This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 22 Dr. Wellum from Sunday July 13, 2008.

The opening line of Psalm 22 is familiar to anyone who has read the crucifixion narratives in the gospels. Perhaps a lesser-known fact is that this psalm is also quoted in Hebrews 2:12. Before considering the New Testament use of Psalm 22, it must be considered in its own context.

Psalm 22 is about suffering, trusting God, and vindication and victory. It can be broken down into two parts. Part 1, consists of verses 1-21, and it is a cry of lament with elements of trust interspersed throughout. Part 2 consists of verses 22-31, and it has the themes of vindication and victory. This is a psalm of David, and though it is not possible to assign it to a specific instance of suffering in the life of David, it no doubt reflects on the many things that he suffered throughout his life at the hands of Saul and others.

Three different aspects of suffering are taken up in the first part of Psalm 22. First, in verses 1-2, the lament is made that God is far away. This lament is reminiscent of other sufferers in the Old Testament, especially Job. Yet, the psalmist follows this lament with trust in verses 3-5. He reminds himself of the character and position of God. He is holy, and He is enthroned with power. He also reminds himself of how God has delivered His people in the past. Second, in verses 6-8, David complains that the people are against him. He has become a social outcast. Again in verses 9-11, there are elements of trust among the laments. Third, strong metaphors are used to describe the physical wasting away of the psalmist in verses 12-18. The picture brings to mind a dying man in a desert wasteland among his enemies. Again a plea of trust comes in verses 19-21. It is a cry for God to come near and rescue him.

The second part of the Psalm can be seen as an answer to the prayer in verse 19-21. The Lord brings vindication and victory. Now the psalmist will lead the people in praise. In verse 27-28, the promise to Abraham concerning the nations is developed. They will come and bow before the Lord as well. All peoples will praise the Lord. When we read this and other Psalms that describe the suffering king as a part of the book of Psalms, certain themes emerge. God’s chosen ruler in Psalm 2 is understood more fully. He is a suffering servant. These themes help us interpret the suffering of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. What does the messianic king look like? He will be one who suffers before entering His glory.

It is no mistake that Jesus quoted this Psalm on the cross. He was indeed forsaken by the Father as he bore our sin on the cross. Through His suffering, He enters into glory. This becomes more apparent when we look at Hebrews 2:12. Psalm 22:22 is quoted. The author of Hebrews explains that Jesus, the author of our salvation, was made perfect through suffering. When he quotes this part of the Psalm that begins with the king leading the congregation in the praises of God, we must think of the Psalm in its entirety. Jesus fulfills Psalm 22 as the suffering King who is ultimately vindicated and victorious. When we suffer, we can learn from the psalmist. We should look upon God recognizing His holy character and position of power to save us. We should remember how He has delivered those who trusted Him in the past. We should call out to Him when He is far off. As those who live in the light of the New Testament, we have an even greater hope. Jesus, who suffered to enter His glory, saves us. We can trust him as he leads us to praise God. God is able to deliver us when we suffer. Even if we suffer unto death we know that King Jesus has won the victory over death and the grave and will lead us in His glory.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Psalm 22

~TWM

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 24 by student teacher, David Schrock, from Sunday July 7, 2008.

The tension of a dual kingship runs throughout the psalter and specifically here in Psalm 24. Though David rules over Israel as king, he only does so on the basis that he has been established as such by Israel’s true king, the Lord God himself. As David writes, he is clearly aware of the source of his own seat of power.

In verses 1 and 2, David harkens back to the beginning of time, recalling the words of Moses from Genesis 1 in order to celebrate the Lord God as the creator of all that exists. This creation theme is picked up throughout the rest of the psalter, acknowledging that God will redeem that which he has created (Psalm 89:8).

