Christ Singing In The Psalms

Tim Vanderstoep. Trowel & Sword. December 2010

Preamble: This week’s article, “Christ Singing In The Psalms” is the result of a request by Rita de Waard. As mentioned each week we are grateful for any feedback we receive from our weekly posts, including requests for past T&S articles which may have had an impact on your life. Apart from anything else, they encourage us to continue bringing these articles to you with the hope and prayer that they will make a difference and help to bring you closer to our Lord as indeed they have done for us as we bring them to you.
We recently sent a request to all ministers for contributions towards a second “Special Easter Edition of Trowel and Sword” but as yet have received no responses. We would also be happy to receive contributions from you, our subscribers as well, keeping in mind that T&S was always intended as a magazine for the whole family. Articles should be your own work, not articles from a third person. If you do wish to contribute something, send them to our email address at: tsrevisited@gmail.com

Christ Singing In The Psalms

Finding Christ In The Psalms

When we as believers open our Bibles, we expect to meet Christ. In other words, we believe that the Bible is all about Christ. Jesus himself taught this, and rebuked the Pharisees for studying the Scriptures, but ignoring him Jn. 5: 39-40).

One book of the Bible that reveals much about Christ is the Psalms. This much-loved book is often quoted and applied to Christ in the New Testament, and has given voice to the joys and sorrows of believers in every age.

However, it is not always easy to find Christ in the Psalms. We are aware of a dozen or more so-called “Messianic Psalms”, because they are directly applied to Christ in the New Testament, such as Psalms 16, 22, 72, and 110. But if we believe that the Old Testament Scriptures point to Christ, shouldn’t all the psalms be “Messianic”? And if so, how do we rightly (not arbitrarily) interpret them in order to see Jesus?

In this article I would like to suggest that when David in the Psalms speaks in his position as the King of Israel, we should actually hear Christ speaking.

The Davidic King is a Picture of Christ

We can make this connection because in the Old Testament, the Davidic King is a picture or “type” of Jesus. Just as the Passover Lamb points forward to Jesus the Lamb of God, the Davidic King of Israel points forward to Jesus our King.

Beginning with David, the role of the Davidic King was to lead Israel in God’s ways by defeating Israel’s enemies and governing the people righteously. Both David and his successors failed to live up to this calling, but God promised that he would raise up a descendant of David who would reign righteously forever (2 Sam 7). Old Testament believers from then on awaited the arrival of the ‘Son of David’ who would defeat Israel’s enemies and usher in an era of peace and joy. He arrived in the person of Jesus (Lk 1:32-33).

An awareness of Davidic King typology should guide our interpretation of the stories about David. For instance, in the story of David and Goliath, we should see that David is a picture of Jesus: the victorious saviour of God’s people.

The Davidic King in the Psalms

We should also look for the Davidic King in the Psalms. In fact, we find the King nearly everywhere in the Psalms, and as a rule, should see Christ in these references. These references can be divided into three groups:

1. Words spoken about the King in the third person (“lest he be angry” Ps 2:12)
2. Words spoken to the King in the second person (“you are my Son” Ps 2:7b)
3. Words spoken by the King in the first person (“He said to me” Ps 2:7a)

Note here that the same Psalm may contain references from more than one category.

Following the New Testament

When reading the Psalms, it is right to see Christ in the Davidic King, because the New Testament does. For example:

1. Third Person – “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” is spoken about the Davidic King in Ps. 118:26, and applied to the triumphal entry of Christ in John 12.
2. Second Person – “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever” (Ps 45:6) is said to the Davidic King on the occasion of his wedding, and applied to Jesus in Hebrews 1.
3. First Person – “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” (Ps 16:10) is said by King David and is applied to the resurrected Christ in Peter’s Pentecost sermon.

Thus, when the New Testament writers interpret the Psalms, they assume that references to the Davidic King are ultimately speaking about Christ. This typology is used across the New Testament, giving us a method of interpretation, rather than unaccountable insights. As we seek to find Christ in the Psalms, we too should carefully trace the Davidic King typology at work.

The Problem of the First Person Davidic King Psalms

Of the three sorts of references to the Davidic King, and thus to Christ, I have a hunch that the ‘first person psalms’ are the most overlooked in the way we interpret Scripture. If this is the case, this is not good because the category is a large one involving over 50 psalms which can teach us much about Jesus.

