The Psalms are the word of Christ

[aron]

Originally Posted by aron

... there's an open invitation in the NT usage to explore the OT text for revelation of Jesus. (Of course there are limits - our revelation should be tempered by reason, precedence, and fellowship).

... there was One Man who overcame. We'd do well to heed this Man, and live. And He's revealed for us in the words of scripture.

I think Psalm 22 is a classic example. Repeatedly this psalm is cited in the NT text, showing not only the suffering and death of Jesus, but the glories to come. Yet not all of the chapter is cited. Yet it is hard to read the chapter, even the non-cited parts, and not see experiences of the coming Christ.

I don't think it's too much to say that we may cautiously peruse the non-cited parts of the book of Psalms and see pictures of our Jesus. I think the NT usage was an invitation to do just that. The frail, human, suffering Person whose faith in God sustained Him in adversity. In the midst of death He lifted up His voice and blessed the Father. How could we lose hope, with such a One in our midst?

"In the midst of the assembly I will sing praises to You, O Father" (Psa 22:22) If such a suffering, crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended One is by His Holy Spirit praising the Father among us, how can we but be encouraged, and carry on? And why shouldn't we be interested in finding details of His relations with the Father in heaven, detailed in the prophetic word? I think if done carefully, patiently, with respect, among the oversight of the leaders of the flock, it might be profitable.

"Moreover, the rules of the Church require that Scripture should be understood as the holy Fathers explain it, and not at all arbitrarily. By being guided in our understanding of the Gospel by the explanation of the holy Fathers, we keep the tradition of the Holy Church." Russian Bishop Ignaty Brianchaninov