Category Archives: Gospel in the Old Testament

Jesus in the Psalms – The Nations

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Well, this study started with Luke 2:32 where Simeon announced that Jesus would be a light of revelation to us Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Paul quotes this idea in Acts 26:23 in his trial before Festus. No, it does not come from Psalms, but is found in Isaiah 42:6, which is heavy on prophecy. I wanted to see how the Holy Spirit directed the prophets who Psalms to include us Gentiles coming to Jesus. So, I started a search with the word Gentiles in the Book of Psalms. That did not go as planned but opened up a lot of things I did not expect.

Translations and Phrases

The translation you use will determine what word you use in your search, on-line or with leaf and ink. An example – the King James seems to have followed the Geneva 1599 Bible in calling us heathen instead of Gentiles or nations. In Psalms many verses, in Hebrew, use the word gō·w·yim, and that is not the only word that is translated nation. A beauty of our God is the poetry and imaginative language He uses when speaking through His prophets and song writers. Between our God’s creativity and translators doing their job I only scratched the surface of all the verses in Psalms that have or show nations and how they relate to God. Here are several links that may help.

gō·w·yim

The reason for me using gō·w·yim as a point of reference is it appears in Psalm 2, 22, and 33, and they (in my opinion) all refer to nations coming to Jesus. Psalm 102:15 also mentions them coming to God. Now, this was not the only topic/idea that the Psalms have about nations relating with God and the future Jesus’ life and mission. There is a plethora of verses on God ruling and battling, and then the nations and peoples praising God. Israel as a nation is referred to many times and other nations and their gods also have several mentions.

Here is one example – Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. (KJV)

Initially, these posts were to be Christmas related. The Magi are the Gentile representation involved in the story. You will not find the term Magi in Psalms, instead think about kings and rulers as in Psalm 138:4 and 72:10-11. If you stretched real far in the other books of the Old Testament magic and magician might be grabbed, but that is very iffy. Since rocks can cry out, trees can clap their hands, and waves can roar; Psalm 97:6-8 can include the heavens proclaiming His righteousness and glory. These verses also suggest the angels were worshipping Him. Let’s include the star first mentioned by Balaam (Abraham’s seed, but not Jewish) in Numbers 24:17.

Time to vent my very active imagination. What else in the world joined the angels in singing that day when the Savior of all creation was born? Does Psalm 97 give other hints? Mary told Matthew and Luke what she knew and could see in Bethlehem. What about everywhere else; did the earth quake, volcanoes erupt, forests rustle, herds and flocks sing, clouds drop lightning bolts, and the seas make noisy waves? Alas, we may not find that out until Heaven, but I have to think a lot of praise happened that night for the birth of the Creator. Silent Night is a beautiful song, but I want to believe that there was a lot of rejoicing.  

A Few Observations

  • Psalm 2 is a Father writing to His Son.
  • Psalm 22 I call the Jesus Psalm.
  • Psalm 33:10 -15 is about the people He chose for His inheritance.
  • 22 +33 have a mention of food and provisions.
  • Many times, nations and peoples are in the same verse or Psalm.

My takeaway. For the most part, the Psalms were written before most of the historical books in the Bible and before the Prophets. Besides the Law, the Prophets had the Psalms to read and reflect on. There is so much about the life and ministry of Jesus nestled in these songs, but how the nations will be treated are a major theme from beginning to end. Psalms proclaim just part of the message, but their voice deserves to be heard with the Prophets.

Jesus in the Psalms – Death and Rising

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The life of Jesus in the Psalms was and is an unrolled scroll for all to see. In The Birth, I said I wanted to do the story from just the Psalms. I do intend to focus on Psalms, but this topic is intersecting with other post that are in the works and is just too important. No, I will not get all the references. An example of this is Paul’s Palē or struggles, this topic brought him problems from both the Jews and the Greeks. As I did a word search with “ris or rise and death or dead” something kept showing up that I did not expect, more on that later.

I believe the Holy Spirit used things in the life of David and the other psalmist to announce things that related to Christ. Yes, Moses to Ezra all wrote things that were for Jesus; you need to be careful not to think every line is prophesy. I read a line on tombs and thought it could be included, then I read it in context and knew it was not about Jesus.

In your studies, I suggest you read other translations and use a text analysis tool/reference.

The Psalms

16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (KJV) Paul uses this verse in Acts 13:35. Written by David.

22:16-18 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (KJV) This is where it describes gambling for the clothes. Written by David.

We know this relates to Roman practices, but forms of sticking people on pieces of wood had existed even before David. Here are two resources; yes, there are detractors about anything Jesus.

31:12
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. (KJV) Verse 13 has those enemies plotting to take his life. Written by David.

88:3-7 This section talks about “the pit and the dead”. Written by Heman, it is a song of the Sons of Korah.

Psalms 16,22,31, and 88 have more in common than the verses that I have cited. The last three cover friends leaving, insults, and people attacking.

