Category Archives: Gospel in the Old Testament

The Lord’s Prayer Built from Thoughts of the Old Testament

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Matthew 6:9-13, the text is from the New American Standard Bible. I removed punctuation and verse numbers. Any parenthesis, I added. 

Our Father

  • Isaiah 63:16 and 64:8. 63:16 – Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. KJV
  • Malachi 2:10

I thought there would be many references to God/Lord as Father. These three are the only ones I found; as I thought about that I realized that Hebrews took/take God and what they call Him very serious because of respect for Him. Hebrew Concordance: ’ā·ḇî·nū — 19 Occurrences

Who is in heaven

  • Psalm 2:4, 11:4, 14:2, 20:6, (33:13 and 53:2 refer to Him looking down), 115:3, 123:1 136:26. 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. KJV
  • Ecclesiastes 5:2
  • Isaiah 63:15, 66:1 “My throne”; 14:12 references Satan NOT being in Heaven
  • Lamentations 3:50
  • Daniel 2:18,19,28,37,44; 4:37; 5:23
  • Jonah 1:9

These first two lines clearly state who we are praying to and where He is. Israel was surrounded by pagans that had their gods living on a mountain or in a temple or a hole in the ground. I am glad to say these lines worked as even current pagans know where our Father lives. It would be good if you did your own wordsearch on heaven in the Old Testament. As you do make note of the Books of the Bible and the action going on around the reference. I found it interesting. I used the NIV in BibleGateway.com.

Hallowed (Holy) be Your name

  • Leviticus 20:3, 22:2 and 32
  • 1 Chronicles 16:10, 35; 29:16 O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. KJV
  • Psalm 30:4, 33:21, 97:12, 103:1, 105:3, 106:47, 111:9, 145:21
  • Isaiah 29:23
  • Ezekiel 20:39; 36:20,21,22; 43:7,8: 39:25, 7 – So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.
  • Amos 2:7

Please see my post Hallow or Hollow.

Your kingdom come

There was no easy wordsearch results for this petition. John the Baptist and then Jesus did proclaim this idea in Matthew. After musing on this, I became okay with that fact. For me, the foreshadowing came in Isaiah. Isaiah 2:2 has “come let us go to the mountain of the Lord” and then 2:12 is one of many references to “a day or the day”. The “Day” is referred to many times in Isaiah and the other prophets and is connected with a time to come, many of them are hard times. Another line of thought deals with “new” things the Father does, so His kingdom was always advancing. For an example: Abraham to Jacob’s sons, to Moses, to Saul, to David, to Jesus and His Church. (As I read Isaiah 11: 10-13, I had to add this reference; they are the banner of the Root of Jesse and the banner for the nations with Israelites in exile.)

Your will be done

  • Genesis 28:15 a promise to Jacob
  • Exodus 34:10
  • Numbers 23:23
  • 1 Samuel 2:32 positive for Israel not Eli
  • 2 Samuel 7:21
  • Psalm 22:31, 28:5, 64:9, 78:4, 118:17
  • Isaiah 25:1, 13:2, 12:4 – And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.  63:7 – I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. (both are KJV)
  • Ezekial 37:14
  • Joel 2:20

These are examples of God “doing” because of unfaithfulness.

  • Jeremiah 5:19, 21:12, 22:8, 23:2, 26:3
  • Ezekial 5:9, 9:10, 11:21
  • Deuteronomy 29:24

This search centered on the word “done”, so some translations may use different words, but the fact that God did things is present in the verses. There are multiple chapters in Isaiah that talk about “will” and how that relates to God’s people. See Isaiah 53 – 56 and 59 – 62.

On earth as it is in heaven

  • Psalm 91:11, 103:20
  • Isaiah Chapter 6
  • Ezekiel Chapters 1-3
  • Daniel 3:28, but the whole book is filled with heaven directing actions on earth.
  • Zechariah Chapters 1-6 and 12:8

This part of the prayer, I believe, is best seen when angels and humans intersect, and visions or visitations to the Lord’s throne room. My list may be very small, but you can get the idea.

Give us this day our daily bread

This is a very special phrase in our prayer. It is built around the word epiousios, and it is the first time it was used in Greek writing. My Old Testament thoughts were the Manna and the Quail, giving the land a Sabbath rest and Jubilee, and the promise to Hezekiah after the Assyrians invaded Judah (that really sounds like Jubilee).

