Hebrew scholars from old have identified these Psalms as speaking of the Messiah. There are even Hebrew scholars today who believe this even though they reject Jesus as the Messiah. So as a kind of exercise, the following study assumes that this observation is correct and seeks to discern what they tell us about the Messiah, what the people of Jesus’ day were probably expecting, and how it ultimately compares with what we know of Christ’s ministry.
Q: What are the main characteristics of the Messiah in terms of what He is called in this Psalm?
Q: From these qualities, was the Messiah expected to be just another man?
A: The qualities and titles assigned to the Messiah indicate that He is on the same level as God Himself, Ruler over both heaven and earth, and present from the beginning as Creator.
Point: The Old Testament Hebrew scholars identified the Godhead as comprised of God, the Holy Spirit, and a third person they called the “Metatrone”, who we recognize as Christ the Son of God. In theological terms, He is called the “pre-incarnate Christ” whenever He appears in the Old Testament.
Q: And what example is given of the pre-incarnate Christ’s presence in this Psalm?
A: That He was present with Israel in the wilderness. In fact, it was He with whom they were actually dealing.
Q: How were their dealings with Christ in the Old Testament similar to His earthly incarnation as Jesus in the New?
A: Although they saw His work bringing them out of Egypt to the Promised Land, they did not fully accept and believe Him, instead testing and trying Him. In the same way, during Jesus’ ministry on earth, they witnessed His signs and miracles and yet tested Him by asking for even more. Both generations failed and therefore did not “enter into My rest”.
Point: Those who truly hear His voice become obedient to His Word and ways as sheep who follow the Shepherd and live in the pasture He designates; those who do not fail to enter into that place and relationship with Him.
Application: The Messiah is equal to God. He was supposed to be the Shepherd accepted by Israel the flock, leading them into His place of rest as when He led them out of Egypt to Canaan. (From the old life to the new.)
Q: What is the chief characteristic or title of the Messiah in this Psalm?
A: Judge. (v.13)
Q: How is this role described? Of what does it consist?
Point: The Messiah was not just supposed to be merely accepted as God, but the people’s response was supposed to be exactly as that provided in the Law for approaching, worshiping, and serving God in the temple. The right response to the Messiah was to be rid of personal sin (be consecrated) and to embrace God’s standards of righteousness and faithfulness. He would judge according to these standards, not merely coming as a liberator allowing people to live as they pleased.
Application: The Messiah will be the Judge the whole world according to the standard of God’s Word. Israel was supposed to consecrate themselves to accept Him according to that standard.
Q: How do v.1-5 summarize what was viewed as the ultimate work of the Messiah?
A: Everything not measuring up to God’s standards of righteousness and justice would be melted away, removed from the whole earth when His presence was finally and permanently established on earth.
Q: How do v.7-9 describe one of the chief works resulting from the establishment of the Messiah’s reign?
A: All spiritual matters will be put to rest once and for all in that it will finally be crystal clear to everyone that there is only One True God and that all others are false.
Q: What is the right, personal response to the Messiah and why?
A: To “hate evil” – that is, to reject the ways of the world and embrace His wholly and enthusiastically – so that one can experience His “light” and “gladness” which He reserves for “the upright in heart”. In other words, obedience to His Word and ways opens our eyes to what His Word and ways are accomplishing both in this life and the one to come.
Point: One of the chief results of the Messiah’s work is to be true spiritual revival where all false beliefs and wrong behavior are cast aside in favor of embracing His Word and ways exclusively. It wasn’t merely about Him becoming King over Israel and the earth, but King over each individual’s heart.
Application: The Messiah will be King over each individual heart. Israel is to experience spiritual revival at His coming.
Q: How would you characterize the chief characteristic of the Messiah emphasized in this Psalm?
A: The final and ultimate working of God’s salvation.
Q: How will God’s salvation be publicly displayed? By what things will it be universally acknowledged that it has come to mankind?
Q: How is this different from “the day of the Lord” which is often referred to throughout Scripture?
A: The “day of the Lord” speaks of final judgment, when time has run out and those who rejected God must pay the ultimate, eternal price for their decision. What is being referred to here is the experience of those who accept the Messiah and are seeing the work of salvation completely fulfilled. It’s not a time or day of final judgment for punishment and destruction of the unbelieving, but of celebration for the obedient.
Application: The Messiah will be the Savior of the whole world. God’s plan of salvation was to be revealed by the Messiah to the whole world through Israel.
Q: What is the chief attribute of the Messiah highlighted in this Psalm?
A: “Holy is He” (v.3), “Holy is He” (v.5), and “holy is the Lord our God” (v.9)
Q: What is the chief action to which people are called to do in this Psalm?
A: “Worship at His footstool” (v.5) and “worship at His holy hill” (v.9). In other words, they are to come into His presence and worship Him.
Point: The only way one can come into the presence of holy God and worship Him is to be spiritually cleansed so as to be acceptable according to His standards of holiness.
Q: What examples are given as people who were able to not only come into the presence of holy God, but actually speak with and be heard by Him?
A: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel.
Q: What do these 3 have in common where sin is concerned?
A: Each one stood in the gap, so to speak, of when the wrath of God broke forth because His holiness had been insulted; they were all intercessors on behalf of man’s transgression of God’s holiness.
Q: What is the implication of this where the Messiah is concerned?
A: Not only that He would be the ultimate intercessor, but that through Him we would have this kind of access to and relationship with God.
Point: The Messiah would remove the obstacles set in place so that only a few could come and serve in His presence, which was limited in the Old Testament to those authorized to go into the Holy of Holies. The Messiah would enable unprecedented access to and service of God and still maintain all the requirements of His holiness.
Application: The Messiah will by holy but accessible. He would remove all obstacles so that everyone could worship and serve Him at the holy of holies.
Q: How will the Messiah change the way His people worship and serve Him?
Point: The Messiah will induce righteousness and faithfulness from the heart which will be visibly evident in changed behavior rejecting sin and a lifestyle embracing God’s Word and ways.
Application: The Messiah will work righteousness and faithfulness from the heart. His people’s lifestyle and behavior would be visibly changed.
From these Psalms are derived the following expectations concerning the Messiah:
As you can see, if you expected the Messiah to come and accomplish all these things at the same time, it would be difficult to understand how He could simultaneously change hearts, fulfill the plan of salvation, and render judgment for all things at the same time. We have the benefit of understanding how these describe one Messiah, two comings. Many things were fulfilled at Christ’s First Coming, the rest are awaiting His Second Coming.
Although rejected by Israel, Jesus fulfilled all these things in His First Coming for His Gentile Bride; He will still fulfill all these things at His Second Coming for His Jewish Bride.