Lecture 2
Messianic Psalms
I. Types and Prophecy
A. Prophets foretold the Advent of Messiah
1. Prophets knew they were predicting death and glory of coming of Messiah who
would introduce a new age. 1 Pet. 1:10
2. David a prophet. Acts 1:29-30
B. Types foreshadow the Advent of Messiah
1. An historical person, event or situation divinely intended to represent a greater
person, even or situation. See Numbers 22.
Balaam and Donkey Balak (king)and Balaam (prophet)
Donkey, not Balaam, sees angel Balaam, not Balak, sees future (24:3)
Donkey sees 3 times Balaam sees 3 times
Each time more painful to Balaam Each prophecy more painful to Balak
Balaam angry 3rd time Balak angry 3rd time (24:10)
I AM opens donkey’s mouth I AM opens Balaam’s mouth (22:38)
2. Within salvation history striking similarities exist between persons, events and
situations and Jesus Christ and his church: Israel a slave in Egypt under Pharaoh,
Judgment on land; Passover Lamb; Wind and Baptism in Sea; Food and Water in
Wilderness; Jordan; Promised Land. // Slaves of sin and seath in a World under
Satan; World under God’s Wrath; Christ the Passover (sacrifice and supper);
Spirit and Baptism into Christ; Lord’s supper in Wilderness; Radical separation
between wilderness and land of rest (already and not yet).
3. Christ and his apostles understood from their historical perspective that the divine
Author intentionally foreshadowed Christ and his Church by these types. 1 Cor
10:
4. Human authors from their historical perspective unaware of the divine Author’s
intention.
5. Israel’s cultus, including her sacred king, is earthly type of Christ and the church.
II. The term “Messiah” (Heb. hammeshiach)
A. Derives from Term “Anoint”/ “Anointed”
1
1. Meshiach derives from the root mashach: “to paint, smear, sprinkle, daub” >
“anoint” (Psalms 45:7; 89:20).
2. Prophets designated the king by anointing.
3. God’s Spirit comes upon the “anointed” (meshiach/; 1 Sam 2:35; 84:10; Ps
132:17; passim) to qualify and equip him for the task (1 Sam. 10:6; 16:13; Isa.
61:1-3).
4. His anointing with sacred oil designates and appoints king publicly for divine
status with divine authority (1 Sam. 10:1; 15:1, 17; 16:1-13; 2 Sam. 2:4, 7; 5:3,
17) and consecrates him as God's property (Exodus 29:7; 40:9-11; Lev. 8:10-11;
Num. 7:10-11), entailing his invincibility and divine protection (see Psalm 2:2, 1
Sam. 24:6-11; 26:9-24; Ps. 2:10-12; Ps 105:15; Lev. 10:1-2).
B. Development of Concept of “Messiah” in the Old Testament
1. Rooted in the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:16).
2. By anointing king becomes “a son of God,” a superhuman figure.
He is filled with superhuman power and wisdom. Endowed with righteousness (i.e.,
with ability to rule justly), he defends the people and relieves the oppressed (Ps.
21:9ff); he is the people's source of strength and life (Lam 4:20; 2 Sam 21:7; Hos
3:4; Ps 72:6, 16).
King represents God to the people; people in corporate solidarity with king.
3. In the prophets
Foresaw a future king who would rule Israel and the world in the last days.1 Cf. Isa
7:14; Micah 5:2-6; Isaiah 42:1-7; 49:1-6; 50:411; 52:13-53:12;
4. In royal psalms during first temple period
a. Some contain ideals that surpass historic reality and so pregnant with
Messianic expectations. These psalms bestowed on historic kings in hope of
the fulfillment of the ideal king. The “anointed” rules to the ends of the earth
(2:7-8) and as long as the sun and moon endures (Ps. 72:5). Israel salutes this
king who is his sovereign and who sits at God's right hand (Ps. 110:1).
b. Royal ideal not due to Hofstil (see Gunkel) but to David covenant.
c. Penitential psalms contain elements that are less than ideal.
1
Some have been troubled by God’s judgment on Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. Regarding that king Yhwh swears, “even if you . . .
were a signet ring [i.e., a representation of the owner] on my right hand I would still pull you off [i.e. revoke the Davidic covenant in
your case] (Jer. 22:24). As for Jehoiakin’s children I AM prophecies, not swears, “Record this man as if childless, . . . for none of his
offspring will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah,” yet Jeconiah (i.e., Jehoiakin) is in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Jer.
