The Coming of Jesus Christ, Our Messiah, in the Psalms!!

by Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD

Jan 14, 2024

Since I am reading Psalms, I decided to go back and study the Book of Psalms and look for the prophecies about Jesus in the Psalms!! OMGOODNESS what a fine - I had no idea of the purpose of Psalms or that Jesus was in it!! I am putting what I found together so you all can know this information too. WOW!! Just great information that we can ask Holy Spirit to give us revelational knowledge of it!! I personally want to dig deeper in the Word, so my heart and mind will become full of it!!

First, we will study the “Introduction,” and “Authorship” of the Book of Psalms which was taken from www.lovesark.net. Also on that page, they have Psalms also that prophecy the coming of The Messiah.

Another website I found about Psalms which talks about the coming of The Messiah is www.jesuswalk.com. And this site has a lot more information about the Books of the Bible too.

Most of the information I found is from www.gotquestions.org, and it is titled, “Which psalms predict the coming of Jesus Christ?” This information is in response to a question someone asked. And Got Questions.org adapted this information, with permission, from Shalach.org.

The “Purpose And Summary” of the Book of Psalms, listed below, were taken from Dr. Henrietta Mears book, “What the Bible Is All About KJV: Bible Handbook.” I highly recommend this book!!

The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 psalms. The Hebrew name is translated “The Book of Praises.” In the canon of the Hebrew Old Testament, the book is divided into five books matching the fivefold structure of the Torah, the first five books of Moses from Genesis to Deuteronomy. The book of Psalms was the worship book and the prayer book of ancient Israel. Israel prayed their worship songs and sang their prayers. The variety and unity of psalms have given this book a unique place in the devotional life of the individual and the Church. Almost every aspect of humanity’s relation to God is depicted in the psalms: simple trust, the sense of sin, appeals to the Lord in time of trouble, and the conviction that the world is in the hands of a loving God.

Here is the information I obtained from www.gotquestions.org:

The book of Psalms is a collection of inspired songs used in worship of God, and many of them foretell the coming of the Messiah and predict events that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ. In total, twenty-five different psalms (one out of every six psalms) include at least one messianic prophecy. 

Messianic psalms are quoted in eleven New Testament books, especially the gospels and the book of Acts. Below are nearly seventy specific references to Christ in the Psalms fulfilled in the New Testament. Some scholars see additional allusions, but we’ve only included those with the clearest connections to Jesus. 

The following list provides the reference(s) in Psalms where each prophecy is found and the New Testament fulfillment:

Concerning the Messiah’s birth:

  1. The Messiah will come from the lineage of David (Psalm 89:3–4, 29–36; 132:11–17; Matthew 1:1).
  2. The Messiah will come for all people (Psalm 18:49; Ephesians 3:4–6).
  3. The Messiah will know His Father from childhood (Psalm 22:9; Luke 2:40).
  4. The Messiah will be called by God while still in the womb (Psalm 22:10; Luke 1:30–33).

Concerning the Messiah’s nature and name:

  1. The Messiah will be called King of the Jews (Psalm 2:6; John 12:12–13; 18:32).
  2. The Messiah will be the Son of God (Psalm 2:7; Luke 1:31–35; Matthew 3:16–17; Hebrews 1:5–6). 
  3. The Messiah is God (Psalm 45:6–7b; Hebrews 1:8–9).
  4. The Messiah will call God His Father (Psalm 89:26; Matthew 11:27).
  5. The Messiah will be God’s only “begotten” Son (Psalm 89:27; Mark 16:6; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5). 
  6. The Messiah will be eternal (Psalm 102:25–27a; Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 1:10–12).
  7. The Messiah is the creator of all things (Psalm 102:25–27b; John 1:3; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:10–12).
  8. The Messiah will be Lord and King (Psalm 110:1a; Matthew 22:41–45).
  9. The Messiah will be a Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 6:17–20).
  10. The Messiah will be the “Stone” rejected by the builders (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42–43).

Concerning the Messiah’s ministry:

  1. Infants will give praise to the Messiah (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:15–16).
  2. The Messiah will reveal that the Hebrew Scriptures were written of Him (Psalm 40:6-7-8a; Luke 24:44; John 5:39–40).
  3. The Messiah will do God’s (His Father’s) will (Psalm 40:7–8; John 5:30).
  4. The Messiah will not conceal His mission from believing people (Psalm 40:9–10; Luke 4:16–21).
  5. The Messiah will communicate a message of mercy (Psalm 45:2; 55:12–14; Luke 4:22).
  6. The Messiah will be angered by unethical practices by the Jews in the temple (Psalm 69:9a; John 2:13–17).
  7. The Messiah will teach in parables (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34–35).
  8. The Messiah will calm the stormy sea (Psalm 107:28–29; Matthew 8:24–26).
  9. The Messiah will act with righteousness (Psalm 45:6–7c; John 5:30).
  10. The Messiah will come in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26; Matthew 21:9).

