There has been much inquiry into the study of biblical prophecy over the last few hundred years. Those who study prophecy have various backgrounds and reasons for their study. Some would include, pastors, theologians, secular scholars, scientists, historians, skeptics, and the average believer. While not all study for the same reason, or even believe in prophetic fulfillment, they would have to agree that prophecy is perhaps one of the most intriguing subjects that the Scriptures deal with.
Prophecy must never be confused with, or written off as merely prediction only. True prophecy must come to pass exactly as the details were given by the prophet. There were tests given in the Old and New Testament about identifying a true prophet. One test was that the message of the prophet must correspond with God’s Word (Deut. 13:1-3; 1 Cor. 14). The second test is accuracy concerning the prophecy (Jer. 28:9). The messianic prophecies concerning Christ’s earthly life came to pass and are recorded in the New Testament.
The Messianic Prophecies can be divided into two categories; those prophecies concerning Christ’s future rule, that have yet to be fulfilled, and those prophecies concerning Christ’s earthly life, that have been fulfilled and are recorded in the New Testament. The prophecy that will be dealt with in this paper concerns that of the Messianic Prophecies concerning Christ’s earthly life prophesied throughout the book of the Psalms and the fulfillment of those prophecies in the New Testament.
Most think of prophecy as coming from a prophet like Samuel or Elijah, and relate prophecy somewhat to preaching, or the proclamation of something yet future. The Psalms were written as prayers or hymns and do not necessarily contain preaching, but contain a didactic element as well as testimony (Milton, 85). David was not necessarily a prophet, or at least did not hold the prophetic office, but it was obvious king David had the gift of prophecy. David did not write all of the Messianic Psalms, however, the majority can be attributed to him.
The Messianic Psalms specifically deal with the person of Jesus Christ. Not all of the Messianic Psalms have been fulfilled, but there will be an attempt to discuss those that were fulfilled in the coming of Christ and during His earthly life including His sonship, death, burial resurrection, and priesthood.
Christ’s Sonship: Ps. 2:7 – (Mt. 3:17; Heb. 1:5)
Christ has always been the Son of God; from eternity past He dwelt with the Father and the Spirit as the second Person of the Godhead. The psalmist prophesied the Word’s of Christ Himself that the Father spoke to Him at His baptism (Mt. 3:17). This Messianic prophecy not only validates Christ’s eternal sonship, but proves His legitimate right to the Davidic throne as King of Israel. In the Davidic Covenant God declared that He would be Father to the king. David’s relationship with God, as king, was a Father-son relationship (2 Sam. 7:14) (Walvoord, Zuck, 792). Christ fulfills the true Father-Son relationship.
Christ’s Obedience: (Ps. 40:6-8) – (Heb. 10:5-7)
The psalmist, David, declares in Psalm 40:6 that God desired his obedience over sacrifice. The prophet Samuel instructs king Saul on the issue of obedience, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22). God delights in the giving of one’s self over sacrifice. When the psalmist declares, “mine ears hast thou opened,” it prompts obedience through the power of God. It is God who gives the believer the power of obedience. It was also the power of God that Christ depended on during His earthly life to be obedient to the Father. It is true that Christ could not have sinned because of His divine nature, but Christ willingly took upon Him the form of a servant and became obedient unto death (Phil. 2:7, 8).
Although David wrote Psalm 40, it is evident from verse 7 that Christ is the one being spoken of. Jesus, in speaking to the Jews, said: “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (Jo. 5:39). Jesus was the eternal Word (Jo. 1:1-3).
Hebrews 10:5-7 gives an even greater meaning to the Old Testament passage in Psalm 40: 6-8. Christ’s obedience was that which fulfilled all of the law. Christ accomplished perfectly what the law could never do, and was never purposed to do, putting and end to sacrificial offerings for the covering of sins, and once and for all, by His obedience to the Father, became the perfect sacrifice that took away the sins of the world. John the baptizer stated it so well: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world” (Jo. 1:29). There was no longer a need for covering sins.
The matter of Christ’s obedience is central to the believer’s salvation. If Christ would have been a mere man, He could not have been perfectly obedient to the Father. Christ was not merely a man; He was the God-man. No less than a perfect, obedient sacrifice would have been acceptable for taking away the sins of the world.
