Psalms Of Hope

When you think of Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah (Jesus), chances are you think of Isaiah. After all, he was the one who prophesied that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, whose name would be Immanuel. He was the one who prophesied that the Suffering Servant, a Man of Sorrows, would be wounded and crushed for our guilt, and that the Lord would lay upon him the sins of us all.

But as you read the Psalms, you find messianic allusions on almost every page. Here are a few messianic prophecies in the Psalms that were fulfilled during Easter week, the week leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection:

• Please, LORD, please save us. . . . Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD.

  Psalm 118:25-26 (SEE Mark 11:9)

• Even my best friend . . . the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

  Psalm 41:9 (SEE John 13:18)

• They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him!”

  Psalm 22:7-8 (SEE Matthew 27:42-43)

• They have pierced my hands and feet.

  Psalm 22:16 (SEE Matthew 27:35)

• They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice for my garments.

  Psalm 22:18 (SEE John 19:23-24)

• They offer me sour wine to satisfy my thirst.

  Psalm 69:21 (SEE Mark 15:36)

• My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?

  Psalm 22:1 (SEE Mark 15:34)

• For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your godly one to rot in the grave.

  Psalm 16:10 (SEE Acts 2:27)

• The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.

  Psalm 118:22 (SEE Acts 4:11)

• The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies.”

  Psalm 110:1 (SEE Hebrews 10:13)

It’s amazing how much the Psalms teach us about the Messiah (Jesus). Even if we didn’t have the New Testament, we would know a great deal about him.

Throughout the Psalms the Messiah is identified as Prophet, Priest, and King. We also learn from Psalm 2 that he is a divine son, belonging to the Deity. This can be seen as God declares someone his “son” and describes him in terms that suggest a person more glorious than David.

Psalm 23 speaks of the Lord as the Good Shepherd, which Jesus called himself in John 10.

Yet Psalm 22 shows us that this Messiah would suffer and die in an ignominious fashion. This psalm graphically describes the details of crucifixion long before the Romans even invented this form of execution. But we also learn that the Messiah would not stay in the grave; he would rise again (Psalm 16).

Ultimately the Messiah would sit in honor at God’s right hand (Psalm 110), and as King of kings he would expand the rule of God to the ends of the earth (Psalm 72).

In Luke 24 Jesus walked with two of his followers on the road to Emmaus. He explained to them “everything written about [him] by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms” (verse 32), and their hearts were strangely warmed. No wonder! The Psalms and other books of the Old Testament are filled with amazing references to him! And it is exciting that all believers will one day be able to share in that Bible study together.

How well your blessed truths agree!

How wise and holy your commands!

Your promises—how firm they be!

How firm our hope and comfort stands!

ISAAC WATTS