How Do the Psalms Point Us to Jesus Christ?

            My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Psalms 100-150. The lesson manual provided the following introduction to this material. 

The traditional Jewish name for the book of Psalms is a Hebrew word that means “praises.” That word, Tehillim, is also related to the exclamation “hallelujah” (meaning “praise Jehovah” or “praise the Lord”). If you had to choose one word to sum up the main message of the Psalms, “praise” would be a good choice. Some of the Psalms contain the direct invitation to “praise ye the Lord” (see especially Psalms 146-50), and all of them can inspire a feeling of worship and praise. The Psalms invite us to reflect on the Lord’s power, on His mercy, and on the great things He has done. We can never repay Him for any of this, but we can praise Him for it. That praise may take different forms for different people – it may involve singing, praying, or bearing testimony. It often leads to a deeper commitment to the Lord and to following His teachings. Whatever “praise ye the Lord” means in your life, you can find more inspiration to do it as you read and ponder the Psalms.

            There are numerous principles taught in the fifty Psalms of this lesson. However, this post will focus on one principle: “The Psalms can point me to the Savior” as found in Psalms 110 and 118. Here are some teachings found in these two chapters.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and sits on the right hand of Heavenly Father.

Psalms 110:1: “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Matthew 22:43-44: “He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?”

Jesus Christ is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalms 110:4: “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5:4-10: “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

“So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.

“As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

“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;

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

“Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hebrews 6:20: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone.

Psalms 118:20: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”

Matthew 21:42: “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”

Acts 4:10-11: “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

1 Peter 2:7: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.”

Jesus Christ came in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 118:25-26: “Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

“Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.”

Matthew 21:9: “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

            Psalms point us to Jesus Christ because they foretold truths about Him. The writer of Psalms was writing about events in the future, and the writers in the New Testament testify of the truthfulness of those events. I have given a few of the comparisons between Psalms and the New Testament. As you study Psalms, look for other passages that teach you about the Savior.