Which psalms are in this category? Not every psalm written by David is a “King” psalm. In some psalms like Ps. 32 and Ps. 51 we find David speaking simply as a child of God. He speaks to God of his sins, his joy in God, and his desire for a closer walk with God. These psalms are usually easy for us to understand and sing as believers, because we go through the same things.

However, in other psalms, we find David speaking “with his crown on” as the King of Israel. These psalms have a common theme: “enemies”.  For instance, in Ps 18 and Ps 22 we find David speaking of his struggles with his enemies, and his God-given victory.

These psalms are not always easy for New Testament believers to apply. For example, what do we mean when we read or sing from Psalm 18, “I pursued my enemies and overtook them … I crushed them so that they could not rise”? (v.37-38) Or what would we mean if we said, “You have made me the head of nations … As soon as they hear me, they obey me”? (v.43-44) Or who of us can really say, “I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin”? (v.23)

A Possible Solution

These passages do not fit us neatly because they are not first of all about us. Instead, they refer partly to David as King of Israel, ultimately to Christ as King of Kings, and then, by extension, to us – the people of the King.

First, in a limited way, these psalms describe David’s experience as King of Israel. As he speaks as the King, he is aware of his enemies, his dependence on God, God’s power to save, and his own critical place in securing the well-being of Israel.

Ultimately, however, these psalms are even more true of Christ.

• King David’s enemies were many, but Christ fought all the powers of darkness and could say more truly, “Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head.” (Ps 69:4)
• King David suffered at the hands of his enemies, but Christ could actually say, “They have pierced my hands and my feet.” (Ps 22:16)
• King David strove to be righteous, but Christ can truly say, “I have been blameless before [God] and have kept myself from sin.” (Ps 18:23) .
• King David was confident that God would save him from death, but Christ, who would rise, could truly say, “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (Ps 16; Acts 2).
• King David enlarged the borders of Israel, but Christ received “all authority in heaven and on earth,” (Matt 28:18) and can truly say, “You have made me the head of nations.” (Ps 18:43)
• King David loved the people of God, but Christ gave himself up for his bride and can more truly say,”they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.” (Ps 16:3).
• King David led Israel in worship, but Christ is gathering worshipping “disciples of all nations” and can more truly say, “I will praise you among the Gentiles.” (Ps 18:49; Rom 15:9)

Application

Finally, we can apply these psalms to ourselves as the people of King Jesus. When David sang as the King of Israel, he did not sing alone. Rather, an entire nation sang with him, because he was their King and their life and well-being were bound up with his. When the King was at war, so were his people; when he triumphed, his people rejoiced.

We see this bond clearly in Ps 22, where the King calls on the people to praise God for saving him. He says, “You who fear the Lord, praise him! … For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one” (v.22-24). Likewise, in Ps 35:27, the King says, “May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness.’ Victory for the King meant life and joy for his people. (Ps 144: 9-15)

Just as Israel sang with their King, we as New Testament believers can sing with our King. His enemies are our enemies: Satan, sin, and death. His Father is our Father and we trust him to save us.

In fact, because we are united to Christ, we share his life even more closely than Israel shared King David’s. In Christ, we have been made righteous and on this basis can truly say, “I have kept the ways of the Lord.” (Ps 18:21). In Christ, we are more than conquerors and will one day be able to say with him, “I crushed [my enemies] so that they could not rise.” (Ps 18:38; Rom 16:20).  In Christ we look forward to resurrection and can say with him, “you will not abandon me to the grave.” (Ps 16:10). In Christ we have become kings and will reign with “the head of nations.” (Ps 18:43; 2 Tim 2:12).

And so we have in the first person Davidic King psalms, a body of songs which give voice to the joys and sorrows of the life we share with our King. In them we hear Christ singing: let’s sing them with him.

Further Study

Christ speaking: Psalm 3, 4, 5*, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16*, 17, 18, 22*, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31*

34*, 35*, 36*, 38?*, 40*, 41*, 42-43, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 69*, 70, 71, 86, 88?, 92, 94?*, 101, 102*, 108, 109*, 116*, 119: 20-24?, 120, 138, 139:19 ff, 140*, 141, 142, 143, 144.
(* quoted in NT)

Tim Vanderstoep

We look forward to receiving feedback about any of our posts. We also encourage you to share our posts with family, friends and acquaintances; in fact anyone you think may appreciate and/or benefit from the knowledge and wisdom handed down to us from the past.   To view previous posts visit our website at www.tsrevisited.com