Tag: Messiah

Psalm 110

In the end, the question to be considered is this: If Jesus is who He says He is in quoting this psalm, what will you do with Him?

Psalm 110

If Psalm 109 (see our study) is a picture of the events leading to and including the crucifixion of Christ, as some point out, then Psalm 110 is a picture of His resurrection and the events that follow it.

This short psalm is the most quoted and alluded to psalm in the New Testament. Mills presents at least 34 different references to this psalm by all authors of the New Testament except for James and Jude. His list includes:  Matthew 22.43-45, 26.64; Mark 12.35-37, 14.62, 16.19; Luke 20.41-44, 22.69; John 14.2; Acts 2.34-35, 5.31, 7.55-56; Romans 8.34; 1 Corinthians 15.24-26; Ephesians 1.20, 22; Colossians 3.1; Hebrews 1.3, 13, 5.6, 10, 6.20, 7.11, 15, 17, 21, 28, 8.1, 10.12, 13, 12:2; 1 Peter 3.22; and Revelation 3.21, 6.15-17, 19.11.

These seven verses will take a lifetime to discuss and, even then, it would not be complete. In order to fully understand the meaning of this psalm, the usage of this psalm by Jesus will be briefly examined.

However, the context of history provides details for us as well. This psalm was used in the coronation services of the kings of Israel. It could have been written when David captured Jebus, which is Jerusalem. This explains the presence of Melchizedek (king of righteousness) who was the king and priest of Salem (Jebus). The two pronouncements given in this psalm call the king to rule as God’s representative and to be a priest to the people. Calling the king to be a priest was not out of order. The text specifically states a priest after the order of Melchizedek not Aaron. Melchizedek will be discussed in another post if requested.

The outline that would best serve this psalm would be seen under the offices of activities of the coming Messiah:

  • Verses 1-3-The Eternal King
    • Verses 1-Jesus discusses the usage of “the Lord said to my lord” in order to prove that Messiah must come through humanity and yet be God. That is, if the Messiah is to be the son of David, which would make Him inferior to David, why does David call Him “my lord” in this psalm? Jesus then shows that Messiah must also be greater than David, which would place Him on par with deity (Matthew 22.41-46).
    • Verses 2-3-His kingdom will cover the earth with willing subjects.
  • Verses 4-The Eternal Priest. The reference is to Genesis 14 and is discussed at length in Hebrews 7-10. This would make the Messiah’s priesthood greater than the priesthood of Aaron, which is the argument presented in Hebrews.
  • Verses 5-7-The Victorious Warrior. This activity is not eternal for He is the Prince of Peace and the Warrior will sit on His throne to reign throughout eternity as that Prince. He can also be seen as Judge in these verses. The ultimate fulfillment of these verses is found in Revelation 19.11-20.15 where Jesus is victorious and exalted.

This brief look at a most fascinating psalm seems anemic in light of all that it contains. To grasp the breadth of the fifty-eight Hebrew words, read the New Testament use of them, then stand in wonder at the magnificence of God’s Word.

In the end, the question to be considered is this: If Jesus is who He says He is in quoting this psalm, what will you do with Him?

2 Samuel 22

For a more detailed look, follow the link for our study of Psalm 18.

2 Samuel 22

This chapter and Psalm 18 are almost identical (see our study). The only variations are slight verse transpositions. This chapter closes the books of Samuel. The last two chapters are David’s last words and actions. This psalm of praise is David’s last prayer for the people. It is of interest that the books of Samuel open and closes with a dynamic prayer. Here it is David and in 1 Samuel 2 it is of Hannah (see our study).

As a brief outline, here is 2 Samuel 22 outlined as a psalm presenting the Messiah (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997).

  • Praise to God for hearing and answering prayer (2–4)
  • Death closing in on the Savior (5–7)
  • God warring against the hosts of hell as they seek unsuccessfully to prevent the resurrection (7–20)
  • Reasons why God raised Messiah from the dead (21–30)
  • The Messiah’s Second Advent, in which He destroys His enemies (31–43)
  • The glorious kingdom of the Messiah (44–51)

For a more detailed look, follow the link for our study of Psalm 18.

Psalm 61

When we can look back to see God at work, know that He is at work, and this will lead us, always, to praise Him. Have you praised God for who He is and what He has done lately? Tell someone, write it down.

Psalm 61

This is a psalm of David to be played in worship on stringed instruments (Neginah).

