Psalms of the Messiah
07.05.22
Blessed is the man that walks not in the way of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in is law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)
As noted in our previous article, Psalm 1 serves as an introduction to the Psalter, and its first three verses are the key verses of the Book.
The Psalms are really five different books compiled into one. Some have come to the conclusion that they correspond to the five Books of Moses. If that is true, then Book 1, Psalm 1-41, corresponds to Genesis. Several of these psalms concern Man and God’s Creation.
Book 2, Psalm 42-72, corresponds to Exodus. These psalms begin with Israel’s cry for deliverance, and end with Israel’s king reigning over a redeemed nation.
Leviticus is the model for Book 3, Psalm 73-89. These focus on worship and the sanctuary.
Book 4 is modeled after Numbers. Psalm 90-106 concern our sojourn on earth. Moses’ psalm [90] begins the Book and it ends with a recounting of Israel’s rebellions in the wilderness.
The last Book, Psalm 107-150, corresponds to Deuteronomy, ‘the Second Law.’ These are psalms of praise concerning the Word of God. The highlight is Psalm 119 which mentions the Bible in almost every one of its 176 verses.
As mentioned in the previous article, there are various types of psalms. The final type, and the most important, is the messianic psalm. In these twenty-six psalms we find the Lord’s birth, betrayal, agony, death, ascension, second coming in glory, and His world-wide reign. The Psalms are the most prophetic of all the OT writings concerning the Lord Jesus.
Some of the most important of the messianic psalms are 2, 22-24, 69 and 110.
Take, for instance, Psalm 2. Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. (8) Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
We see Christ in this psalm as the Anointed One, sent by the Father to this world. Yet, the nations in general have rejected Him and rebelled against Him. There is grave warning given for the nations to mend their ways and come to the Son, to kiss Him as it were. Dire judgment will come it they do not. Great blessing will be given to all who put their trust in Him. What a message for our current world, and for each of us individually!