What if I were to tell you that I could predict accurately the lifestyle and work of your great, great, great, great, grandson who would be born many years into the future? First you would say that I was some kind of a religious radical. Then you would tell me there is no way to verify what I say. The fact is there would be no way to verify my prediction until the time came that it should be fulfilled. That is exactly the case of the trilogy in these Psalms.
We have the advantage of being in the time that such predictions that come true. Not only can we look at these Psalms, but we can see the remarkable similarity between what was written many, many years ago and what happened later in the life of Christ. Let us go on record that no one else fulfilled these prophecies. No one in history has been able by being born in a manger, die on the cross, be resurrected, and ascend to heaven. Here we had the most profound words spoken considerably before Jesus was born.
We will focus first on the panorama of these three Psalms. He is called the Good Shepherd in Psalm 22.(John 10:11) He is called the Great Shepherd caring for his sheep in 23. (Hebrews 13: 20,21) He is called the Chief Shepherd in 24 appearing as King of Glory. (1 Peter 5:4)
Psalm 22 presents a picture of the Roman crucifixion. Realize how accurate this is in relationship to Jesus. It shows his bones are out of joint. He experienced profuse perspiration. The action of his heart was greatly affected. He had extreme exhaustion and thirst. His hands and feet were pierced. Hanging on the cross he had partial nudity to hurt his modesty. Furthermore, in the same Psalm accompanying the circumstances we see that Jesus shared a desolate cry. There were periods of light and darkness. He was mocked by his spectators. They cast lots for his garments. He cried out, “Why art thou so far from helping me?” Then there is in verse 22 the point of his resurrection.
Psalm 23 shares the image of the resurrected Shepherd’s care. He provided no better care, understanding or compassion than being the One already known to problems. Yet he was victorious over death. He was given what his own sheep needed, which was water and restoration along the path of righteousness as he himself traveled from pasture to pasture for those who went astray from his leading. This Psalm reminds us that God did not say evil will not happen but that if it did, his rod and staff would comfort us. These were used to retrieve the lamb who fell off a cliff or beat off a wild animal with his rod. Verse five pictures the shepherd’s cutting off the branches of bushes for food during poor grazing time to satisfy what we might need. The oil that Shepherd provided was if the sun or a thorn caused injury. The cup of water was available for sheep because they do not drink out of rushing water. At hard times sheep were brought to live in the house of the Shepherd.
Psalm 24 concludes this trilogy of prophecy by discussing the divine right of the Chief Shepherd. In other words, the Old Testament and New Testament coordinate themselves to point to Christ.(1 Corinthians 10:26) We have the declaration of Christ’s right to rule on the earth because of his worthiness. These three Psalms declare the divinity and the manhood of Jesus Christ who took our place in every step of the way. He was the humbled one attacked by gruesome threats and mocking. He was the Lord who did not exert his authority allowing himself to experience the torture in our behalf for sin. His cries of agony should have been ours had he not died on the cross. Thank God that he sent his Son for our needs. Again, we thank God that the Psalms does not end at the point of these mutilations. There is a declaration of his divine right, of his worthiness to rule, and the exultation that is due to him.
Christian Writer 