Messianic Psalms

TYPES OF MESSIANIC PSALMS

Most psalms are not Messianic in the sense that there is a direct reference or prediction to Messiah in them.  Rather, they are an indirect prediction in that the immediate reference is to a person who is ‘typical’ of Messiah, that is, represents or foreshadows the coming Christ.

Typically Messianic Psalms – The subject of the psalm is in some way a type of Christ and his experience is typical of Messiah.  What literally happens or happened to him also literally happens or happened to Jesus Christ.

Psalm 41:9, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up heel against me.”  Even as David, a type of Christ because he is the king, experienced betrayal from a close companion, so Christ experienced betrayal by Judas, Jn. 13:18,19.

Typico-Prophetically Messianic Psalms – The subject of the psalm is a type of Christ and describes his own experience in terms which were only typically true of Messiah.

Psalm 34:20, speaking of the typically righteous man whose type is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus, “(the Lord) protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”  This is spoken in exaggeration of the righteous person (even they get broken bones), but was literally fulfilled in Jesus’ experience on the cross, Jn. 19:36.

Indirectly Messianic Psalm – The subject of the psalm is a king in Israel talked about in general terms as to his office.

Psalm 45, a wedding psalm for the king, speaks of his splendor and majesty, his humility and righteousness, his place as God to the people, etc.  As the king of kings, Jesus embodies all these traits in the ultimate degree.

Eschatologically Yahwistic Psalms – These psalms refer to Yahweh’s coming and reigning on the earth sometime in the future.  Since this will be fulfilled by Jesus, who is in every sense Yahweh, they must ultimately refer to Him.  Psalms 96-99

Purely Prophetic Psalms – A directly intended prophecy of Christ.

Psalm 110, David speaking, “Yahweh said to my Lord…”, meaning the Messiah is being addressed by Yahweh.  This is the only psalm in the Old Testament that is possibly purely prophetic.

[descriptive titles suggested by Dr. Bruce Waltke]