Lessons from Psalms #2: The Messiah

The idea of the Messiah is a massive concept in the Psalms. As I've been reading them, I see so many glimpses of Jesus Christ. It could be in the form of prophecies which were fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Or it could be pictures, ideals which were only made reality in Him.

God made a covenant with King David that He would 'raise up (his) offspring to succeed (him)', and that He would 'establish the throne of his kingdom forever.' (2 Samuel 7) The various writers of Psalms, including David and his son Solomon after him, consider this promise of God and depict a king who rules with justice over Israel, but also beyond Israel too. The Psalms delight in God's particular choice of Israel:

'He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
city of God' Ps 87.1-3

But the Psalms also look forward to a day when God will place a king to rule with His justice and righteousness over the whole world:

'May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.' Ps 67.4

These two aspects of truth find unity in Jesus because He is the messianic descendant of David, king of Israel and His rule is universal:

'He made known to us the mystery of His will... to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.' (Eph 1:9-10)

It's amazing the way the Psalms unite the idea of one perfect king whose rule extends beyond Israel to the other nations too. Look at Psalm 2:

'“I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.' Ps 2:6-8

And the picture of the Christ, God's chosen King, is a beautiful one which we can clearly see fulfilled in Jesus:

'May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
May he rule from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth...
Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.' Ps 72.4-8, 17

In verse 17, God's covenant with Abraham ('I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you' (Gen 12:3) is shown to be fulfilled in this Messiah, who is Jesus Christ. How amazing the unity of Scripture is! How wonderful is our King Jesus!