89:45-48 Cut short his days and what man can save himself from the grave. Written by Ethan the Ezrahite-Ethan and Heman.

Some Other References

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Matthew 12 and Luke 11 are where Jesus compares Himself with Jonah.

Christians use the Red Sea, Exodus 14, crossing as an example of baptism, which is when we identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Elijah raised the widow’s son in 1 Kings 17.

Elisha is credited with two people coming back to life: the Shunammite woman’s son in 2 Kings 4, and a dead man in 2 Kings 13, Elisha was dead, it was his bones that held the power.

New Testament

In my post, Jesus Knew and Told the Disciples, I explored the times in the Gospels when Jesus is credited with prophesying His death. An aspect that I did not think about was the Jewish leaders heard about this also. Herod is quoted asking about John and the power he was hearing Jesus had, Matthew 14. Matthew 27:63 is the Jewish leaders talking to Pilate about posting a guard. It just seems that they understood about a Messiah-figure rising from the dead.   

Jesus also raised people from the dead: the widow’s son, Jarius’ daughter, Lazarus, Matthew 27:52 “holy people” came from tombs alive when Jesus died, and Himself.

Jesus Knew and Told the Disciples 

Jesus in the Psalms – His Birth

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The Law, Psalms, and the Prophets have references to Jesus. As Christians, we know this because He came to fulfill them, not end them. The fair-you-see in the Law, Psalms, and Prophets was also observed by many rabbis during the Exile. They developed many things (rules and synagogues) to compensate for no Temple to worship in, they wanted the Jewish God and faith to not be forgotten by their people in exile. But some leaders were sad-you-see because all they saw was the Law; they did not even like angels or supernatural things. Only the Law was important to them, not the warnings and directions of the prophets and the joyful lessons in the Psalms.

If your Bible has references and footnotes you will see First Testament references all over the pages. Our Book of Hebrews stresses the High Priesthood of Jesus, but I would love to have a transcript of Jesus talking to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and Philip’s explanation to the Ethiopian eunuch.   

In this series I will highlight from Psalms, just Psalms, verses that foretell aspects of Jesus’ life, ministry, and mission as seen in the Gospels and Acts. (My note-taking phase has overwhelmed me.) Like with my other studies, I want you opening your Bible, leaf and ink preferred and go Berean on me. So, I will include some whole verses, but not all of them. Will I get all of the references? Probably not, the sheer volume of them and how they show up in the chapters is making it very hard to organize.  

Mary the Prophet

Luke quotes, in Chapter 1:46-55, a teenage girl who has had a trip south from Nazareth to the hill country around Jerusalem. In that week-long trip, she was a bundle of fulfilled prophecy, had joy for Elizabeth, nervous thoughts about Joseph, and had Holy Spirit excitement bubbling in her as she thought about countless Scriptures that she was about to deliver. Mary knew her God and His words; she made reference to four different Psalms: 138, 111, 103, and 107. I think that song exploded from her with tears, shouts, and dancing. Her psalms were not numbered or divided into verses, but she knew them and their promises.

  • 138: 6 looks on the lowly. Written by David.
  • 111: 9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (KJV) Mary actually quote the last line in this verse. More on this verse later. Possibly written by David; I say that because of verse 111:1.
  • 103:17+18 generations and children. Written by David.
  • 107:9 satisfies

Zechariah the Prophet

This older priest was standing in the empty Holy of Holies burning incense. See Luke 1. If he was a Sadducee, he switched parties. Nine months later, when his son John was born, he gives a prophecy that includes references to five Psalms: 72, 111, 18, 105, and 106.

  • 72: 18
  • 111: 9 Zechariah quoted the first part of our numbered verse; “redemption”. This Psalm is acrostic; so, the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are divided in its ten verses. Verse 9 has three letters in it (by my count #17,18, and 19). We are used to seeing a verse per letter, like in Lamentations. Psalm 111:9 Hebrew Text Analysis Psalm 119 has 22 sections with 8 lines in each, I (personal project) rearranged it to 8 sections with 22 lines in each section.
  • 18: 2
  • 105: 8+9 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac (KJV)
  • 106: 45

The Wise Men

I believe this points to the Wise Men/gentiles. 72: 10-11 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. (KJV) There are two areas in Scripture that are described as Tarshish, one in the Mediterranean, the other south by the Red Sea. Tarshish may mean distance place or smelting place.

References of the Birth

  • 22:9-10 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
  • 71:6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
  • 139:13-16 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

All of these are KJV and I sourced many references from the NIV footnotes. Read the verses in your favorite translation, sometimes old English is hard.

I will include this one, but you will need to view it in the Wycliff Bible.

110:3 The beginning is with thee in the day of thy virtue, in the brightnesses of saints; I begat thee of the womb, before the day star. (From the beginning, thy strength was with thee, and from that day thou hast shone in the brightness of the saints; yea, I begat thee from the womb, before the day star.) This version is like the AMP/Amplified Bible. It explains verses and in different ways for people just learning English. The part in the paratheses is what caught my attention. Please remember that Psalm 110 was written by David.  

