Monday, March 26, 2012

Psalm 22 - A Prophecy of the Cross of Christ

Psalm 22 is one of the two texts in the Old Testament that I consider most clearly Messianic. The other one is found in Isaiah 53. It is great that in our study through the psalms this is scheduled to be preached right at the beginning of the Passion week!

What makes this psalm so amazing is the fact that even though it was written about 1000 years before Christ, it reads “as if it were actually recorded at the foot of the cross.” It is clearly prophetic (see 2 Peter 1:19-21) since there aren’t any events in the life of David that correspond to this event.

MAIN IDEA : The Son of God will be forsaken by God and put to death, yet he remains fully confident in the faithfulness of God to deliver Him, and praises God for the nations who will come to worship from the ends of the earth.

Notice the use of Psalm 22 in Matthew (from ESV Study Bible):

Ps. 22:18

They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.

Matt. 27:35

Ps. 22:7

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads.

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads.

Matt. 27:39

Ps. 22:8

“He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, “I am the Son of God.”

Matt. 27:43

Ps. 22:1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Matt. 27:46

OUTLINE (ESV):

Ps. 22:1–2 Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Ps. 22:3–5 Yet the Lord Has Been Our Trust.

Ps. 22:6–8 Yet I Am Derided.

Ps. 22:9–11 But the Lord Has Cared for Me All My Life.

Ps. 22:12–18 I Am Surrounded by Enemies.

Ps. 22:19–21 Save Me as You Have Done Before!

Ps. 22:22–31 Praise Will Result: From Me, From Israel, From All Nations. The song closes with confidence that when God answers the prayer, the singer will be vindicated and will again be able to join with God’s people in worship.

ISSUES for DISCUSSION

1) Why do you think that this psalm should be classified as Messianic?

2) How do you react when you feel forsaken by God?

3) How is your understanding of Old Testament enhanced by the study of this psalm?

4) Is there anything in this prayer/psalm that can help enhance your prayer life? What?

5) Does this psalm help you understand better Jesus’ cry on the cross (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

”One Almighty is more than all mighties.William Gurnall

Psalm 19 was a breath of fresh air and I learned much, especially to humble myself, confess my sins, and appeal for power to God as my Rock and Redeemer.

While psalm 19 is fairly well known, I must confess that I cannot remember anyone ever preaching from psalms 20 and 21. By God’s grace, I am preparing to preach from psalm 20 on Sunday, skip psalm 21 (they are both royal psalms), and then preach from Psalm 22 (a Messianic psalm) on the Sunday before Good Friday. Then the plan is to preach from Psalm 23 after Resurrection Sunday.

Since I have not had the chance to do an in-depth study of this psalm yet, this outline relies again on Steven Lawson.

For comparison, Kraus has the following title: Prayer for the King. Craigie has A King’s Departure for Battle. My title is from Lawson, but it will most likely change by Sunday!

MAIN IDEA: David describes the prayer for military victory offered for him by the people before he leads the armies of Israel into battle.

TEACHING OUTLINE:

A. The Petitions for the King (1-5)

1. For God’s protection (1)

2. For God’s power (2)

3. For God’s prosperity (3-5)

B. The Prayer of the King (6-8)

1. God saves the king (6)

2. God secures victory (7-8)

C. The Pleadings for the King (9)

1. SAVE the king (9a)

2. Answer our prayers (9b)

QUESTIONS:

1. How is psalm 20 relevant for the church and for the individual Christian?

2. What are our battles and how should we prepare for them?

3. Do you see any connections between this psalm and 1 Tim 2:1-4.

4. Since we are approaching Palm Sunday, do you see any relationship/contrast between this psalm and Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem?

Please note that the questions are preliminary. Please send me any other questions or ideas that may help with the teaching of this psalm!

Many blessings and joy,

Pastor Cristian

Monday, March 5, 2012

PSALM 19: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

The excitement of studying and meditating on the Psalter continues with psalm 19. Thank you for your prayers and support!

I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God. ~ Abraham Lincoln

The starry sky above me and the moral law in me…are the two things which fill the soul with ever and new increasing admiration and reverence. ~ Immanual Kant

This psalm is both a hymn of praise and a petition. It can also be classified as a wisdom psalm (and it is by many scholars) and as a Torah psalm (see the second part of the psalm and compare it with psalms 1 and 119). Waltke titles it: A Royal Sage Praises and Petitions I AM (YHWH).

Here are some notes from his outline:

I. Firmament’s Praise of God’s Glory and Knowledge (1-6)

A. Temporal and Spatial Universality of Its Inaudible Praise (1-4)

B. Sun’s Universal Testimony (5-6)

II. Psalmist’s Praise of I AM’s [the LORD’s] Torah (7-10)

III. Psalmist’s Petition for Salvation (12-13)

A. Pardon for Hidden Guilt (11-12)

B. Preserve from Guilt of Apostasy (13)

Epilogue: Dedicatory Prayer (14)

Here are some relevant questions:

1. Do you meditate on all that God has done to reveal Himself?

2. Do you use God’s Word as a source of restoration between God and yourself?

3. Do you long and desire for God’s Word?

4. What are some ‘rewards’ that you received from following God’s Word?

Enjoy studying and meditating the psalms, and please send any questions you may have about this passage or just write them in the comments for this blog. Thank you!

Many blessings and joy!

Teaching Pastor,

Cristian