Christ’s Sufferings and Death: (Ps. 22:1-21; 69:4, 9) – (Mt. 27; Jo. 2:17; 15:25; Rom. 15:3)
The portrayal of the suffering Messiah given in the Psalms was fulfilled in the life of Christ. The psalmist was vivid in describing the anguish that he faced. David obviously felt as if the Lord had forsaken him while his enemies raged about, seeking to destroy him. David sought the Lord for deliverance and received from the good hand of God. Although David’s sufferings were great, they only slightly resembled the sufferings of the Messiah.
Psalm 22 gives a vivid illustration of death by crucifixion; the bones being out of joint, the piercing of the hands and feet, the intense thirst and fatigue, and the failing of the heart (Ps. 22:14-15). The figurative language David uses in Psalm 22 and 69 have great significance in the New Testament. David cries out to God, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1). It only seemed as if God had forsaken David, but indeed the Father forsook the Son as indicated by Christ’s cry from the cross (Mt. 27:46). Psalm 22:3 indicates why God had forsaken His Son on the cruel cross; it was God’s holiness. A holy God can not look upon sin, and since Christ bore the sins of the world, the Father could not even look upon His own Son. Jesus had not become sinful, but was made sin for us (Phillips v. 1, 169).
In Psalm 69:4 the psalmist mentions how he was hated without cause. This is normally man’s view toward his enemies. There is always the tendency to exclude any reason that may condemn man, and give his enemies reason to hate. Because man is a sinner, fault can always be found. That can not be said about the Lord Jesus. Truly his enemies hated Him without cause because there was no accusation that could be brought against Him regarding iniquity. Christ stated Himself “They hated me without a cause” (Jo. 15:25).Christ said that He would be hated without cause in order for prophecy to be fulfilled.
Other prophecies from the Messianic Psalms that are fulfilled in the New Testament by Christ are, “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken” (Ps. 34:20 cf. Jo. 19:36); “they pierced my hands and my feet” (Ps. 22:16 cf. Jo. 19:37). Christ was the unintentional focus of the psalm writer.
Although Christ’s sufferings were of tremendous importance, His death was of even more importance. David prophetically spoke of Christ when he said: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Ps. 16:10). David spoke only metaphorically, he could not be speaking literally of himself here because his body did see corruption. This reference is also mentioned by Peter in Acts 2:25. Christ’s body did not see corruption. After three days Christ came forth from the tomb (Jo. 20:1-10). Although this reference points toward the resurrection, it also indicates Christ’s physical death on the cross.
Christ’s Resurrection: (Ps. 2:7; 16:10) – (Acts. 2:25-28; 13:33-35)
One of the same passages that prove Christ’s Sonship can also be used to support His resurrection; “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Ps. 2:7). Some would relate Psalm 2:7 to the birth of Christ. The word “begotten,” meaning “one and only,” seems to indicate that it was referring to Christ’s birth, but the apostle Paul quotes Psalm 2:7 and references it to the raising up of Christ by the Father (Acts 13:33-34). While either interpretation seems to fit properly the New Testament quotation clarifies the usage of “begotten” in Psalm 2:7.
Psalm 16:10 evidences that Christ’s body would not see corruption in the grave, but would be resurrected before decay could begin. As previously mentioned, this passage is also used to support the prophecy of Christ’s death. David could only have been metaphorically speaking of himself, and unknowingly prophesying of the Messiah’s death and resurrection, since David’s body did see corruption. This passage is paralleled in the New Testament by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:25-27).
Christ’s resurrection is of the utmost importance to the believer in Jesus Christ. The believer’s salvation hinges on the fact that Christ arose from the grave victoriously, conquering death, hell, and the grave. It is because of the life He now lives that the believer can have life eternal (Rom. 5:10).