David was thrust out of the city away from the sanctuary during the revolt of Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18). He uses a double entendre here. He wants to return to the rock that is higher than he, which physically, being in the woods of Ephraim, would be Jerusalem and spiritually would be a reference to God Himself. David’s desire is to return to Jerusalem where he knows he can worship and commune with God. Jesus describes this reasoning in John 4 when He speaks with the woman at the well in terms of worship (John 4.15-26). The thought was we needed to be in a specific place to worship God. Jesus corrects this and establishes that God can be worship anywhere, at any time. He is not demeaning corporate worship in a specific place (church) but is expanding the idea of worship to a personal level as-well.

This psalm can be divided in two parts by the Selah after verse four.

  • Verses 1-4-David is basing his prayer and pleas to God not on a wishful thought but on his previous experience with God. In essence, David is saying: “I may not be in Jerusalem, but I am never far from You. So, God, based on who You are and what You have done in my life, I ask You to protect me, to bring me into Your presence.” David knew who God was and what God had done for him and he based his prayers and his life on that truth.

Selah: When times are rough, do you have evidence that God has been at work in you? Do you know Him well enough to trust Him to be there for you (1 John 2.15-17)? Or, do you wishfully think that He might help you that may be based on something that is not truth? Before times are rough, begin to write out how God has used you, how He has been involved in your life, and how He has changed you. When we combine our experience with our knowledge of the Scriptures, we can stand solidly when the rough times attempt to knock us over.

  • Verses 5-8-Can the changes of pronouns begin a prayer for someone other than David. David changes from “I” to “the king” in these verses. This could be a messianic reference for God to present to the world the ultimate Solid Rock.

When we can look back to see God at work, know that He is at work, and this will lead us, always, to praise Him. Have you praised God for who He is and what He has done lately? Tell someone, write it down.

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2 Samuel 5.1-10

Are you proclaiming the One who is greater than David, Jesus, as King of your life? If so, your faith and ability to do great things will increase. The more we lean on God and allow Him to rule our lives the greater our life will be primarily due to our living the life that He created for us to live. How strong are you today? What does your daily workout look like?

2 Samuel 5.1-10

Due to the method of this study, in that we are attempting to do a chronological study of the events of the Old Testament, we are studying the first ten verses of 2 Samuel 5. These verses coincide with 1 Chronicles 11.1-9. We will look at 1 Chronicles 11 next before we return to complete 2 Samuel 5. For the remainder of 2 Samuel and the books of the Kings, we will work with simultaneously with the Chronicles.

This chapter provides the third anointing of David being king. Here it is an anointing by all the tribes of Israel to be king over Israel.  Second Samuel 2.4 points to the Southern tribes anointing David king over Judah. First Samuel 16.13 is the most important anointing given by Samuel prophetically proclaiming David to be the great and future king over all Israel. Verse two represents the people’s belief that Samuel’s anointing of David to be king over all Israel was indeed an act of God anointing David. The Israelites were obeying God’s will and proclaiming David the rightful king.

Hebron is an important city in the life of Israel. It is here the patriarchs, except for Rachel, were buried (Genesis 23.2; 25.9; 35.27-29; 49.29-33). It is one of the oldest cities in the world that is still in existence. The Cave of Machpelah is still there; however, it is covered by a mosque (background information from Jewish Virtual Library).

David is called in verse two a shepherd and a ruler (or prince). When this terminology is compared to Ezekiel 34.23-24, we see a comparison to the coming Messiah. David, then, is a type of Christ who is to come. More will be developed on this concept at a later date. The term “Messiah” means “anointed one.”

We see the years of David’s reign given in verse five. David reigned more than forty years, from the age of thirty (Jesus’ ministry began at thirty too) and he was king until he was in his seventies.

The Jebusites (those who dwelt in what is called Jerusalem today), were confident in their ability to defend their capital. They thought it was impenetrable (6). When a topographical map of the surrounding area is viewed, it is reasonable for the Jebusites to think that the city was impenetrable. The Jebusites held this territory since the days of Joshua (Joshua 15.63). This is one reason David sought the city. God gave the city to David and to Israel (10). Remember, with God all things are possible if He desires them for us.

David’s plan of attack seems to be an attack on the water system of Jerusalem. Later, King Hezekiah would use this as a means of defense (2 Chronicles 32.2-4).

The first mention of “Zion” found in the Bible is in verse seven.

As 2 Samuel 3.1 reminds us, David’s claim to be king grew greater than that of Saul; so, we see here in verse ten, that David became greater and greater because God was with him. Just as Saul became weaker because God had left him, so David became stronger because God was with him.

Are you proclaiming the One who is greater than David, Jesus, as King of your life? If so, your faith and ability to do great things will increase. The more we lean on God and allow Him to rule our lives the greater our life will be primarily due to our living the life that He created for us to live. How strong are you today? What does your daily workout look like?