How Do We See Jesus in the Psalms?
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The Bible is so much more than fascinating, although it is that. The Bible is an unfolding account of Almighty God’s redemptive plan for humanity. No Plan B has ever existed, for God’s character never changes, and His promises—all of them—have, are, and will be fulfilled in Christ.
The Apostle Paul spoke of Jesus when he wrote, “For every one of God’s promises is ‘Yes’ in Him. Therefore, through Him we also say ‘Amen’ to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Jesus permeates Scripture, and it all testifies to and about Him (Luke 24: 27, 44; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 19:10). Therefore, it’s only fitting that we see Jesus in the Psalms—His words, His character, and His wondrous acts.
How Is Jesus Central to the Bible?
In Revelation 1:8, Jesus tells us, “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” We have life ahead of us, and until He calls us home or comes for His church, we press on in Christ (Romans 8:1; Philippians 3:1) as we walk with Him (Romans 6:4), by His Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
Therefore, “Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1b-2).
This means that as we read the Bible, we look for Jesus in its pages. And He is unmistakable when we focus on Him and how He is the long-awaited Promise from God.
Jeffrey Perry from Marrowcast gives us a clear description of God’s promise through Jesus: “There was a promise that was given to Adam and Eve. This promise was also given to Abraham. And what we see is this promise moving through Israel until it reaches its fulfillment in Christ. So, then everyone that is a part of Christ shares the promise that is given to Abraham.”
The promise about which Pastor Perry speaks is seen in Genesis 3:15, which is called the protoevangelium (first form of the Gospel), “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and You will strike His heel.”
As we consider the Psalms, we will see many passages that foreshadow Jesus — how He fulfilled prophecy by what He said and what He did. Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book.
How Do We See Jesus in the Psalms?
The Psalms were penned by seven identified men and one unspecified person. We will look at a Psalm from each of the writers and describe how Jesus is highlighted. If you research with the keywords, “Messianic Psalms,” you’ll get quite a list, but when taken in their proper context, every psalm is Messianic (about Jesus Christ the Messiah).
The psalms, as is all of Scripture, are written for our instruction (Romans 15:4), therefore, they can (and are) highly personal. But when we see Jesus in them, our love for, joy in, and thankfulness to Jesus soars.
David - Psalm 22
King David was the most prolific of the psalmists. Professor and writer, Robert L. Plummer writes, “’God promised David that one of his descendants would always reign on his throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13). The New Testament declares that Jesus is this promised Davidic Ruler.
In reference to Psalm 16:8-11, Peter declares to a Jewish crowd,
“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the Patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay” (Acts 2:29-31).
Peter here seems to say that David was conscious that his words were pointing forward to a specific preeminent descendant, a propositional prediction fulfilled in one person, the Messiah.
In Psalm 22, we are given direct words of Jesus as He suffered crucifixion on the cross.
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?” (verse 1, cf. Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
An early church father, Athanasius, in a letter to a sick friend, wrote, “And Psalm 22, speaking in the Savior’s own Person, describes the manner of His death… ‘Thou has brought me into the dust of death, for many dogs have compassed me, the assembly of the wicked have laid siege to me. They pierced my hands and my feet, they numbered all my bones, they gazed and stared at me, they parted my garments among them and cast lots for my vesture. They pierced my hands and my feet’ what else can that mean except the cross? And Psalms 88 and 69, again speaking in the Lord’s own person, tell us further that He suffered these things, not for His own sake but for ours.”
It’s interesting that this psalm of suffering follows two psalms that express victory (20 and 21), and one that proclaims our rescue (18). Psalm 22 takes us into the presence of the price paid for our victory won by Jesus. He died the death we deserve, and every look into that horrific death proclaims Jesus’ love for us. We are never to forget the Gospel, and we are to rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection (1 Corinthians 15), which so closely followed His death and burial (Acts 2:24).
Jesus’ cries are followed by His faith in His sovereign God, who is holy and has affected salvation through Him (vv. 3-5).
Then in verses 6-8, Jesus again cries out. He is scorned by men—mockers (cf. Luke 22:35). He knows He will take on the sin of all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:21) as He endures the full curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13).
The Gospel is enveloped in this psalm, and unless we pause and consider our Savior’s sacrifice for us, we might possibly miss it. As you read through this psalm, reflect on the suffering and especially on the praise. No longer rebellious mockers, Christians are rejoicing in the salvation bought by Jesus. The psalm ends on a beautiful note of praise for Jesus, “They will come and declare His righteousness; to a people yet to be born they will declare what He has done” (V. 31).