Bread in the Bible – Epiousios
Epiousios a Second Thought
Artos in the Book of Matthew

And forgive us our debts

  • Exodus 34:9
  • Psalm 79:9
  • Hosea 14:2
  • The Day of Atonement, reference Leviticus 16 and 23, and Numbers 29:7.

As we also have forgiven our debtors

For me this is a Jesus concept. There are many examples of people asking for forgiveness from Father God; use forgive in a word search. King Saul did ask Samuel to “forgive” him and join him in sacrificing but that was more for his pride than anything else. The Brothers asked Joseph, but that again was a shady deal. I may have missed examples, so let me know and I will add it to the study. I am looking for one person asking another person for forgiveness.

And do not lead us into temptation (trial)

For me this is a Jesus concept. The idea and practice of Father God leading His people has many examples, Psalm 23 and Him being our Shepherd. It is the “not lead us into temptation/trial” that is alluding me. Verse 3 in Psalm 23 is the most direct example; again, please share if you have one.

But deliver us from evil (the evil one)

  • Exodus 14:13
  • 1 Samuel 7:3
  • 2 Kings 17:39
  • Psalms 6:4, 7:1, 18:2, 56:13, 59:2, 71:4, 97:10

As I have read through Psalms, Isaiah, and the New Testament it is hard not to see how Jesus and the disciples referenced the “Bible” they knew. (Look at the footnotes, if your Bible has them.) That is the reason for this study on how the Lord’s Prayer was built from the Old Testament.

Barren Woman – Isaiah 54:1

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Barren woman, sing for joy because your husband is your Maker and Redeemer, from Isaiah 54:1-5. What song was she to sing? Was she to sing with someone? Were the musical bars this barren woman was to sing new or old? Is there a time frame for this song? If you get the feeling I may be all over place with this one you could be right. Now for my verse 1.

Father God has been singing a Song of Salvation since the Garden, not many wanted to hear it. Abram heard the tune and danced with God to Cannan. This brings in another singer for the song, Sarai. She was ‘ă·qā·rāh or barren and is the first one to sing that part of this song. That word describes five women and is used in Isaiah 54:1. Hebrew Concordance: ‘ă·qā·rāh — 8 Occurrences  Strong’s Hebrew: 6135. עָקָר (aqar) — barren, barren one, barren womanzzz Sarai was the first, but others joined her:

  • Sarai – Genesis 11:30
  • Rebekah – Genesis 25:21
  • Rachael – Genesis 29:31
  • Samson’s mother – Judges 13:2
  • Hannah, Samuel’s mother, in her prayer – 1 Samuel 2:5

Notable “covers” were given by the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:14 and John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth – Luke 1:7.

I would like to add a personal note about this part of the Song. I have read Isaiah 54 many times, but the scale of how important this ‘ă·qā·rāh woman singing has alluded me until now. Eve was the first to hear about this Song, her descendants Sarai and Rebekah started singing their part to bring salvation into our world.

The attention getter in Isaiah 54 is it being address to a barren woman. Verse 11 refers to the afflicted city, which may put this around the time of Hezekiah and the Assyrian conquest of Judah. There are many references to Daughter Zion or Virgin Daughter Jerusalem and other daughters in Isaiah. So, this introduction seems very important. Isaiah also refers to other barren things in his lines, mostly geographic areas. Father God’s measured verses here are the anacrusis to Isaiah 60 and 61. I need to point out that our translators use the word “will” many times in this part of the Song.

When Isaiah contributed his lines to the Song, he did not write in chapters and verses, but that is our lot in life. As I have read this part of Isaiah, I have wondered about how his words bridged his time over the kings of Judah and when they were penned. Our Chapters 54, 55, and 56 talk about a barren woman, those who are thirsty, foreigners, and Rest Keepers. He composed his lines for then and for us and for a time we have not yet seen. That chorus of chapters sounds like the Song of the Kingdom to my ear.

Paul repeated 54:1 in Galatians 4:27 and draws a comparison of earthly Jerusalem (Hagar a slave) to heavenly Jerusalem (Sarah a free woman). He wrote this letter to get the Galatian Church back into the rhythm of the Song after they heard men who were out of tune with Jesus sing their own song. Paul highlighted the part of the Song about being a slave to sin and being free in Jesus. Yes, I do see that in Isaiah’s words in Chapters 54, 55, and 56, and beyond.

Being barren was a curse under the Law, yet ‘ă·qā·rāh are still a part of the song. God composed His Song to include members of His Body that were overlooked and mistreated (1 Corinthians 12:23). There was a lot in this study. The links below are some areas that harmonize with Isaiah 54:1.

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.