Messianic Psalms: Prophecy Of The Redeemer

Messianic Psalms
Prophecy Of The Redeemer

Of all the Old Testament books, none is more frequently quoted in the New Testament than the Book of Psalms. Of its 150 psalms, 15 are generally referred to as messianic, because they relate specifically to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and identify Him both as the Son of God and the Son of David. They are: 2, 8, 16, 22, 23, 24, 40, 41, 45, 68, 72, 89, 102, 110, 118. In them, Jesus is not only presented as King of the Jews by birth, but as King of kings by virtue of His triumph over death and the Devil.

The Messianic Psalms are also famous for their vivid prophecies relating to the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, glorification, return and eternal reign of Jesus Christ, the LORD’s Anointed. Basically, there is a Messianic Psalm-reference for every phase of the Lord’s existence from eternity to eternity. The chart at the conclusion of this article will attempt to tabulate these messianic events as presented in the Psalms.

But first the twofold purpose of the Messianic Psalms will be examined, followed by some typical comments on Psalm 2 where we find the first specific reference to the LORD’s Anointed.

Identifying the Messianic Psalms serves two purposes: to prove that Jesus Christ of the New Testament is the LORD’s Anointed of the Old; and to encourage believers to praise their Messiah.

Purpose #1: Proof Of Identity

The Gospel of Matthew begins by establishing Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of David, while the Gospel of John begins by proving that the Divine Word is David’s Creator, because “all things were made by Him” (Jn. 1:3 KJV ). So also in Revelation, the Son of God describes Himself as “the root and the offspring of David” (Rev. 22:16).

The most hotly disputed issues regarding Jesus of Nazareth are His Deity and His Resurrection. All heresies are immediately identifiable by their denial of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. They also deny His resurrection either directly or by implication. The fulfillment of the Messianic Psalms’ prophecies is therefore undeniable proof that Jesus is indeed the LORD’s Anointed. This means that events like the praises of “Palm Sunday” and the cleansing of the temple, were divine testimonies that this was indeed great David’s greater Son.

Even the scourging and crucifixion were proofs that this was the LORD’s Anointed. The Jews could not understand the death of the Christ because it contradicted their theology. As the Christ must be indisputably righteous, it was supposed impossible that God should abandon Him (Ps. 22:1). Yet the Lord’s cry on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1) was proof that Jehovah ever remained His God! In repeating David’s words, the Christ was also proving Himself innocent.

Purpose #2: Provocation To Praise

Those approaching the Psalms should remember that they are written as Hebrew poetry, and are therefore designed for praise. This makes the Messianic Psalms an essential element of worship in that they provoke God’s people to praise. This does not mean that we need angelic eloquence to gain acceptance. The Psalms encourage us to praise God in heartfelt, sincere simplicity.

When Jesus said to the Pharisees and Scribes, “Yea; have ye never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise’?” (Mt. 21:16), He was quoting Psalm 8:2. This Messianic Psalm relates to Christ in His eternal priesthood, where all the frankincense (Lev. 2:16) was added to the offerings. The frankincense, which symbolizes the devotional perfections of the offering, means that Christ as Priest fills up the measure of our human limitations in praise and worship.

Therefore, the purpose of knowing the Messianic Psalms is not to chant them as if we were proselytes under the Law, but to provide abundant material for spontaneous thanksgiving. Those who gather at the Table of the Lord, should remember that Christ Himself, at the same table, quoted Psalm 41:9 in His identification of Judas (Jn. 13:18), and Psalm 69:4 when He said, “They hated Me without a cause” (Jn. 15:25).

Examination Of The Second Psalm

Identity Of The King
Psalm 2 has the distinction of making the first reference to the “L ORD ’s Anointed” (Ps. 2:2). But if anyone asks “Who is this King of glory?” (Ps. 24:10), the New Testament indicates that it is none other than the Christ, the Son of the Living God. No doubt, the writer David could equate his own experience with the events described (2 Sam. 5:17), but the king never presumed to identify himself with the only-begotten Son of God (Acts 4:25-28).

Psalm 2:7 is quoted three times in the New Testament: “Thou art My Son: this day have I begotten Thee” (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5). The Holy Spirit takes great pains to show that it applies exclusively to the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He also uses it to prove the Lord’s resurrection and His deity.

Psalm 2 describes the rejection of the Lord Jesus and His subsequent triumph over all His enemies. He not only has the moral right to reign, but also qualifies by the terms of “if a son, then an heir” (Gal. 4:7), “He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under His feet” (1 Cor. 15:25).

Rulers Against The King
The rulers of this world are united in their resolve not to acknowledge this King nor to bow the knee in obedience to Him. They counsel together to maintain their power. While they detest one another, they co-ordinate their efforts against the enemy of their despotic evil.

This proves that they are aware of the Lord’s promise and are deliberately opposed to it. This was initially fulfilled when Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the people, crucified the LORD’s Anointed: “The same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves” (Lk. 23:12).