Asaph - Psalm 78
This is the second-longest psalm in the Psalter (Psalm 119 is the longest). Psalm 78 gives us a history lesson and a look forward to Jesus (cf. 1 Corinthians 19:1-11).
The lesson is the Israelites forgot their salvation. They grumbled about their state and what they lacked, and this led to unbelief. Yet the lord is and remains faithful. He saved them (physically, and some spiritually) and He still saves those He calls to Himself through Jesus (John 6:44).
We all deserve death (Romans 3:23) but God sent Jesus to bring us out of darkness into His incredible light (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:9).
So, in this psalm, there’s a foreshadow of Who is to comm. He is from the tribe of Judah (v. 68) — the Savior, Jesus, our Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)—the Lion of the tribe of Judah. In verse 70, God chose His servant, David, who is in the genealogical line of Jesus (Matthew 21:9).
The Sons of Korah - Psalm 45
This psalm bids us remember that the writers who penned the Bible did so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). As such, the words apply to what was then and to what would come. In this instance, great emphasis is put on Christ the King and His bride, the church.
Verse 6 tells us the King’s throne is forever and ever (cf. Hebrews 1:8). And verse 7 mentions the spices used for Christ’s burial (cf. John 19:39).
Vv. 16-17 speak of the future dynasty of the King, words that far surpass any description of an earthly king. And the church of Christ serves as the princes (i.e.. A royal priesthood).
Solomon - Psalm 72
The righteous Branch—the Messiah—is coming. He is the King’s Son about Whom this psalm speaks. Therefore, this is a prophetic psalm about the Messiah, Jesus. This whole song is about Jesus, the righteous King, “Blessed be His glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with His glory.
Amen and amen” (verse 19, cf. Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 2:14).
Moses - Psalm 90
Jesus experienced all the grief of this psalm as He bore our iniquities on the cross (Isaiah 53:3-5). Look ahead to Hebrews 5:7-9, and see how Jesus is seen in this psalm.
We, as children of Adam, lament the brevity of life. Moses prays that the Lord would teach us to number our days that we would gain a heart of wisdom (v. 12). Who but the Lord ordains all of our days (Psalm 139:16; Job 14:5; Matthew 10:29-31)? Those who are in Christ have their lives hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). We are forever secure in Jesus.
Heman the Ezrahite – Psalm 88
Consider Christ at His lowest moments as a man. Betrayed by one of His disciples, praying drops of blood as His faithful disciples sleep in the garden of Gethsemane, crying out to the Father on the cross of crucifixion, and then dead and buried. He is the One who alone underwent such depths of suffering.
As we read this psalm, we come away with a more profound appreciation for what Jesus did for us. This anguished cry from the pit of hell is as close as any Christian will come to the experience of it because of what Jesus did for us.
Ethan the Ezrahite - Psalm 89
Verses 3-4 is our pointed reference to Jesus:
“The LORD said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David my servant: I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’”
The Lord God keeps every promise He makes, “For every one of God’s promises is ‘Yes’ in Him. Therefore, through Him we also say ‘Amen’ to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The oath is fulfilled in Christ, which is the greater, eternal covenant between the Father and the Son. Every word of this psalm is a proclamation of Jesus’ faithfulness, the church’s blessing as we walk in Him, and our rekindled faith.
Unnamed Writer - Psalm 118
We are victorious in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). Verse 6 assures us, “The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?”
Verse 14 is our ultimate assurance, for the Gospel is here, “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation (Acts 2:21). Verse 22 is Jesus — he is the Stone the builders rejected. He is the Cornerstone.
As you read this psalm, pay close attention to the opening and closing verses. Our response to the Lord for all He has done, is doing, and will do should be wholehearted thanks to Him.
Let’s pray,
Lord Jesus,
Help us to read not only the Psalms, but all of Your Word with a mind to see You. You are matchless in Your power and grace. Thank You for loving us and for putting on flesh and dying to save us. We praise You for rising and ascending to the Father, where You sit at His right hand. With the psalmists, we look for Your return. In Your mighty name we pray.
Amen.
Source
“40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible” © Copyright 2010, 2021 by Robert L. Plummer Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/freedom007
