Christ in The Psalms: The Good Shepherd

If you are new to studying the Bible, I would encourage you to start by reading The Psalms.  Most of these ancient hymns were written by David, some when he was a shepherd boy, some when he was king.  Some are praise songs to God, others reflect David’s total remorse over his own sin, and some are prayers for deliverance from his enemies.  These beautiful poems show us how deeply David loved God and trusted in Him.  They also show us that David was just as human as you and I are and that he had great failings for which he suffered cruel consequences.  But they also show us that David never lost his faith in God and that he had a teachable spirit, that he was willing to confess his sins and repent, to turn away from his sins and once again walk with God.  They also show us that God used David to prophecy about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Entire books have been written about how Christ is seen in the book of Psalms, so I will only be able to scratch the surface here.  So I would encourage you, as you read through the book of Psalms, to look for Jesus there.  As a matter of fact, I believe that the very first Psalm tells us that we will be blessed by studying this book:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

We see Jesus in Psalm 2 as God’s Son, the King who blesses those who trust Him; in Psalm 8 as the Son of Man; in Psalm 9 as our Refuge; in Psalm 16 as The Holy One who is resurrected from the grave; in Psalm 17 as Jesus who was tempted, yet without sin; in Psalm 23 as My Shepherd who leads me, restores my strength, comforts me, protects me, and promises me life eternal with Him; in Psalm 41 as Christ forsaken on the cross yet finding joy on the morning of resurrection; in Psalm 45 as The Heavenly Prince and the Bridegroom with His bride, the church; in Psalm 68 as the Ascended Christ who leads us into heaven to be with Him; in Psalm 69 as the Man of Sorrows and Our Salvation; in Psalm 110 as King,  Priest, and Judge; in Psalm 118 as Our Salvation, the Stone that the builders rejected who became the Chief Cornerstone.  These are only a handful of the many, many references to Jesus Christ in the book of Psalms.  Why not see how many more you can find?

The one I want to focus on today is Psalm 22, one of the most prophetic of all the Psalms concerning Our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”  As you read this Psalm, remember that it was written by King David in about 1000 B.C.  Its graphic description of crucifixion is astounding, since crucifixion was unheard of in David’s day.  It was not invented until the time of the Roman Empire, 1000 years later!  Open your Bible to Psalm 22 and follow along as we look at how God spoke through David to tell everyone who Jesus would be and what He would do for you and for me:

·   My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1a)

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)

·   O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (Psalm 22:2)

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)

·   Jesus left His place of authority and glory to become our Sacrifice.  When He took our sin upon Himself, He became like a worm.  He was despised and rejected by those He came to save:

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. (Psalm 22:6)

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

·   All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, (Psalm 22:7)

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, (Matthew 27:39)

·   He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. (Psalm 22:8)

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:43)

·   Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. (Psalm 22:11)

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. (Matthew 26:56)

·   The strong bulls and roaring lion in the following verse refer to those who are powerful and in a position of authority over Jesus, the chief priests, elders, and the Roman officials:

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. (Psalm 22:12-13)

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:1-2)

·   I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. (Psalm 22:14-15)

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (John 19:28)

·   Crucifixion was used by the Romans – Gentiles, not Jews.  The Jewish people equated Gentiles with dogs.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16)

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: (Luke 24:39a)

·   They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18)

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (Matthew 27:35)

·   But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. (Psalm 22:19-21)

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:5-6)

·   I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:12)

·   Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. (Psalm 22:23)

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

·   All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations. (Psalm 22:27-28)

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)

Who could have foreseen all that was written in Psalm 22 but God?  The more I study His word, the more amazed I am at His love for me and his provision of the only payment for my wretched sinful self – Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.  I hope that you have accepted His sacrifice for your sin, and that you have made Him Lord of your life.  I hope you will join me this week in this prayer from Psalm 63:1-4:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

 All scripture is from the King James Version.