The Messianic Psalms are also famous for their vivid prophecies relating to the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, glorification, return and eternal reign of Jesus Christ, the LORD’s Anointed. Basically, there is a Messianic Psalm-reference for every phase of the Lord’s existence from eternity to eternity. The chart at the conclusion of this article will attempt to tabulate these messianic events as presented in the Psalms.

But first the twofold purpose of the Messianic Psalms will be examined, followed by some typical comments on Psalm 2 where we find the first specific reference to the LORD’s Anointed.

Identifying the Messianic Psalms serves two purposes: to prove that Jesus Christ of the New Testament is the LORD’s Anointed of the Old; and to encourage believers to praise their Messiah.

The most hotly disputed issues regarding Jesus of Nazareth are His Deity and His Resurrection. All heresies are immediately identifiable by their denial of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. They also deny His resurrection either directly or by implication. The fulfillment of the Messianic Psalms’ prophecies is therefore undeniable proof that Jesus is indeed the LORD’s Anointed. This means that events like the praises of “Palm Sunday” and the cleansing of the temple, were divine testimonies that this was indeed great David’s greater Son.

Even the scourging and crucifixion were proofs that this was the LORD’s Anointed. The Jews could not understand the death of the Christ because it contradicted their theology. As the Christ must be indisputably righteous, it was supposed impossible that God should abandon Him (Ps. 22:1). Yet the Lord’s cry on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1) was proof that Jehovah ever remained His God! In repeating David’s words, the Christ was also proving Himself innocent.

When Jesus said to the Pharisees and Scribes, “Yea; have ye never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise’?” (Mt. 21:16), He was quoting Psalm 8:2. This Messianic Psalm relates to Christ in His eternal priesthood, where all the frankincense (Lev. 2:16) was added to the offerings. The frankincense, which symbolizes the devotional perfections of the offering, means that Christ as Priest fills up the measure of our human limitations in praise and worship.

Therefore, the purpose of knowing the Messianic Psalms is not to chant them as if we were proselytes under the Law, but to provide abundant material for spontaneous thanksgiving. Those who gather at the Table of the Lord, should remember that Christ Himself, at the same table, quoted Psalm 41:9 in His identification of Judas (Jn. 13:18), and Psalm 69:4 when He said, “They hated Me without a cause” (Jn. 15:25).

Psalm 2:7 is quoted three times in the New Testament: “Thou art My Son: this day have I begotten Thee” (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5). The Holy Spirit takes great pains to show that it applies exclusively to the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He also uses it to prove the Lord’s resurrection and His deity.

Psalm 2 describes the rejection of the Lord Jesus and His subsequent triumph over all His enemies. He not only has the moral right to reign, but also qualifies by the terms of “if a son, then an heir” (Gal. 4:7), “He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under His feet” (1 Cor. 15:25).

Rulers Against The King
The rulers of this world are united in their resolve not to acknowledge this King nor to bow the knee in obedience to Him. They counsel together to maintain their power. While they detest one another, they co-ordinate their efforts against the enemy of their despotic evil.

This proves that they are aware of the Lord’s promise and are deliberately opposed to it. This was initially fulfilled when Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the people, crucified the LORD’s Anointed: “The same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves” (Lk. 23:12).

The Psalm moves on beyond that point to reveal that the One rejected on earth is now enthroned in Heaven. Furthermore, He will receive the kingdom of His father David, but even so He must yet reign over a world unknown to the son of Jesse.

Since the Lord Jesus was born King of the Jews, He has the right to rule from birth. However, the promise that He would sit on the throne of His human father David was never fulfilled in His lifetime. Likewise the promise of “the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8) proves that the final fulfillment of the prophecy remains outstanding.

All this is rejected by those who deny that Jesus is the Son of God. And the claim that He is “the LORD’s Anointed” is challenged fiercely by the Jew and Gentile world-powers. Thus the psalmist affirms that “the people imagine a vain thing” (Ps. 2:1). The divine decree stands immutable and God’s King will triumph and reign invincibly over all the nations.

Divine Wrath
Humor is a strange phenomenon and probably did not exist till the advent of sin. The preposterous effects of the Fall can provoke laughter. But humor gives way to wrath when those making God laugh seek to topple Christ and rob Him of His inheritance. In Psalm 2:4, He first “laughs at,” then “derides,” then shows “His wrath” at the refusal of the rulers to acknowledge His King and bow in obedience to Him.

The irony of Man’s folly is that God has already crowned His King who sits enthroned in heaven: the world rulers are forever too late. The King has been promised invincible power by immutable decree: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee” (Ps. 2:7). This decree is repeated again in the New Testament (Heb. 1:5). The time for opposition is past but there is still time to submit to the Son and live.

Dispensational Application
In later times the world powers will conspire to thwart God’s promise regarding His Son. Implacable opposites will again unite in a marriage of convenience to resist the prophecy. But it will be like the unmixable clay-and-iron compound in the feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image (Dan. 2:1). Politics and religion will form an unholy alliance against the coming of the Son of Man to resist His claim of rightful inheritance.

David presents this politico-religious confederacy as an insane marriage of convenience which will come to grief. For Psalm 2:6-9 reveals that God has already crowned His King with glory and honor in heavenly Zion. The Lord’s enemies are forever too late, for Him whom their fathers crucified is alive from the dead and enthroned with His Father in heaven. He who already reigns over the angels (1 Pet. 3:22) will yet put all His earthly enemies under His feet, for He must reign (1 Cor. 15:25).

Indeed, what happened two thousand years ago will yet be seen on a more projected scale when Daniel’s 70th Week is fulfilled in the clay-and-iron fifth world empire. Psalm 2 only touches the perimeter of the Church era before leaping forward 2000 years to events beyond the “coming in the clouds” of the Son of God (Mt. 24:30). Thereafter, it anticipates the public vindication of the Son of Man. And so, when the Son and Heir is seen upon His throne of glory (Mt. 25:31), the rebels are urged to “kiss the Son” (Ps. 2:12) as their only hope of salvation.

May these few comments about Psalm 2 whet your appetite to examine the remaining Messianic Psalms on your own. The following chart is provided to help.

By Tom Summerhill