness, [m] but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted. [n] 109:17 He loved to pronounce a curse -- it came back on him; he found no pleasure in blessing-- it departed from him. 109:18 He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil. 109:19 It was like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. [o] 109:20 May this be the LORD's payment to my accusers, [p] to those who speak evil of me. 109:21 But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. 109:22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 109:23 I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust. [q] 109:24 4 / 16

My knees give way from fasting; [r] my body is thin and gaunt. 109:25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. [s] 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love. 109:27 Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD, have done it. 109:28 They may curse, but you will bless; when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice. 109:29 My accusers will be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. 109:30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng I will praise him. 109:31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him. Psalm 118 The Psalm is Messianic in that it obviously is speaking of Christ in verse 22. It is quoted as a Messianic Psalm five times in the New Testament: Matthew 21:42-44 "Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." 5 / 16

Mark 12:10 "Haven't you read this scripture: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" Luke 20:17-18 "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." These verses were also quoted by Peter as speaking of Christ: Acts 4:10-11 "Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'" 1 Peter 2:6-8 "For in Scripture it says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,' and, A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.'" 6 / 16

Matthew records that they chanted verses 25 and 26 when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. [t] Matthew 21:9 "The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Verses 25 and 26 are "O LORD, save us (in the Hebrew "Hosanna"); O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD." You may remember how the Pharisees reacted, and what Jesus replied: Luke 19:39 "Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' I tell you,' he replied, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'" It is clear that this cry had to occur because the Word of the Lord had predicted it. The Psalm celebrates the love of God, and the victory He has given. The most important question is; in whose voice is the Psalm written? The Psalm is in the first person singular (I, me, mine) until verse 23. Unlike most of the Messianic Psalms in the first person, the writer is not identified as David. He is anonymous. If we read through the first 23 verses, assuming the voice is Jesus Christ, it all fits perfectly, so I must assume the voice is the voice of Jesus. From verse 24 through verse 27 the Psalm is written in the first person plural (us, we, ours). Certainly, the thoughts would fit perfectly for the voice of Jesus Christ who is speaking on behalf the His Body, the "we" of all believers who are in Him. The last two verses return to the first person singular. Psalm 118 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 118:2 Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." 118:3 Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." 118:4 7 / 16

Let those who fear the LORD say: [u] "His love endures forever." [v] 118:5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. [w] 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? [x] 118:7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. [y] 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 118:9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 118:10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off circumcised them. [z] 118:11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off circumcised them. [aa] 118:12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off circumcised them. [bb] 118:13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. [cc] 118:15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand [dd] has done mighty things! 118:16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" 118:17 I will not die but live, 8 / 16

[ee] and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 118:18 The LORD has chastened me severely, [ff] but he has not given me over to death. 118:19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; [gg] I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 118:20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. [hh] 118:21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. [ii] 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; [jj] [kk] 118:23 the LORD has done this, [ll] and it is marvelous in our eyes. [mm] 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 118:25 O LORD, save us; [nn] O LORD, grant us success. 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. [oo] From the house of the LORD we bless you. 118:27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar bind the feast with cords to the horns of the altar. [pp] 118:28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 118:29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 9 / 16

[a] Evidently Judas hanged himself and then either the branch or his belt or girdle (with which he probably hanged himself broke and he fell into the valley below). Psalms 109:18-19 "He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil. May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him." [b] Matthew 27:3-5 tells part of the story for the death of Judas. "When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the high priests and the elders. I have sinned,' he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood.' What is that to us?' they replied. That's your responsibility.' So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The high priests picked up the coins and said, It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.' So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners." Notice that Judas did not confess his sin to God, but to Annas and Caiaphas. Also, notice their response. [c] Clearly this is speaking of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus and was indwelt by Satan. Literally this verse should read "In return for my love they are my adversaries." The word used for adversaries is "Satan." So Judas who already was prepared to be Christ's adversary was a ready vessel when Satan indwelt him. [d] Literally translated "Give him over to evil." There is no word for "man" in the original Hebrew. There is only the Hebrew adjective [v;r: {rä shä'} which means "evil." Implied are "evil deeds." [e] Literally "the accuser" which is the Hebrew word "Satan." The King James Version has it translated just that way. We know this is talking of Judas, so what does it refer to? Luke 22:3-4 "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the High Priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus." John 13:27 "As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him." [f] By his own conscience. 10 / 16

[g] When Judas tried to repent in his own legalistic way, he condemned himself and committed suicide. [h] Verses 9 though 15 are a prophecy rather than a curse. There is no imperative here but a statement of fact. I prefer Young's translation of Psalm 109:9-15 "His sons are fatherless, and his wife a widow. And wander continually do his sons, Yea, they have begged, And have sought out of their dry places. An exactor layeth a snare for all that he hath, And strangers spoil his labour. He hath none to extend kindness, Nor is there one showing favour to his orphans. His posterity is for cutting off, In another generation is their name blotted out. The iniquity of his fathers Is remembered unto Jehovah, And the sin of his mother is not blotted out. They are before Jehovah continually, And He cutteth off from earth their memorial." [i] Quoted by Peter in Acts 1:20 to justify replacing Judas in the list of Apostles. [j] This is in stark contrast to the grace of God to whom we owe a debt we can never repay, but He forgives it all. Remember Christ's parables about this. Judas never accepted the gracious cancellation of his debt. [k] Perhaps speaking of the sins of the male line from Adam, through which the Old Sin Nature is passed, and the sin of Eve, which began it all. In the Hebrew, both "father" and "mother" apply to anyone in the genealogical table. Faith in the efficacious work of Christ is what blots out the sins of our flesh inherited from antiquity. [l] See also Psalms 34:16. Does this tell us that we will not even remember those who are in Hell. [m] John described Judas in John 12:6 "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief." [n] Verse 22 makes it clear that the poor and the needy and brokenhearted is the speaker, who is Christ. 11 / 16

