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"Christ in the Psalms," an essay by E.S. McKitrick, from John McNaugher, ed., The Psalms in Worship, is available online here:
Christ in the Psalms
Christ in the Psalms
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Is his statement: "Christ is the central figure in" [the Psalms] accurate? It seems to me we ought to step back and say God is the central figure in the Psalms. Is there a need to descend to that particularity?
Regards,
Is his statement: "Christ is the central figure in" [the Psalms] accurate? It seems to me we ought to step back and say God is the central figure in the Psalms. Is there a need to descend to that particularity?
Regards,
Is Christ in the Psalms before he is in the NT? Is the statement true exegetically? Should we say "Christ is in the Psalms after Christ is incarnated?" That is, it is only after the incarnation and resurrection that one can "see" Christ in the Psalms. Thoughts?
Thus we see that there is unity to the Old Testament revelation; it pointed to Christ, and the saints back then, like Abraham, saw Christ dimly and from afar, but truly. Revelation had progress, but in it, the Old Testament saint experienced a genuine encounter with Christ, albeit, a proleptic encounter.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8.56-58)
And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, it thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son? (Luke 20.41-44)
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24.44)
Much has been said about the absence of Christ from the Psalms, and the need, therefore, of songs presenting Him. There is much that is tender and seemingly commendable in this desire for fuller statement as to Christ's person and work in our songs; but when we find that in our Saviour's time the failure to see Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures was because of blindness, we may ask whether modern failure to find Him in the Psalms may not be attributable to the same cause. Our Lord certainly found the Psalms filled with references to Himself. He quotes David's words from the Psalter to show that David called Him Lord, and that therefore He was more than David's Son. In the quiet of the Upper Room with His disciples, in those precious hours after His resurrection, He emphasized His place in the thought of the whole Old Testament, saying, "These are My words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me." There follows the declaration, "Then opened He their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures; and He said unto them, 'Thus it is written that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all nations.'"
That Spirit-anointed eyes will find Christ in the Psalter is revealed by the testimony of New Testament writers. When Paul writes to the Colossians, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God," and immediately adds, "And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him," he affirmed the close relation of Christ's word and Christly deeds with the Songs of the Psalter.
Robert McWatty Russell, "Christ in the Psalms," in John McNaugher, ed., The Psalms in Worship, pp. 216-217:
Much has been said about the absence of Christ from the Psalms, and the need, therefore, of songs presenting Him. There is much that is tender and seemingly commendable in this desire for fuller statement as to Christ's person and work in our songs; but when we find that in our Saviour's time the failure to see Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures was because of blindness, we may ask whether modern failure to find Him in the Psalms may not be attributable to the same cause. Our Lord certainly found the Psalms filled with references to Himself. He quotes David's words from the Psalter to show that David called Him Lord, and that therefore He was more than David's Son. In the quiet of the Upper Room with His disciples, in those precious hours after His resurrection, He emphasized His place in the thought of the whole Old Testament, saying, "These are My words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me." There follows the declaration, "Then opened He their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures; and He said unto them, 'Thus it is written that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all nations.'"
That Spirit-anointed eyes will find Christ in the Psalter is revealed by the testimony of New Testament writers. When Paul writes to the Colossians, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God," and immediately adds, "And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him," he affirmed the close relation of Christ's word and Christly deeds with the Songs of the Psalter.
While it is true that any person who has the Spirit of God dwelling in them will see Christ in the Psalms, I don't see where in the NT worship in Revelation where they are singing Psalms. They are singing Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. That is a new song. I believe it is right and appropriate to sing that.
This same assertion can be made concerning the prophetic utterances in the Book of Revelation, which are also supposed to furnish authority for the use of uninspired songs. These are fourteen in number. Some of them are called songs. All of them are inspired utterances. In this case there is no mention of singing. The word used to express their utterance is "saying." Where songs are introduced, they evidently express the sentiment of the worshippers, but do furnish a specimen of regular worship. If anyone accepts these as a directory of worship, he must be prepared to furnish each worshipper with a harp and golden viol while he is addressing God in song. The view that these poetic utterances reflected the usage of the Church in John's time could be entertained only by one who is so eager to establish a theory that he overlooks the fact that the contents of this Book are a revelation from heaven, not a reflection from earth.
While it is true that any person who has the Spirit of God dwelling in them will see Christ in the Psalms, I don't see where in the NT worship in Revelation where they are singing Psalms. They are singing Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. That is a new song. I believe it is right and appropriate to sing that.
James Parker, "The Psalms in the New Testament Church" in John McNaugher, ed., The Psalms in Worship, pp. 124-125:
This same assertion can be made concerning the prophetic utterances in the Book of Revelation, which are also supposed to furnish authority for the use of uninspired songs. These are fourteen in number. Some of them are called songs. All of them are inspired utterances. In this case there is no mention of singing. The word used to express their utterance is "saying." Where songs are introduced, they evidently express the sentiment of the worshippers, but do furnish a specimen of regular worship. If anyone accepts these as a directory of worship, he must be prepared to furnish each worshipper with a harp and golden viol while he is addressing God in song. The view that these poetic utterances reflected the usage of the Church in John's time could be entertained only by one who is so eager to establish a theory that he overlooks the fact that the contents of this Book are a revelation from heaven, not a reflection from earth.
While it is true that any person who has the Spirit of God dwelling in them will see Christ in the Psalms, I don't see where in the NT worship in Revelation where they are singing Psalms. They are singing Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. That is a new song. I believe it is right and appropriate to sing that.
James Parker, "The Psalms in the New Testament Church" in John McNaugher, ed., The Psalms in Worship, pp. 124-125:
This same assertion can be made concerning the prophetic utterances in the Book of Revelation, which are also supposed to furnish authority for the use of uninspired songs. These are fourteen in number. Some of them are called songs. All of them are inspired utterances. In this case there is no mention of singing. The word used to express their utterance is "saying." Where songs are introduced, they evidently express the sentiment of the worshippers, but do furnish a specimen of regular worship. If anyone accepts these as a directory of worship, he must be prepared to furnish each worshipper with a harp and golden viol while he is addressing God in song. The view that these poetic utterances reflected the usage of the Church in John's time could be entertained only by one who is so eager to establish a theory that he overlooks the fact that the contents of this Book are a revelation from heaven, not a reflection from earth.
I don't see how you can so easily dismiss the singing in Revelation 5 because of the harps and viols.
Is Christ in the Psalms before he is in the NT? Is the statement true exegetically? Should we say "Christ is in the Psalms after Christ is incarnated?" That is, it is only after the incarnation and resurrection that one can "see" Christ in the Psalms. Thoughts?
John 8:52-58 52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.' 53 "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."