22:30). I AM in keeping with his character to change his prophecies according to the righteousness or unrighteousness of a person (see
chaper 28), graciously reversed this judgment. He offered to make his servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel son of Jehoiakin his signet
ring (Hag. 2:23), but this did not take place until Jesus (Matt. 1:12).
2
5. In royal psalms during second temple period.
a. No historic king fulfilled these expectations and in exile Israel had no king.
b. Royal Psalms became a prophetic hope (see editing of Psalter)
Psalms are now pregnant with prophecy and type. Satan understood Psalm
91, a psalm of confidence, as referring to Messiah and Jesus did not correct
him. Moreover, the so-called enthronement psalms in Book IV must refer in
the context of the Psalter’s editing to Messiah. I AM reigns at the ends of the
ages in Messiah, not apart from a human agent. In Book V exemplary David
finds his fulfillment in Messiah. “The theology of kingship and divine power
had to be re-examined in the light of the historical events. Psalm 21 needed
to be interpreted eschatologically. The Anointed One began to be viewed as
the Messiah at the end of time.”2
c. Psalms edited with Messianic hope in mind. Seams of the Psalter feature the
king: Book I: Introduction: coronation (Ps. 2), followed by David’s petitions
and praises. Book II: ends with multiple petitions for the king (Ps. 72); Book
III a dark book, ends with failure of Davidic covenant (Psalm 89); Book IV:
Go back to Moses (Ps. 90 + 7x), O God our help in ages past (before
kingship); collected in the exile (Psalm 106). Book V: Israel redeemed from
Exile (107). David now the model and prophecies of Messiah’s reign
(Psalm 110).
d. Haggai and Zechariah (520) fueled the prophetic expectation of the hoped
for king by applying it to Zerubbabel, son of David, and to Joshua, the high
priest. When this hope fell through, Israel pinned its hope on a future
Messiah.
4. Messiah in Later Judaism
a. Terms hammashiah “the anointed” and meshiha’ in Aramaic > Christos (Greek) for the
eschatological king originates in later Jewish literature.
b. Apocalyptic literature i
1.) Introduction: Several features characterize apocalyptic literature: (1) It focuses on the end of
the ages. (2) Its method of revelation is dynamic (i.e., through an angelic interpreter; don’t tell
anyone but keep the message among the wise that judgment is coming on the wicked). 3) It
presents several dualisms. a.) Society is divided between the wicked and the righteous; b.) time is
divided between the present situation and the age to come; c.) and the cosmos is divided between
heaven and the world. I AM and/or the Messiah as the Divine Warrior will restore the Land as
Israel’s promised inheritance, and this action will either inaugurate or accompany the new and
final age. 4.) It is addressed to the oppressed as a means of resolving Israel’s stark, political
realities with the promise of blessing in the Land. 5) It uses bizarre and/or cosmic images, not the
terms of plain history. In this imagery the blessings in the new age are expressed in greater and
more cosmic dimensions.
2
Samuel Terrien, The Psalms: Strophic Structure and Theological Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan/Cambridge, U.K.: William
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003), p. 223.
3
In this literature the righteous future kingdom of heaven under Messiah is seen as imminently
breaking into the evil kingdoms of earth. Here the Messiah becomes strikingly profiled as Israel's
coming king who ushers in the righteous kingdom of God at the end of the ages.
2.) 1 Enoch: central figure is “the Son of man” (cf. Dan. 7:9-14), referred to in 1 Enoch 46:1-3;
the chosen One (cf. Isa 42:1) or the Righteous One (38:2), and the “Anointed One” (52:6).
This heavenly figure, who is regarded as having been with God from the beginning (48:3, 6)
and remains in God’s presence, reveals all things to the elect, is the judge of he world, and
the champion of righteousness, who destroys the enemies of the righteous.
3.) Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch refers “my Anointed” (39:7; 40:1; 72:2), “my servant, the
Anointed One” (70:9), and “the Anointed One” (29:3; 30:1) to a royal figure introducing a
limited period of time of complete bliss and incorruptibility. “That time marks the end of
what is corruptible and beginning of what in incorruptible” (74:2). The Messiah will reign
over the remnant of God’s people in the place God has chosen (40:2): “His kingdom will
stand forever, until this work of corruption come an end and the time appointed are fulfilled”
(40:3). When the Messiah’s presence on earth has come to an end, he will return in glory,
and general resurrection will follow.
