Psalms

“He will drop like rain upon mown grass.” (Psalm 72:6)
“And He will have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River unto the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 72:8)

Psalm 72 reveals the reigning Christ recovering the earth by watering.  The whole earth is a dry and barren wilderness, and many evil things spring forth from this drought and dryness. The Lord Jesus will be the King, not merely by exercising power to subdue others but mainly by supplying living water to satisfy the thirsty ones (Rev. 22:17).

“More numerous than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause;…” (Psalm 69:4)
“Then I said, Behold, I have come; In the scroll of the book It is written concerning Me.” (Psalm 40:7)

Psalm 69 and 40 are two excellent Psalms that show us Christ in His sufferings and Christ as the unique factor to enact God’s New Testament economy, or plan. When we look at Psalm 69 which was written by David and describes his sufferings in view of the New Testament, we can see clearly that David’s sufferings are a type or picture of the suffering Christ in the New Testament. As we review both Psalm 69 and 40 we realize that the suffering that Christ went through in His life and on the cross issued in enacting a new covenant, a new testament and producing a new creation!

“Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee before Him.” (Psalm 68:1)

Psalm 68 reveals Christ as the center of God’s move on the earth.  God’s move is typified by the Ark setting out from Mt. Sinai, traveling through the wilderness, and eventually to Mount Zion, God’s dwelling place.  In fulfillment of this type, God’s move began with Christ’s incarnation, continued through His human living with His crucifixion and resurrection, and concluded with Christ’s ascension to Zion in the heavens and the establishing of the church.

“My heart overflows with a good matter; I speak what I have composed concerning the King…” (Psalm 45:1)
“…Her garment is a woven work inwrought with gold” (Psalm 45:13b)
“She will be led to the King in embroidered clothing;…” (Psalm 45:14a)

An overview of the church in Los Angeles’ study of Psalm 45 in Fall 2011. Psalm 45 is a praise to Christ the King, who is typified by Solomon. It is a song of love describing the virtue of Christ and His bride who is clothed with Christ as her righteousness. This lovely psalm, written on the occasion of a literal wedding, gives us insight in the coming wedding, the true royal wedding, between Christ and His bride. May all the believers in Christ be prepared for that coming wedding day!

“Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1)

Psalm 23 concerns Christ as the Shepherd in His resurrection.  The resurrected Christ is the Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) and the church produced by Christ’s resurrection is His flock (1 Pet. 5:2). Under His all-inclusive, tender care, “I will lack nothing.”

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1a)
“I will declare Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You” (Psalm 22:22)

The subject of Psalm 22 is the Christ who has passed through His redeeming death and entered into His church-producing resurrection.  Psalm 22:1-21 gives a detailed picture of Christ in His suffering of death as typified by David in his suffering, but verses 22-31 refer to Christ in His resurrection, as typified by Solomon in his kingly reign.

“O Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)

Psalm 8 is an inspired praise on the excellency of Christ.  This psalm speaks of the Lord’s incarnation, human living, death, resurrection, ascension, the Body of Christ, His coming back, and His kingdom.  Psalm 8 shows that God’s purpose and plan for man to express Him with His image and to represent Him has never changed.  Even though the first man, Adam, failed to accomplish God’s purpose for man, a second man, Jesus, has come to fulfill God’s purpose.