Christ’s Ascension: (Ps. 68:18; 110:1) – (Acts 1:11; Eph. 4:8)
Not only is Christ’s death and resurrected prophesied and reaffirmed in the Psalms and New Testament, but Christ’s ascension is also recorded in Messianic prophecy. In Psalm 68:18, David is relating to the Ark of the Covenant being moved to Jerusalem, and referring it to a mighty conqueror ascending on high with captives (Bible Knowledge Commentary, 843). The New Testament passage (Eph. 4:8) is thought by some to be a summary of Psalm 68 in entirety, and not specifically a quote of verse 18 (Bible Knowledge Commentary, 843). Regardless of the various opinions given regarding Psalm 68:18 and Ephesians 4:8, the interpretation must be considered prophetical when the two passages are compared.
Psalm 110:1 gives adequate proof of Christ’s ascension, as well as His exaltation. After Christ’s resurrection He ascended to take His place at the right hand of the Father where He now abides awaiting His future rule (Heb. 1:3). Although not a direct quote from the Psalms, Acts 1:11 provides ample evidence that Christ did indeed ascend to heaven in the presence of many witnesses.
Christ’s Priesthood: (Ps. 110:4) – (Heb. 5:6)
Christ’s priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek. Christ could not be a priest after the order of the Aaronic priesthood because He was not from the tribe of Levi. Christ was from the tribe of Judah and no priests were ordered from that tribe. Christ’s priesthood is more important, and far better, than the Levitical priests. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes the importance of Christ’s priesthood over the Aaronic priesthood.
Melchizedek was a Gentile king of Salem, and a priest that had no recorded genealogy; he was merely a type of Christ (Gen. 14). Christ was compared to Melchizedek in regards to his office as king, and priest, although Christ is not reigning as King at this moment. However, Christ is now a High Priest and Melchizedek was out of, what seemed to be, an eternal priesthood, meaning with no known beginning or end. There are five main similarities between Christ and Melchizedek: (1) two official offices in the same person (Heb. 7:1; Zech. 6:13); (2) both performed blessings not judgment (Heb. 7:1; Lk. 24:50); (3) the receiving of tithes (the fact that Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him, is proof that Melchizedek was superior to Abraham as well as the Levitical priests) (Heb. 7:8); (4) both were independent priests (Heb. 7:3); (5) neither was ever succeeded by another priest (Heb. 7:3).
In Psalm 110:4, it seems as if David was prophesying some oracle that had been given to him by God about the future Messiah; this is also quoted by the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 5:6). Christ was a priest called of the Father. Christ fulfills the position of High Priest today for believers acting as both Intercessor and Advocate (1 Jo. 1:9; 2:1).
Conclusion:
There are endless passages in the Psalms that are considered Messianic prophecies. However, many have not been fulfilled as of yet. Christ’s rule as King, Judge, etc. will one day be fulfilled in their entirety just as the prophetic passages that have been discussed concerning His earthly life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
The prophesying of the psalmist is intriguing because there was so little known about Christ the Messiah, yet there was so much written about Him. The unveiling of these Messianic prophecies in the New Testament should have a tremendous impact to the believer. The Bible is Christocentric and Jesus said Himself, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (Jo. 5:39). Christ fulfilled all that the Scriptures prophesied concerning His earthly life and is awaiting the Fathers will to fulfill the rest.
Works Cited
Bulock, Hassell C. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books. Chicago: Moody, 1988. Print.
Dickson, David. A Commentary on the Psalms. London: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1959. Print.
Walvoord, John F. Every Prophecy of the Bible Clear Explanantions for Uncertain Times by One of Today’s Premier Prophecy Scholars. Deerfield Beach: Cook Communications, 2004. Print.
Geisler, Norman L. A Popular Survey of the Old Testament. New York: Prince, 2003. Print.
Gleason, Archer. Survey of Old Testament introduction. Chicago: Moody, 1994. Print.
John, Phillips. Exploring the Psalms. Vol. 1. Neptune, N.J: Loizeaux Brothers, 1988. Print.
John, Phillips. Exploring the Psalms. Vol. 2. Neptune, N.J: Loizeaux Brothers, 1988. Print.
Milton, John P. The Psalms. Rock Island: Agustana Book Concern, 1954. Print.
Zuck, Roy B, and John Walvoord. Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament An Exposition of the Scriptures (Bible Knowledge). Wheaton: Victor, 1985. Print.
