Douglas Jacoby Podcast

Christ In The Psalms: Pt. 2

Douglas continues his series on The Book of Psalms, looking today at Christ In The Psalms. This Podcast was published on January 8, 2013.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Review

We have covered 9 lessons on the Psalms, and are about to begin the 10th. (Future lessons will surely follow.)
The Psalter points to Christ, as Jesus indicated in Luke 24 to the disciples on the Emmaus Road. In fact all three divisions of the Hebrew Bible -- Law, Prophets, and Writings -- direct us to Christ.
The imprecatory Psalms point us to Christ in that their spirit is so unlike that of Christ. They accentuate the loving spirit of Jesus all the more.
Some passages contain specific prophecies, as we noted in our previous lesson. In the 9th lesson we considered quite a few of them. Yet we can go much further.
Remember this: although we read the Old Testament forward, it is best understood when viewed backward -- in the light of Calvary.

Further Christological aspects of the Psalms

Psalm 1 - Jesus is the way (John 14:6; see Acts 24:14)
Psalm 8 -- Jesus is Lord (LORD, or Yahweh [YHWH], rendered kyrios [Lord] = the Lord God) (gospels, Acts, etc -- e.g. 2 Peter 1:1-2)
Psalm 23 - Jesus is the good shepherd (also Pss 28, 80; Ezekiel 34:10-16,23-24,31; Isaiah 40:11; Zechariah 13:7; John 10:11,14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:5, 5:4; Revelation 7:17)
Psalm 27 - Jesus is the light (John 8:12, 9:5; 1:9, 3:19; also Matthew 5:14)
Psalm 49:7-9,15 - Jesus is our ransom (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 9:15; see also Hosea 13:14)
Psalm 55:22 - Jesus is our burden-bearer (Matthew 11:28-30; see 1 Peter 5:7)
Psalm 119 - Jesus is God's Word (John 1:1,14; Revelation 19:13)

Thought questions

Which passages in Psalms present Christ most clearly to me?
If I were a first-century Jew who knew the scriptures (like Nicodemus), how obvious would it have been to me that Jesus was the Messiah?
How familiar am I with the Messianic passages in the prophets? in the Law?

Prayer points

Open my eyes that I may see Christ in the entire Bible. Let me see him clearly, neither reading too much into the text nor missing his glory in these many passages.
Strengthen me in my knowledge of the Messianic passages, and solidify my appreciation of Christ in the Psalms.
Give me courage to live in faith on the basis of all I am learning, that I may show Christ to others.