The Psalm moves on beyond that point to reveal that the One rejected on earth is now enthroned in Heaven. Furthermore, He will receive the kingdom of His father David, but even so He must yet reign over a world unknown to the son of Jesse.

Since the Lord Jesus was born King of the Jews, He has the right to rule from birth. However, the promise that He would sit on the throne of His human father David was never fulfilled in His lifetime. Likewise the promise of “the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8) proves that the final fulfillment of the prophecy remains outstanding.

All this is rejected by those who deny that Jesus is the Son of God. And the claim that He is “the LORD’s Anointed” is challenged fiercely by the Jew and Gentile world-powers. Thus the psalmist affirms that “the people imagine a vain thing” (Ps. 2:1). The divine decree stands immutable and God’s King will triumph and reign invincibly over all the nations.

Divine Wrath
Humor is a strange phenomenon and probably did not exist till the advent of sin. The preposterous effects of the Fall can provoke laughter. But humor gives way to wrath when those making God laugh seek to topple Christ and rob Him of His inheritance. In Psalm 2:4, He first “laughs at,” then “derides,” then shows “His wrath” at the refusal of the rulers to acknowledge His King and bow in obedience to Him.

The irony of Man’s folly is that God has already crowned His King who sits enthroned in heaven: the world rulers are forever too late. The King has been promised invincible power by immutable decree: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee” (Ps. 2:7). This decree is repeated again in the New Testament (Heb. 1:5). The time for opposition is past but there is still time to submit to the Son and live.

Dispensational Application
In later times the world powers will conspire to thwart God’s promise regarding His Son. Implacable opposites will again unite in a marriage of convenience to resist the prophecy. But it will be like the unmixable clay-and-iron compound in the feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image (Dan. 2:1). Politics and religion will form an unholy alliance against the coming of the Son of Man to resist His claim of rightful inheritance.

David presents this politico-religious confederacy as an insane marriage of convenience which will come to grief. For Psalm 2:6-9 reveals that God has already crowned His King with glory and honor in heavenly Zion. The Lord’s enemies are forever too late, for Him whom their fathers crucified is alive from the dead and enthroned with His Father in heaven. He who already reigns over the angels (1 Pet. 3:22) will yet put all His earthly enemies under His feet, for He must reign (1 Cor. 15:25).

Indeed, what happened two thousand years ago will yet be seen on a more projected scale when Daniel’s 70th Week is fulfilled in the clay-and-iron fifth world empire. Psalm 2 only touches the perimeter of the Church era before leaping forward 2000 years to events beyond the “coming in the clouds” of the Son of God (Mt. 24:30). Thereafter, it anticipates the public vindication of the Son of Man. And so, when the Son and Heir is seen upon His throne of glory (Mt. 25:31), the rebels are urged to “kiss the Son” (Ps. 2:12) as their only hope of salvation.

May these few comments about Psalm 2 whet your appetite to examine the remaining Messianic Psalms on your own. The following chart is provided to help.

CHRONOLOGY OF MESSIANIC REFERENCES IN THE PSALMS

Subject Psalm New Testament

God Everlasting 102:25-27
45:6 Heb. 1:8,10

The Godhead – God The Son 2:7 Heb. 1:15

His Royal Birth 89:3-4 Mt. 1

Sinless Humanity 45:7
22:9-10 Heb. 1:8
Lk. 2:40,52

Impeccability During Temptation 91:11-12* Mt. 4:6; Lk. 4:11

Palm Sunday 8:2 Mt. 21:16

Cleansing The Temple 69:9* Jn. 2:17

Betrayal By Judas 41:9
69.25* Jn. 13:18
Acts 1:20

The Good Shepherd 23 Jn. 10:27-30; 18:9

Counsel Of The Wicked 2:1-2 Acts 4:25-28

The Scourging 129:3* Lk. 18:33

Gambling For His Garments 22:18 Mt. 27:35; Jn. 19:24

The Crucifixion 22:16 Jn. 19:37

His Agonies Upon the Cross 22 Mt. 27:39-50

“I thirst” 69:21* Mt. 27:34; Mk. 15:36;
Lk. 23:36; Jn. 19:29

His Sacrificial Abandonment 22:1 Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34

His Power Over Death 31:5* Lk. 23:46

Atonement By Blood 40:6-8 Heb. 10:5-7

The Resurrection 16:10
118:22 Acts 2:27-31
Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7

The Ascension 24:3-5
68:18
110:1 Eph. 4:8
Acts 2:34

His Glorification 16:8-11 Acts 2:25

His Deathless, Eternal Priesthood 110:4 Heb. 5:6

His Return To Earth In Power 110:5-7
22:27-28 Mt. 22:44
Rev. 14:20; 19:16

Rule Over The Nations 72
2:8-9
22:27-28 Rev. 20:4

His Eternal Kingdom 89:35-36 Rev. 11:15

*Messianic references in psalms other than the Messianic Psalms

By Tom Summerhill