In verse 3 the psalm shifts from the ends of the earth to the focal point of Mt. Zion. David asks, “Who shall ascend the Hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his Holy Place?” The answer is clear: only he who has clean hands and a pure heart. Clearly, if one seeks to travel this path, his life must be marked with obedience. Indeed, all of humanity will fail to achieve this righteous standard. Only in Christ is the type of perfect obedience sought after here in Psalm 24 made possible. King Jesus will ascend the hill of the Lord, and by his grace a trail of his captives will follow behind him (Ps 68:18).

The psalm closes remembering the Exodus, the deliverance of the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by the mighty hand of the Yahweh. In the past, He has proved himself faithful to deliver his people, and on this basis, all of humanity shall anticipate his future deliverance. This King of Glory who has created all that exists, who has redeemed his people in the past, will assuredly redeem the rest of humanity and the rest of his creation.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Psalm 24

~TDG

Class, enjoy this update from the Marshman family a few weeks following the birth of Henry! And don’t forget to visit their family site for updates.

Hey everyone! We have had Henry home now for three weeks and it has been a bit of a whirlwind! The adjustment from one child to two has been interesting to say the least. We take it one day at a time and sleep when we can. All in all, we are so thankful that the Lord has given us a healthy daughter and now a healthy son, it is such a blessing! Henry was born Friday the 13th and was just shy of 9 lb. He came out hungry and has been a champion eater since. If you wanted to catch a glimpse of him you could go down to the nursery at church and look for the baby with the head full of black hair. We are still trying to figure out where it came from. Although Rachel and I mostly look forward to sleeping again, we also are excited to build into Georgia and Henry godly character and a deep love for the Lord. This is all a huge adventure for us! The Marshmans

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 8 by Dr. Wellum from Sunday June 29, 2008.

This “Psalm of David” (see superscription) praises Yahweh the Lord for His creation in general and for the role He has given man in particular. The reason for this role given to “man” and “the son of man” is said to be “Because of Your adversaries/To make the enemy and the revengeful cease” (2b). For David, it is this exalted status of the “son of man” over creation and over God’s enemies that causes him to declare (both at the beginning and end of the song), “Yahweh, our Lord,/How majestic is Your name in all the earth” (vv. 1 and 9). As those redeemed for the purpose of being God’s true humanity (something they never quite lived up to), Israel was to rule over creation as a new Adam, and they were to rule over God’s enemies as well. In performing these tasks the name of Yahweh was made great among the nations.

For those weeping by the rivers of Babylon (see Psalm 137) in exile, however, it did not seem as if Yahweh’s name was being made much of in all the earth. In fact, the names Baal and Marduk (Babylonian gods) were probably on the ascendancy. The words of Psalm 8, then, would have been sung in bitter-sweet anticipation of redemption and the restoration of a proper world order; one in which “the enemy and the revengeful cease” (v. 2) and “the son of man” is seen once again as he who is crowned “with glory and majesty” (v. 5). This hope is precisely what is seen in a similar song of Asaph, when he pleads, “Let Your [the Lord’s] hand be upon the man of Your right hand,/Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself./Then we shall not turn back from You;/Revive us, and we will call upon Your name./Yahweh God of hosts restore us;/Cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved” (80:17-19).”

Israel had to wait many years before the creation and God’s enemies began to be placed once again under the feet of the “son of man.” Even after the return of a remnant to the land under Ezra and Nehemiah, they were still under the rule of an enemy nation (Persia). In many ways, we still today (as the author of Hebrews states after quoting a large section of Psalm “do not yet see all things subjected to him [that is, man/the son of man]” (Heb. 2:8). But, as the author goes on to say about Psalm 8’s fulfillment, what we “do see” is “Him…namely Jesus” (v. 9). In Jesus there is one son of man—the Son of Man—who even now is crowned with glory and honor, and who is even now “waiting…until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet” (Heb. 10:13).

Jesus is humanity as it was meant to be, and more. And beyond that, He plans to “bring many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10). Take courage sons of men, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20).

Audio from this week’s lesson: Psalm 8

~DGG