Introduction: Currently, I’m listening to C.S. Lewis’s
brilliant argument for the existence of God and Satan. Paul
tells us in Romans 1 that the existence of God is so plain
that we are “without excuse” if we do not believe in Him.
The creation makes God obvious. The logical case for Jesus
as God coming to earth and becoming fully human is not so
plain – unless we look carefully. One place we must look is
what the Bible said in Psalms long before Jesus came to
earth. That is our study this week. What evidence do we find
in the Psalms to show that it was God’s plan all along to
send Jesus to save us? Let’s jump into our study and learn
more!
I. The Nature of Our God
A. Read Psalm 23:1-5. Is this consistent with the
general nature of kings, emperors, and leaders?
(No. They are not the nourishing type. They do not
set tables or have special concern for our
comfort. The opposite is true. We set the table
for our leaders and their comfort is our main
concern.)
B. Read John 10:14-17. Are shepherds leaders? (Of
sheep.)
1. Do you think that Jesus’ leadership is
consistent with that of a shepherd? (His life
is an example of how a shepherd who cared for
his sheep would lead.)
2. We started out with King David’s psalm
comparing God to a shepherd. Why would someone
who was a king, and who ruled in a traditional
way, compare his God to a shepherd? (We should
immediately conclude that something is much
different when it comes to our heavenly King
and God.)
C. Read Psalm 80:1-3. We read here of the “Shepherd
of Israel” who is “enthroned” upon angels. Why
would a shepherd be in charge of angels?
1. Why would a shepherd in heaven restore and
save humans? (All of the action words reflect
what Jesus did for us. “Come to save us.”
“Restore us.” “We might be saved.” This makes
sense today in light of what Jesus did for
us.)
D. Read Genesis 46:32-34. What did the Egyptians
think of shepherds? (Keil & Delitzsh commentary
says the Egyptians considered shepherds to be rude
and barbaric. Why? This is due to the Egyptian
economy becoming increasingly based on
agriculture. The orderliness of growing things as
opposed the disorder of animals roving around. On
the other hand, the Finis Dake commentary notes
that some “shepherd kings” ruled Egypt. Apepi,
Joseph’s Pharaoh, was one of them. These shepherd
kings were oppressive and the ordinary Egyptian
hated them.)
II. Abused King
A. Read Psalm 22:6-8 and Psalm 22:12-15. Is this how
you would describe a ruler? (Read Matthew 27:39-44
and John 19:34. Wile it appears that King David is
talking about himself when he is in trouble, what
we see in the gospels is that this is a prophecy
of what would happen to Jesus. Notice how exactly
it describes what is to come for Jesus.)
1. If you were describing your coming king, would
you talk about the low points in his life? Or
would you talk about the high points?
2. Why do you think the Jewish leaders were so
surprised by the way in which Messiah Jesus
came?
B. Read Psalm 118:19-23. What is the main topic of
these verses? (Salvation. Entering into
righteousness.)
1. What does the repeated reference to “gate”
mean? (It means the righteous have a special
portal to salvation. Those who do not enter
through the gate are excluded.)
2. What is a cornerstone? (A cornerstone is the
foundation of a building in that it determines
the way the building is positioned.)
a. Why would a reference to a cornerstone
make any sense here? (If you have a gate,
you have some sort of structure. The
cornerstone and the gate are related.)
C. Read Acts 4:11-12 and 1 Peter 2:6-7. How does the
New Testament explain the relationship between
Jesus and the rejected cornerstone in
Psalms 118:22. (The New Testament writers compare Jesus
rejection by the Jewish leaders to the rejection
of the foundation for the Christian faith.)
1. If you were around during the writing of Psalm
118:22, would it make any sense to compare
your entry into righteousness to a gate
and a rejected cornerstone? (Once again, this
only makes sense in light of the coming Jesus.
This is a prophecy that supports the logical
argument that Jesus is the foundation of our
salvation. He is the gate through which we
enter.)
III. Conquering King
A. Read Psalm 2:1-3. What is the answer to the
question posed in verse one? (Verse three tells us
that their motive is to remove restrains and
bonds.)
1. Is the rebellion only against the Lord? (No.
Verse 2 tells us it is also against “his
Anointed.” The rebellion is also against a
person.)
2. Will the rebels win? (Verse one tells us that
they rage and plot “in vain.”)
3. What do you think about the rebel view that
God’s “bonds” and “cords” are harmful? (We
have discussed in past lessons on Psalms how
obedience to God’s law give us peace and
protection.)
B. Read Psalm 2:4-6. Why does God laugh at the
rebels? (Because He will install His King in
Jerusalem.)
C. Read Psalm 2:7-8. Who is this King that God will
install in Jerusalem? (His Son!)
1. Wait a minute. Would this make any sense to
someone living in David’s time? Would this be
understood to be King David? How can you be a
“Son” to God?(Read 2 Samuel 7:13-16. This text
in Second Samuel explicitly ties this idea to
King David.)
a. Notice that 2 Samuel 7:16 refers to the
throne of David being “established
forever.” Is that still true? (King
David’s earthly line of decedents ended
long ago.)
D. Look again at Psalm 2:7. Since Jesus is God, can
He be “begotten?” Does that confirm this text is
about David and not Jesus? (Read Hebrews 1:5-8.
When Jesus was born to Mary, He became “begotten.”
Hebrews tells us that this “Son” is “God.”)
E. Read Acts 13:33-34. How do these verses tie this
together to prove that Psalm 2 is referring to
Jesus?
F. Read Psalm 2:9-12. We are told to “Kiss the Son.”
How do you understand that? (We have affection for
Jesus. He died so that we might live. He is our
Shepherd. And verse 9 says Jesus is a very dangerous
shepherd. For that reason verse 11 says to
“rejoice with trembling.”)
1. How would you describe “rejoice with
trembling” in today’s terms? (We are glad that
Scary Guy is on our side! The One who loves
you absolutely (you kiss Him), is the One who
makes His enemies tremble.)
G. Let’s turn a corner and discuss another power
prophecy about Jesus. Read Psalm 110:2-6. This
statement about the coming King says that He is
also a priest “after the order of Melchizedek.”
Were Israel’s kings also priests? (Never.)
H. Read Hebrews 7:14-17. Were the priests of Israel
descended from Judah? (This text says, “No.” That
would seem to exclude Jesus from being a priest.)
1. How does Hebrews reconcile Jesus’ obvious
lineage problem with the prophecy that He
would be King-Priest after the order of
Melchizedek? (This says that Jesus’ claim is
based on “the power of an indestructible
life,” not lineage.)
2. Read Hebrews 7:3. What is the lineage of
Melchizedek? (He has no genealogy.)
3. Why would Genesis introduce us to a mystery
King-Priest? (This anticipated Jesus coming as
our King and our High Priest. It is part of
the proof that Jesus is the prophesied
Messiah.)
I. Friend, after these proofs will you accept Jesus
as your Messiah Savior? Will you accept Him as
your King and High Priest? Why not do that right
now?
IV. Next week: Lessons of the Past.
Copr. 2024, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail,
but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this
link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.