4.) 4 Ezra (= 2 Esdras) the divine agent who finally ushers in after his death the new aeon of
incorruptibility, bringing with it resurrection and judgment (7:30-44), is called “my/the
Anointed One.” In another vision he is likened to a lion, “The Anointed One whom the
Most High has kept back to the end of days, who will spring from the seed of David.”
c. Other Second Temple Jewish literature (200 B.C.-100 A.D.).3
1.) Ben-Sirach is clearly interested in God’s promises concerning the (high) priesthood in the line
of Aaron. He does not neglect God’s promises to David, but they do not seem to be relevant.
2.) 1 Maccabees to legitimize the Hasmonean’s leadership in cultic and political matters as high
priests and princes. The Jews and their priests make Simon their leader (hegoumenos) and
high priest forever (vv. 14:35, 41; vv 42 47), and “commander” (strategos) and v. 47
“ethnarch”). This arrangement will last “until a trustworthy prophet should arise” (v. 41).
3.) 2 Maccabees features the intrigues to replace Onias, son of Simon, and his murder. He is
clearly thought to be with God in heaven.
4.) Book of Jubilees features Jacob’s blessing of Levi and Judah in 31:13-17 and 18-20
respectively. This passage emphasizes the functions to be exercised by the two patriarchs and
their descendants on behalf of Israel. Of Judah it is said: “A prince shall you be, you and
one of your sons.” Not only the patriarch and tribe are in view but also David and/or a future
ideal Davidic king.
5.) Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs achieved its final shape in the hands of Christians and
isolating the earlier traditions upon which it is based remains a hazardous undertaking.
6.) Qumran community was a priestly sect led by Zadokite priests. Under the leadership of their
“Teacher of Righteousness” they separated from the Jerusalem temple and the Hasmonean
priesthood officiating there. The people at Qumran looked forward to the time when the
meaning of the Law would be fully clear and when God would be obeyed completely. Then
a duly appointed high priest and a Davidic prince would discharge their respective functions
properly. When God brings about this decisive turn of events, the final battle against the
demonic forces and human enemies would be won.
3
Ibid, pp. 781-783.
4
7.) Psalms of Solomon (50-40 B.C.), were clearly opposed to the Hasmoneans, who had not
discharged their priestly duties properly and had usurped the high priesthood (8:11) as well
as royal authority (17:5-6). They anticipate God’s deliverance through a Davidic king (e.g.
Ps. Sol. 17:21): “Behold, Lord, rule over Israel your servant.” This king will rule as God’s
representative forever and ever and will free Israel from its enemies, the people in the
dispersion will return, and the nations will serve God. The king will serve the Lord as the
ideal pious, obedient, and wise man. In 17:32 and 18:5, 7 he is called “The Anointed” and in
18:7 “the anointed of the LORD.”
C. Messiah and the New Testament
1. Jesus of Nazareth Identified as Messiah
Jesus of Nazareth and his apostles identified the Lord Jesus of Nazareth as the
eschatological Messiah, combining in his one person the three anointed
representatives of God: prophet, priest and king. With his death, resurrection and
ascension, the temple and its priesthood cease. Jesus is son of David, a Priest-King
like Melchizedek and the prophet to come like Moses. In fact, he is greater than
Moses because Jesus is identified with I AM.
2. Jesus is S/son of God in three ways:
a. as son of David (Matthew)
b. by Holy Spirit and virgin birth (Luke)
c. by being of one substance with the Father (John)
3. Regards old covenant cultus as type of new covenant cultus.
Of the 283 direct quotes from the Old Testament in the New Testament 116 (41%)
are from the Psalter. Jesus Christ alluded to the Psalms over 50 times (see Lk 24:44).
Whereas the type “son” and “king” in OT are written in lower case, in the NT they
are written Son and King in upper case.
The anointed’s fervor (Ps. 69:9) typifies the Anointed’s (John 2:17). The
authoritative teaching of the psalmist presages the authoritative teaching of Jesus
Christ: (cf. Ps. 37:11 with Mt 5:5; Ps. 48:2 with Mt 5:36; Ps. 78:2 with Mt 13:35; Ps.
78:24 with Jn 6:31; Ps. 82:6 with Jn. 10:34). The glory of the anointed king in the
Old Testament becomes the glory of the Anointed King in the New Testament (cf.