[o] Edersheim suggests that Judas hung himself with his belt or girdle, which this would seem to confirm. [p] The word for "accusers" here is from the Hebrew 0)Â {saw-tan} or Satan. [q] There are some authorities who assert that the word for locust was also applied to cicadas. If that is the case here, the image is clear. Before entering the final phase of its life, a cicada, sheds or molts the skin of its former body and leaves it hanging on the tree. [r] This, along with Psalm 69:10 indicates that Jesus did a lot of fasting that last week as He spent a lot of time in prayer. [s] See Matthew 25:39. [t] Also see Mark 11:19, Luke 19:38, and John 12:13. This greeting of the Lord is recorded in all four of the Gospels, a rare occurrence which clearly marks its significance. [u] Notice the progression. First "Israel" (the physical seed of Abraham), second the "house of Aaron" (the priests) and then "those that fear the Lord" (by extension all mankind). [v] The message of the Cross to all creation is just this, "His love endures forever." That the meaning of His sacrifice would be understood, was Jesus' prayer. [w] In this verse, is prophesied both the anguish and despair of the cross and the ultimate triumph of His Resurrection. 12 / 16

[x] Echoes John 19:10-11b " Do you refuse to speak to me?' Pilate said. Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?' Jesus answered, You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.'" [y] Perhaps speaking of 1 Peter 3:19-20 "He (Jesus) 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. [z] Interestingly, the Hebrew word in the Hiphil tense is -&/ {mool} which according to Strong's means "to cause to be circumcised." Although every translation I found translates this in these verse as "I will cut them off" or "I will destroy them." I find it intriguing that this is spoken of "the nations"(.*&# {go'-eem} which usually speaks of the uncircumcised Gentiles. Since this is the voice of Christ, it is telling us that although the "nations" participated in His crucifixion, in fact Jesus was circumcising the nations and putting them on the same footing as the Jews. Paul tells the Gentile Colossians as much: Colossians 2:11 "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." [aa] The word here is the same as above - -&/ {mool} in the Hiphil. Even today, in Judaism, someone who performs circumcisions is called a "moyl." [bb] The word here is the same as above - -&/ {mool} in the Hiphil. [cc] As is noted often in the Messianic Psalms Jesus had to rely on the salvation and deliverance of the Father. It was He who delivered Jesus from the grave "because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay."(psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27) Also, in Psalms 89:26 it speaks of the son of David, first born son of the Father, ruler of the earth as addressing God as "my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior." 13 / 16

Reliance on that salvation was part of Jesus' armor in the battle. Isaiah 59:17 "He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak." [dd] Here follow three descriptions of the work of the Lord's right hand. The right hand is understood to be the hand of power and implementation. The second person of the Trinity is the one who implements the Father's plan. The Lord's right hand is Jesus Christ. This is emphasized many times. See Psalms 110:1, Matthew 26:64, Mark 16:19, Acts 2:32, Acts 5:31, Acts 7:55, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20-21, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22. [ee] The Messianic Psalm 16:9-10 "Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." [ff] When Jesus bore the judgment for our sins. [gg] John 10:2-4 "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." [hh] Jesus himself is the gate: John 10:7-9 "Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.'" 14 / 16

[ii] See note on verse 14. [jj] The builders of the physical Temple were the religious establishment of Israel (the Sanhedrin). The "stone" was Jesus. He, (His life) was actually the foundation on which the true Temple was built. Of that Temple those who believe have become a part. Revelation 3:12 "Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it." [kk] Jesus quoted verses 22 and 23 in the Temple the next day after he was greeted with the Hosannas from this Psalm. I have to believe that He did this purposely to associate the Hosannas with fulfillment of verses 22 and 23. [ll] This is speaking of the Father, who by raising Jesus Christ from the dead and accepting His sacrifice, has made him the capstone or cornerstone. [mm] Here the voice of the Psalm switches from the singular first person (I, me, and my), to the plural first person, (we, us, and our). Perhaps, this is the Lord enjoining the attitude Israel (us) should have. Prophetically it was fulfilled, although the people fulfilling it did not understand. Perhaps, that is why the Lord said to the Pharisees when they complained about the rejoicing Hosannas Luke 19:40 "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." The Psalm changes back to the first person in the last verse perhaps speaking of the fact that thanksgiving in the end has to be personal and singular. [nn] Literally in the Hebrew (!1! 3:* - yasha anna) or "Hosanna" as was rendered in the Gospels. [oo] The Jews were shouting this passage when they welcomed Jesus in Jerusalem on the week in 30 A.D. (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9, John 12:13). [pp] Literally in the Hebrew this sentence should read, "Bind the feast with cords to the horns of the altar." The various translations differ widely, but they all seem to interpret 15 / 16

rather than translate this passage. Since this Psalm was chanted during Jesus' entry into Jerusalem before the Passover Feast of 30 AD, that should tell us that the meaning of this Psalm cannot be separated from that Passover. What would happen on that Passover was the only sacrifice which God would ever accept on His real altar of sacrifice. 16 / 16