A Trilogy of Psalms for our Past, Present, & Future

Posted on: November 6, 2009

Here are the notes from last Sunday night’s sermon:

Introduction:  We tend to anguish about three things: (1) our past, with its flaws and failures; (2) our present, with its difficulties and danger; and (3) our future, with its uncertainties about life and certainties about death.   The Lord has given us a trilogy of Psalms to answer each need.

  1. Psalm 22:  The Savior’s Cross Takes Care of Our Past.  Psalm 22 is one of the three most intense Messianic chapters in the Old Testament (along with Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53).  In this passage, 1000 years before Calvary, the Lord gives us the very words Jesus would speak from the cross, the very words the soldiers would speak on the scene, and the very things that would happen to Christ including His stripping, piercing, thirst, exposure, insults, humiliation, and death.  All our sins are covered by the blood of Calvary.
  2. Psalm 23:  The Shepherd’s Crook Takes Care of Our Present.  Notice that almost all the verbs in The 23rd Psalm are in the present tense.  This is a Psalm for today:  He makes me, He leads me, He restores, He guides, He is with me, He comforts me, He prepares a table for me, He anoints; my cup overflows.  His shepherding ministries are for today.
  3. Psalm 24:  The Sovereign’s Crown Takes Care of our Future.  Psalm 24 is a glorious three-part poem that focuses on the greatest of the creator (v. 1-2); the privilege of coming into God presence to worship (v. 3-6); and the nearing day when the King will come to claim His Kingdom (v. 7-10).  All our apprehensions will be lost in celebration, and all our sorrows will be drowned out by song when the King of Glory claims His throne.

Conclusion: These three Psalms are a trilogy of ministry from the Messiah’s heart into our needs, whether past, present, or future.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

PS – This basic outline is not original with me.  The three-fold presention of the Savior, the Shepherd, and the Sovereign as been around about as long as sermons have been preached in the English language.  But it shouldn’t be forgotten and bears repeating.