Volume 1, Issue 4

"Preparing Servants for the Nations"

The Eastern Gate is the online teaching newsletter of Christian Challenge International in Pineville, Louisiana. It is produced free of charge as a blessing to the body of Christ. Permission is granted to reproduce any article as long as the following disclaimer is included: "Copied from The Eastern Gate, ©2002 ChristianChallenge.org - used by permission."

We'd appreciate any feedback. Please email comments to EasternGate.

The Hymnbook of Jesus

Rev. Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
Senior Pastor
Christian Challenge

Over many years of ministry my love for the Bible continues to grow. How can this be? How can we come to love God’s holy book even more over time? For me it is because God’s book is filled with inexhaustible treasures. The more I read His book the more I realize how very little I really know, and how much more the Lord wishes to share with me.

But there is another reason. I have found that God's book is where the Lord meets with His people in a special way. For me the Bible has become the ‘garden of His delights.’ The Bible makes my heart sing.

As I study and meditate the Sacred Writings, I become deeply aware of the Presence of Jesus. Perhaps this is some of what He meant in speaking to certain Jews, saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” (John 5:39,40) The book is all about Him. It testifies of Him. Jesus fills its pages.

While the Bible is wholly about Jesus, each book can be compared to a different window through which we are given to behold the wonderful world of our salvation. The Holy Spirit helps us to look through the windows.

However, there is a particular book in the Bible that is unique in its purpose for the believer. Paul intimates this when he says the Spirit-filled life consists of speaking to ourselves and to others in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19) Where Paul says ‘psalms,’ the Greek word speaks of striking the chords of a musical instrument. Paul explains that the musical instrument is a thing of the heart.

So the Spirit-filled life springs forth with a song of the heart, and this song is likened to a heavenly instrument. However, the apostle is also drawing attention to something else. This is where the book of Psalms enters the picture.

Psalms was created as a book of the Spirit. Its design was to guide God’s people in their faith, in their thinking, and in their spiritual life. They were to fill their hearts and their mouths with its words.

There are so many unique things about Palms, that this present article can’t begin to touch on them. But we see this in action as Jesus and His disciples are leaving the upper room. It says, “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Matt26:30) What they were singing is called the ‘Hallell,’ which is part of Psalms 115 through 118. The Hallell was to be sung on the night of the Passover.

The sorrows of the Messiah are found in what Jesus and the disciples were singing. It includes the statement, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22,23)

The book of Psalms has often been referred to as ‘The Jesus Hymnbook.’ There are reasons for this. The ancients recognized this. This is why that during the time of Jesus, the three books most popular among the Jews were Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah. During that time the Jewish peoples were filled with an expectation of Messiah. (Based on the prophecy of Daniel.)

Now lets consider just how Messiah focused the book of Psalms is. Let's call to attention one of the last last things the Lord shared with the apostles. He said, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 23:44) Notice how Jesus singles out the book of Psalms from the writings of Moses and the writings of the prophets. This is because Psalms is in a class by itself.

Because of the uniqueness of the Psalm to God's Messiah, is why it is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament. One writer says that there are 280 Psalm quotations in the apostolic writings. No other book of the Old Testament comes near this amount of quotes.

Fifty of the quotes deal with the sufferings, the resurrection, the ascension, and with the gospel message itself. To make this more weightier, the ancient Jewish sages actually saw more Messianic ideas in Psalms than have the Christians. They would make a Messiah reference where most Christians would not see it. This shows us how Messiah conscious the ancients were.

What is little known is that the Psalms actually lays out the whole redemption story. Consider these: Christ was despised (Ps22:6); rejected (Ps118:22); mocked (Ps22:7-8); beaten (Ps129:3); without sympathy (Ps69:20); hung on a cross (Ps22:16-18); thirsty (Ps22:15); bones not broken (Ps34:20); lots cast for garments (Ps22:18); resurrection (Psa16:10); ascended (Ps68:18); at right hand of God (Ps110:1); High Priest (Ps110:4); reign eternal (Ps89:35,36); Son of God (Ps2:7); parables (Ps78:2); blessed forever (Ps45:1,2); our hiding place (Ps3:3; 90:1); will judge the world (Ps9:8). And these are a scant mentioning of God's Messiah that are found in the book of Psalms.

There are so many ‘secret’ references to Jesus in the Psalms, that the child of God will be forever discovering them. Here is a hint that may set your heart to sailing. The Lord’s Hebrew name is Yeshua. This also happens to be the Hebrew word for salvation. So as you go through the Psalm, each time you see the word salvation, exchange it for Jesus. The very first mention is in Psalms 3:8; “Salvation (Jesus) belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.”

Now the next; “That I may tell of Your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation (Jesus).” Psalm 9:14. Though Yeshua is not being used as a proper name in Psalms, it fits much better than you may think. Go ahead, and read Jesus for each salvation word.

But the reason the ancients were able to find more references to Messiah in the Psalms than did later Christians, is because they knew the language. Hebrew is the language of the Bible. It even undergirds the Greek New Testament. This means the entire Bible is filled with Hebrew thought form. The ancients knew the secrets of the language.

Will the Lord open this wonderful book and share with us its secrets? Oh yes. In fact the Lord speaks in one Psalm, saying, “Seek My face.” (Psalm 27:8) Thus every believer is told to seek the face of God in the Scriptures. Did not Jesus Himself elaborate on this? He said, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matt7:8)

Yes, over my years of ministry I have read through the Bible often. How many times I cannot say. But I can say this. Each time I come to the book of Psalms, I know a special treat awaits me. How I love to walk through the garden of His delights.

So -- Is the book of Psalms the hymnbook of Jesus? You can decide that for yourself.

Bro. Buddy and his wife Betty founded Christian Challenge in 1976 after having pastored and evangelized for several years. He serves as Senior Pastor and General Overseer. Bro. Buddy and Sister Betty have 3 children and 9 grandchildren, all of whom worship at Christian Challenge.