Concerning the Messiah’s betrayal and death:

  1. Political/religious leaders will conspire against the Messiah (Psalm 2:1–3; Matthew 26:3–4; Mark 3:6).
  2. The Messiah will feel forsaken by God at His crucifixion (Psalm 22:1b; Mark 15:34).
  3. The Messiah will pray without ceasing before His death (Psalm 22:2; Matthew 26:38–39).
  4. The Messiah will be despised and rejected by His own (Psalm 22:6; Luke 23:21–23).
  5. The Messiah will be mocked (Psalm 22:7; 109:25; Matthew 27:39).
  6. Unbelievers will say to the Messiah, “He trusted in God, let Him now deliver Him” (Psalm 22:8; Matthew 27:41–43).
  7. The Messiah will be abandoned by His disciples (Psalm 22:11; 69:20; Mark 14:50).
  8. The Messiah will be encompassed by wicked beings (Psalm 22:12–13; Colossians 2:15).
  9. From the Messiah’s body will flow blood and water (Psalm 22:14a; John 19:34).
  10. The Messiah will be crucified (Psalm 22:14b; Matthew 27:35).
  11. The Messiah will thirst while dying (Psalm 22:15; 69:21; John 19:28).
  12. The Messiah will be observed by Gentiles at His crucifixion (Psalm 22:16a; Luke 23:36).
  13. The Messiah will be observed by Jews at His crucifixion (Psalm 22:16b; Matthew 27:41–43).
  14. The Messiah’s hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16c; Matthew 27:38).
  15. The Messiah’s garments will be parted among the soldiers through the casting of lots (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23–24).
  16. The Messiah will be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 27:12; 35:11; 109:2; Matthew 26:59–61).
  17. The Messiah will cry out to God, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46).
  18. There will be many attempts to kill the Messiah (Psalm 31:13; Matthew 27:1).
  19. The Messiah will have no bones broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32–33).
  20. The Messiah will be hated without cause (Psalm 35:19; John 18:19–23; 15:24–25).
  21. The Messiah will be silent as a lamb before His accusers (Psalm 38:13–14; Matthew 26:62–63).
  22. The Messiah will be God’s sacrificial lamb for redemption of all mankind (Psalm 40:6–8a; Hebrews 10:10–13).
  23. The Messiah will be betrayed by one of His own disciples (Psalm 41:9; Mark 14:17–18).
  24. The Messiah will be hated and rejected without cause (Psalm 69:4; Luke 23:13–22; John 15:24–25).
  25. The Messiah will be condemned for God’s sake (Psalm 69:7, 9; Matthew 26:65–67; Romans 15:3).
  26. The Messiah will be rejected by the Jews (Psalm 69:8a; John 1:11).
  27. The Messiah’s very own brothers will reject Him (Psalm 69:8b; John 7:3–5).
  28. The Messiah’s heart will be broken (Psalm 69:20a; John 19:34).
  29. The Messiah will be offered gall mingled with vinegar while dying (Psalm 69:21a; Matthew 27:34).
  30. The Messiah will offer up prayer for His enemies (Psalm 109:4; Luke 23:34).
  31. The Messiah’s betrayer will have a short life (Psalm 109:8a; Acts 1:16–18; John 17:12).
  32. The Messiah’s betrayer will be replaced by a more faithful man (Psalm 109:8b; Acts 1:20–26).

Concerning the Messiah’s resurrection and exaltation:

  1. The Messiah will be resurrected (Psalm 16:8–10a; Matthew 28:6; Acts 2:25–32).
  2. The Messiah’s body will not see corruption (natural decay) (Psalm 16:8–10b; Acts 13:35–37).
  3. The Messiah will be glorified into the presence of God (Psalm 16:11; Acts 2:25–33).
  4. The Messiah will ask God for His inheritance (Psalm 2:8a; John 17:4–24).
  5. The Messiah will have complete authority over all things (Psalm 2:8b–9; 8:6; Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:1–2).
  6. Whoever believes The Messiah will have eternal life. But whoever rejects The Messiah, will not see life (reworded by me for clarity) (Psalm 2:12; John 3:36).
  7. The Messiah will bring many people into the family of God (Psalm 22:22; Hebrews 2:10–12; Matthew 12:50; John 20:14).
  8. The Messiah’s enemies will stumble and fall (Psalm 27:2; John 18:3–6).
  9. The Messiah’s throne will be eternal (Psalm 45:6–7a; Luke 1:31–33; Hebrews 1:8–9).
  10. The Messiah will ascend back into heaven (Psalm 68:18a; Luke 24:51; Ephesians 4:8).
  11. The Messiah will give good gifts unto believing men (Psalm 68:18b; Matthew 10:1; Ephesians 4:7–11).
  12. The Messiah will be exalted to the right hand of God (Psalm 80:17; 110:1, 5; Acts 5:31).

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I pray this information is a BLESSING to you all as you all dive deeper into the Word of God this year!! And don’t forget to pray as you study this material, asking Holy Spirit to give you all the revelational knowledge YOU NEED, to transform your life from the inside out!! I pray this year will be your BEST year ever!! Stay walking hand in hand with our loving Heavenly Father, our ABBA, ALWAYS acknowledging Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in the way you should go daily, not going your own way, and be a disciple of Jesus, not a fan, then you won’t go wrong!!

God’s BLESSINGS to you all and your families!!

Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks