Posted on

The Testimony of the Psalms (VIII)

Introduction

The Lord Jesus Christ is the all-powerful King as well as the accredited High Priest of God. The Psalmist saw this and prophesied that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, would be the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Christ´s priestly office as prophesied by Psalms is discussed in this piece of writing.

The Priesthood of Christ

A High Priest is the one ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices (Heb 8:3) to God, for himself and for the people (Heb 9:7). Christ is the perfect High Priest, so He did not need to offer a sacrifice of sin for Himself (Heb 7:26). He is not a High Priest in the temples made by hands of men. He is one in the heavenly tabernacle which God Himself is the builder (Heb 8:1-5).

Christ was appointed high priest (Heb 3:1) by an oath as David puts it “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psa 110:4). In Paul´s contestation, unlike the other high priests, Christ was not made a high priest without an oath. Not an oath that is sworn by humans but by He who swore unto the Christ and said to Him without ever changing His mind, that He is a Priest forever after the order or manner of Melchizedek (Heb 7:20-21).

In the Law, Melchizedek was the king of Salem and the Priest of the Most High God (Gen 14:18). Paul explains that this man had no father or mother, no descent, he had no beginning of days nor end of life. And he adds that He was a very great man indeed (Heb 7:3-4). When the Psalmist prophesied that “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psa 110:4), he meant that the Priesthood and the Kingship of Christ shall be everlasting and that Christ shall be omnipotent. In his exposition on Melchizedek, Paul adds that this man was made like Christ, the Son of God, whose priesthood is forever (Heb 5:6, Heb 6:20, Heb 7:3).

Christ, the Prince of Peace

According to Scripture, Melchizedek, being the King of Salem, was by interpretation, the king of peace. He was also the king of Righteousness (Heb 7:2). Isaiah foresaw this very well when he also prophesied concerning the birth of Christ and said:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6).

In fact, Christ is our peace (Eph 2:14) and our peace disseminates or comes down from Him. There is no peace outside of Him. He says His peace He leaves with us, His peace He gives to us, not like the kind of peace the world gives, so our hearts should settle on Him and not be troubled or be afraid (Joh 14:27). Christ Jesus does all things to secure our peace. We should trust Him for peace in our spirits, peace in our souls, and peace in our mortal bodies.

Strength to the Wearied

Melchizedek offered to the wearied Abraham, bread and wine (Gen 14:18) which were to give him energy after warring with the king of Sodom (Gen 14:18-20). The Messiah knows when we are exhausted and fainting, and He shows up in time to give the needed strength and nourishment. Though Abraham had a booty, none of those were so satisfying and fulfilling as the heavenly meal given by the eternal high priest. Jesus mentioned it to the Jews that He lived before Abraham, and that Abraham saw it and was glad to see His day (Joh 8:56-58). This meal is similar to the Eucharistic meal Jesus gives to the church. The church derives spiritual nourishment through this meal, so all believers need to participate, to receive the strength from God.

Conclusion

 The priesthood of Christ is eternal and is in the order of Melchizedek as detailed in Psalms. Psalms testifies of the deity of Christ as Christ Himself tells it. Christ is the High Priest of God, He is the Prince of Peace, and the Sustainer of the wearied.

Prayer: The Prince of Peace and the eternal God, show us the way of peace and lead us to the eternal King, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Posted on

The Testimony of the Psalms (VII)

Introduction

This piece of writing continues the discussion on the testimonies or prophecies about Christ Jesus in the book of Psalms. Here the reference to Jesus as David is discussed.

My servant David

“Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.  The enemy shall not exact upon him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also, I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven” (Psa 89:19-29).

Christians oftentimes refer to the character in the above passage as David. That is what it literally means, but God was speaking about the Messiah through His servant David. Here, Jesus, being the son of David (Mat 1:1, Mat 9:27, Mat 12:23, etc), is Himself referred to as David. It is recorded that because the shepherds of God in Israel were not caring properly for the flock of God, God promised to restore His servant David as a Shepherd and a King over them (Eze 34:21-24, Eze 37:23-27). It cannot be said that David was to reincarnate to shepherd the people of God. God was prophetically speaking of Jesus Christ who would come in the spirit, wisdom and the anointing of David. God says He has found His servant and has anointed him with his holy oil.

According to scriptures, anointing David with holy anointing oil has to do with the anointing of God upon the Messiah. Because the Messiah hates wickedness and loves righteousness, God has anointed Him with the oil of gladness above His peers (Psa 45:7). The Apostles testify to the extent of God´s anointing upon His Son when they wrote that God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power (Acts 10:38).

The First Born

When God mentioned “my servant David”. He added that He will also make him His “firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth” as indicated above. Apart from Jesus being the firstborn to her mother, Mary, He is referred to as firstborn of every creature (Col 1:15). This does not mean that He was created, but that He has preeminence over God´s creation. Christ has again been called the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:28), and the firstborn from the dead Col 1:18). That is, the first person to be raised from the dead who never died again.

Conclusion

The Author of Psalms 89 prophesied about the Son of God who was to come to save the world from the power of sin and death. The passage does not refer to King David but the Savior of the world, the Christ. The Psalms, therefore, testifies of Christ.

Prayer: Our father Lord, help us each time we study your word and cause us to understand it as you would have us understand it. In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord. AMEN!