Ps. 2:6 [7] with Acts 4:25-28; Ps. 8: with Heb 2:5-10 and 1 Cor 15:27; Ps. 16:9 with
Acts 2:25-31; Ps. 18:49 [50] with Rom 15:9; Ps 22:22 [23] with Heb 2:10-12; Ps.
45:6[7] with Heb 1:8-9; 110:1 with Mt. 22:44; 110:3 with Heb 1:5; 5:5; 118:22-23
with Mt. 21:42.
4. Realized eschatology:
OT types and prophecies now fulfilled in Jesus Christ (cf. Matt 28:18-20; John
5
17:2) and will be consummated at his Second Coming (cf. 1 Cor. 15:23-28).
The specific predictions of some Psalms that find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ
combined with the use of the Psalter in the New Testament suggest that the
entire Psalter pertains to Jesus Christ and his Church.
5. NT radically transforms carnal types and prophecies to present spiritual
fulfillment and future beyond-understanding-eschaton.
a. No longer a superhuman figure, but a unique Son of God.
b. Came not to satisfy Israel’s cravings for a national, political and even
military Jewish restoration, but to transform radically the spiritual temper of
the nation by repentance from confidence on both their corrupt priesthood
and temple and also their self-righteousness—that is to say, to repentance of
sin and trust him in Jesus.
c. his difference between the people’s understanding of Messiah differed so
radically from Jesus’ understanding that Jesus used the title “Messiah” least,
preferring instead the title “Son of Man” in order to avoid confusion. 4
4. Kinds of Messianic Psalms:
1). Indirect and typical
Some of the psalms cited above are so indirectly typical that the New Testament
use of them strongly suggests that all the psalms are a type of Christ. For
example, psalms that indirectly speak of Christ include: "my soul is troubled"
(Ps 6:3 [4]), "into your hands I commit my spirit" (31:5 [6]), "they hated me
without reason" (35:19), and "my soul is downcast" (42:6). Kidner says: "But a
closer look at the way these psalms are handled will suggest that they are
regarded as samples of a much larger corpus. It would scarcely seem too much
to infer from this treatment that wherever David or the Davidic king appears in
the Psalter ..., he foreshadows to some degree the Messiah."5 As noted, Of
course, the anti-type must be greater the type in order for history to advance.
Moreover, whereas the type is the son of God as the heir of the Davidic covenant
(cf. Jn 1:49), Christ is additionally the Son of God by virgin birth (Lk 1:34f/)
and by his pre-incarnate glory with the Father (John 17).
2.). Typico-prophetic
David's sufferings and glory typifies Jesus Christ but sometimes his language
transcends his own experience and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ (e.g.
Psalms 2, 22). Psalms of this category include: you will not allow your holy one
to see corruption” (Ps. 16:10); "they divided my garments among them and cast
lots for my clothing" (22:18); "he protects all of his bones, not one of them will
4
Christopher J. H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (Downer’s Grove: InterVaristy, 1992), 145.
5
Kidner, Psalms 1-72, pp. 23f.
6
be broken." Unfortunately, under the impact of historical Biblical criticism,
academics restrict the prophetic gift to the dictum of vaticinium ex eventu and so
undermine the New Testament apologetic (see pp. 000).
3.) Prophetic?
Some think that Psalm 110 predicts exclusively David’s greater Son for he is
greater than David (see Mt. 22:41-46) and envisions the king as seated at God’s
right hand. Ehrlich argues: "from the OT point of view it was wholly
unthinkable, even in metaphor, to describe a mortal as seated on Yahweh's right
hand" (tr. mine).6 Our exegesis, however, leads to the conclusion that it too is
typical-prophetic.
4.) Enthronement (Psalms 93, 95-99) and Other Psalms
As for the Enthronement psalms, they find their fulfillment in the Church and
their consummation in the coming reign of Jesus Christ in the new heaven and
the new earth. As for other psalms, the New Testament identifies the everlasting
Creator with Jesus Christ (cf. Ps 102:25-27 [26-28] with Heb. 1:10-12). The
apostles did not hesitate to the use the Psalter with reference to today (cf. Ps
34:12-16 with 1 Pet 3:10-12; 55:22 [23] with 1 Pet 5:7; 90:4 with 2 Pet 3:8; 4:4
[5] with Eph 4:26; 112:9 with 2 Cor 9:9; 116:10 with 2 Cor 4:13; 24:1 with 1
Cor 10:26; 146:6 with Acts 4:24).
6
Ehrlich, A. B., Die Psalmen (Berlin: M. Poppelauer, 1905)
