What are royal/Messianic psalm? It’s a prophetic psalm that in points us to the person and work of Jesus Christ as King.

PSALM 22

Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm that in amazing and vivid detail describes an actual, historical execution: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

On the cross . . .

Jesus was treated like a worm, scorned by everyone, mocked, had insults hurled at Him (Matthew 27:27–31, 38–44).

The teachers of the law essentially said, “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants” (Matthew 27:43 NIV).

Jesus’ bones were on display and His garments were divided and lots were cast for them (Matthew 27:35–36).

His blood was poured out like water, His mouth dried up (Matthew 27:48; John 19:28–34).

Jesus was forsaken by God (Matthew 27:46) because all of our sins, the sins of the entire world, were imputed and placed upon Him. Thus, the eternal fellowship the Father, Son, and Spirit had experienced was broken as the Father, who is perfect and cannot have fellowship with sin, had to turn away from His Son due to our sin.

And yet, the Son prayed just a few hours before this moment, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39 NIV, emphasis added), showing He trusted the Lord and knew He would deliver Him. He knew the Father was enthroned as the Holy One, and that through this great work, people from every nation would turn to the Lord, bow down to Him, and proclaim His righteousness because “He has done it”—as Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.”

And because of the literal, true, full suffering of Jesus, because He was forsaken by the Father while on the cross, because He experienced all that David described He would, we’ll never be forsaken by God, we’re forgiven our sins, we’ve been spared God’s righteous wrath, and we’re able to say, “He has done it!”

Discussion Question 1: What does Psalm 22 teach us about ourselves and our suffering? What does it teach us about Jesus?

READ PSALM 23

So, on the surface, Psalm 23 doesn’t exactly seem like a royal or Messianic psalm, right? But when you look a little deeper, you come to see that this psalm, which is bookended by two other Messianic psalms, is indeed a foreshadowing of the person and work of Jesus.

In John 10:11 (NIV), Jesus calls Himself “the good shepherd.” And just like Psalm 23 isn’t only about the care of the Lord for us, Jesus wasn’t merely using a relevant analogy that works to explain how He guides His sheep to salvation. You see, this title was widely known by the people of Israel to be a direct reference to the foretold Messiah, the seed of David who would sit on the throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

Ezekiel 34:23–24 (NLT) says, “And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Theologian Charles Ellicott put it this way: “Obviously, this prophecy can find its accomplishment in no merely human ruler.”

Now look at Hebrews 13:20–21 (NIV): “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

So, what does this psalm tell us about Jesus? Simple: Jesus is our sufficiency.

We lack nothing! We enjoy green pastures and walk beside quiet/still waters. In the original Hebrew, the text literally reads, “In pastures of grass, he makes me to lie down; upon waters of rest, he guides me.”

You see, in the semi-arid landscape of ancient Israel, green pastures weren’t in high supply. So, shepherds would have to guide their flocks to the places with enough grass for their sheep where they could eat and rest. Without their shepherd, sheep would either starve or become prey.

Similarly, the shepherd directed the sheep to water sources. Notice how it says “still” or “quiet” or “waters of rest.” Why? Because sheep could easily fall into running rivers while trying to drink, and their wool would drag them under quickly. So, to protect them, the shepherd would guide his sheep to the right water source—still waters.

Essentially, green pastures and still waters symbolize both spiritual and physical needs. And in Christ, we can experience the fullness of all God has for us. In Him, the bread of life, we’re filled and provided for. In Him, the gate, we’re safe. With His rod and staff, He guides and protects; therefore, we will fear no evil and can sit at a table of our enemies. In Him, the living water, we’re spiritually satisfied. In Him, we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing (the expensive, fragrant oil on our heads and the overflowing cup, the goodness and mercy that follows us). In Him, we have a home forever.

That’s why Charles Spurgeon said, “I do not want, I cannot want; I never shall want with such a Shepherd as I have. He will provide for me; nay, more, Christ himself is my provision. All I need I have, for ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’” As the great I AM, He doesn’t just provide all we need, He is all we need.

Discussion Question 2: How have you experienced the all-suffiency of Jesus in your life?

PSALM 110

Jesus actually quoted it Himself in a conversation with some Pharisees in Matthew 22:41–46. In this story, Jesus asks the Pharisees a trick question after they had just finished asking Him a series of trick questions themselves. They were trying to trip Jesus up so His huge following would be divided or offended. They also wanted to catch Him in His words in order to have a reason to arrest and kill Him.

After answering all their trick questions with divine wisdom, truth, and skill, He in turn asks them a question. He brings up this psalm, which was known to be a royal or messianic psalm, and asks, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” (Matthew 22:42a NIV). They reply by saying the son of David, to which Jesus then says, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’” (Matthew 22:43 NIV). After He quotes this psalm, the Pharisees are left stumped without any answer to give, so they stop asking Jesus questions.

Here, we see that though the Messiah would come from the lineage of David, He would also be holy and royal, on equal level with God the Father. This psalm shows us that David Himself recognized the glory, majesty, and power of the Messiah as His Lord before even meeting Him. David’s psalm describes Jesus as a royal priest from the order of Melchizedek, which also gives us insight to His divine authority which you can read more about in Hebrews 5–7.

Discussion Question 3: What does Jesus being both the root of David and the offspring of David show us about His work and His character?

Discussion Question 4: How are the attributes of Christ evident in your life and how can you honor Him more fully?

This Week
Spend time praising Jesus today for His victory before we see it all in completion! Take a moment to pray out loud and ascribe glory to your Savior.

Memory Verse

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”—Psalm 23 (NIV)

Prayer Guide

Jesus, I thank You for being my shepherd. I thank You and praise You because in You, I am complete. I thank You for Your provision and for Your word that gives me life, sustains me, and nourishes me. I thank You for Your protection and guidance, for leading me to safety on right paths to the praise of Your name. I thank You for the confidence to walk into any and every situation knowing You are with me. I thank You for the endless and undeserved blessings You give to me. And I thank You for preparing a place for me in Your kingdom. In Your glorious name I pray. Amen.

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