Balaam Announces the King – Christmas 2024

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My first title was God Used Balaam to Announce Immanuel; the thought is there in Numbers 24:7 but it says King and not Immanuel or Messiah. If I was looking for an earthly king, which one would I chose? Saul or David were true oil-anointed kings, but they were far off. Moses or Joshua were “kings” of a sort, but not really. Then we must realize Balaam already could see God was with Israel, just ask him (vs. 3-5 and in oracles 1,2, and 4). You just have to know God used Balaam so a Gentile “wiseman” announced King Jesus.

Who was this enigmatic Balaam? Much has been written. The Bible says he lived at Pethor near the River (22:5), and Balak saw he walked in the promise of Abraham (22:6). After that he had a donkey talk to him and he was killed in Numbers 31:8. I see him as a proto-Judas figure who knew the truth, but he still betrayed the King for money. I think he was a great grandchild of Abraham through Katurah. Midian was one of her children and Moab was from Lot. Balaam joins Melchizedek and Job as non-Jacob related characters who God used for His glory.

Numbers 24:7b Their king will be higher than Agag and his kingdom lifted high.8 God, who brought them out of Egypt (CJB). The fourth oracle goes on to talk about a STAR (vs. 17) coming out of Jacob and a scepter from Israel.

So, how do I end this post? A deep productive look at the Hebrew words in these verses. A grand list of the types and shadows. How about: God has always had a plan to bring mankind back to Himself, so we can have righteous fellowship with Him. From this story today, I chose to see the Christmas story being introduced by Balaam.

Merry Christmas,

Mark

Great Faith

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Great Faith started as a study of the centurion in Matthew 8: 5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. He is still important, but he needs to be contrasted and compared to Little Faith. The 3/12 devotion by Joseph Prince was the seed and it does deserve some time. So, with text analysis, word searches, and foundational thoughts added, here is my study.

A Foundation Stone

Paul in Galatians 3:6-9 quotes Genesis 18:18 and 22:18 as his revelation into the Gospel and his mission from the Lord: non-Jews were to share in the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ main mission was to the Jews but Matthew, by the Holy Spirit, adds two events of great faith by Gentiles. We have decided that Matthew was writing for a Hebrew audience, so these two stories of faith are important.

Great Faith

Analysis of the Greek text reinforced two things for me: STUDY and pray for translators. I expected to find the word megas in Matthew 8: 5-13 and Luke 7:1-10, but I did not. I found “tosauten” faith. The centurion had a faith that Jesus had not seen before in Israel; it was “great” but special. (tosauten G 5118)

This Roman soldier’s faith had synthesized his authority in the natural world to Jesus’ authority in the spiritual world. How few of us today have that same understanding. Had this soldier been present for the Sermon on the Mount? Had he witnessed the healing of the leper? Was he Cornelius in Acts 10? Okay, I have none of those answers, but he saw and knew Jesus walked on the earth and commanded the heavenlies. So, his “like this” faith was beyond even that of the disciples at that time.

Jesus is chiding His listeners in verses 11 +12 to check their faith, especially in light of the Sermon. To use the thoughts of a great thinker: Just because you spend a lot of time in a garage, that does not make you a car. These verses are a powerful part about Kingdom teachings.

Megas faith was found in the Canaanite woman, outside of Israel in Tyre, who knew Jesus could deliver/heal her daughter (Matthew 15:28). Good News can produce great things and it is clear the word about Jesus spread outside of Israel. From the text, you can get the idea that she asked many times and that it was probably loud. There are varied opinions on this conversation, but her faith that had come from hearing about miracles and her knowledge of the descendant of King David got her what she needed and wanted.

A Contrast

Joseph Prince in his 3/12 devotion in Destined to Reign contrasts the faith of the centurion to Jarius (my take on it). Both of these men had faith that Jesus could heal but they had different working levels of faith. Jesus worked with both of them so that His Father would get the glory.

Little Faith

Please note that I said “little faith” NOT “no faith”. The Greek term is oligopistos G 3640. To compare faith is not a Kingdom activity that will have a positive outcome, no matter where you think you stand on the faith chart. The majority of the people who got to ponder this label were the Twelve. I think we can agree they changed so we can too. Here is a summary of the verses in Matthew.

  • 6:30 – Sermon on the Mount about clothing
  • 8:26 – the disciples in a storm
  • 14:31 – Peter and his walk
  • 16:8 – the disciples worried about food after thousands were fed

A Muse Moment from the Holy Spirit

Please add 8: 5-13 and 15: 8 in between those of little faith and get how our Master Teacher was guiding his followers in a series of life lessons. Their great faith came through many lessons.

Matthew 8:10 Greek Text Analysis (biblehub.com)

τοσοῦτος | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com It means “like this”. Just reading through the verses listed was a great study.

μέγας | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com   megas

πίστις | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com  faith