A review of the Psalms and Jesus' ministry - direct quotations and allusions

1. The Psalms- and Jesus’ ministry Laindon Bible Study 16th September 2009

3. Size – 2,461 verses make book of Psalms easily largestof 66 books of Bible and almost 11% of verses in OT

4. Structure – overall book subdivided into 5 sections, having 41, 31, 17, 17 and 44 Psalms respectively; the Jews say: ‘Moses gave us the 5 books of the law and David the 5 books of Psalms’ (& some parallel content with Pentateuch)

5. Position – in English Bible Psalms at very centre, middle verse of Bible Psalm 118v8; in Hebrew Bible Psalms at beginning of Kethuvim or ‘Writings’ section

6. Writers – using titles of Psalms, 7 attributed writers, although perhaps more since 47 are anonymous. Using Psalm titles, alongside NT commentary (2/95), David attributed as writer of exactly half (i.e. 75 Psalms)

8. Three studies – The Psalms... ...and Jesus’ birth ...and Jesus’ ministry ...and Jesus’ death

9. Two avenues for investigation

10. General tone

11. Jesus’ humanity “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;” (Hebrews 5 v 7-8)

12. Jesus’ obedience Trust and conviction Psalm 16 v 8-11 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 27 v 11-14 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12 v 2-3)

13. Alluded to events(?) Feeds multitude Heals servant On Galilee Fig tree cursed Psalm 107 v 1-38 1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. 8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. 10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. 17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. 19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. 36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; 37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

14. Direct quotations

15. A few statistics Psalms is the most quoted Old Testament book in New Testament It is the source of 27% of direct quotations (82 / 306), but only has: 11% of verses 7% of words Across the Gospel records Psalms is quoted 28 times (18 being unique, i.e. discounting gospel parallels) 13 times Jesus directly quotes Psalms 5 times Psalms quoted elsewhere in text

16. The 13 direct quotations by Jesus

17. Leaders put in their place

18. Lesson for us We must take very special care when seeking to practically apply the scriptures that none could say to us – have you never read...?

19. Evil doers denounced Psalm 6 A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

20. Lesson for us We must heed this sober warning, which is not to the world at large but to those who claim to be believers (see context of three passages) “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?” (Matthew 7 v 22) “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?” (Matthew 25 v 44) “Lord, Lord, open unto us... We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.” (Luke 13 v 25-26)

21. A scriptural challenge Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness Matthew 4 v 5-7 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

22. Lesson for us We must ensure that when quoting excerpts of scripture we do not move out of line with clearly evidenced and oft repeated divine principles

23. Quoted in narrative * “Hosanna to the Son of David” Matthew 21v 9 cp. Psalm 118 v 26 “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” John 2 v 17 cp. Psalm 69 v 9 “He gave them bread from heaven to eat” John 6 v 31 cp. Psalm 78 v 24 * Excludes two other unique occurrences to do with death

24. Overall conclusions The Psalms provide a profound insight into the ministry of the Lord Jesus We can learn a lot by looking at source/context of direct quotations There are important warnings for us all, given that God’s word is so nigh unto us