Prophetic Themes, Part LV

In this 55th post on prophetic themes we will discuss yet another prophecy about the betrayal of Jesus. Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve and in one of the most unsuspecting places, one of the most known of all the Psalms, Christ's betrayal is prophesied. Psalm 23 is not just a comforting Psalm which is why it is so popular and memorized by many Christians but it is all about Jesus. Spoken by King David, as he was led by the Holy Spirit, 28 generations before Christ was born. Here is one of the prophetic connections and it's fulfillment.

^{Psalm 23:5}

⁵ You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.

^{Luke 22:20-23}

²⁰In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²²The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." ²³They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Prophetic Themes, Part LIV

We know that Psalms was written many generations before Jesus. Jesus and the Apostles often quoted Psalms. As you may have read in many of my other posts, Psalms 22 rings out with prophetic themes or connections about the time of Jesus. This is how you read the bible. The bible is written in themes and you will not understand it until you connect them through the various books. I am going to give you some examples. The connecting books are Psalms and Matthew; Psalms 22 and Matthew 27. Connection #1:

 Matthew 27:45-46

⁴⁵From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

^{Psalm 22:1}

¹ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Connection # 2:

^{Matthew 27:41-43}

⁴¹In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴²"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

 Psalm 22:7-8

⁷ All who see me mock me;
       they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

 ⁸ "He trusts in the LORD;
       let the LORD rescue him.
       Let him deliver him,
       since he delights in him."

Connection # 3:

^{Matthew 27:35}

³⁵When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^{[b] 36}And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

^{Psalm 22:17-18}

¹⁷ I can count all my bones;
       people stare and gloat over me.

 ¹⁸ They divide my garments among them
       and cast lots for my clothing.

Prophetic Themes, Part LIII

The very emotions of Jesus Christ can be found in Psalm 88. He stands before the Lord afflicted, carrying the incredible weight of our sins. He was made the most sinful of all men even though He was the most perfect of all men. He was made that way for us and God the Father turned His back on Him and God's wrath poured over Him in His last days.

The dregs of that cup... the sin of the world laid so heavy upon Jesus. So many generations before He was born these words of Christ were spoken through David (inspired by the Holy Ghost). No doubt that David may have also felt these incredible emotions but it is obvious that the words are not just his but prophetic mirrors of what Christ would experience at the hand of God.

As you read these verses, you must realize above all that this suffering came because of His love for us. We gain insight from these verses on the feelings that Jesus had during His last days. He was punished for the sin of the world that He took upon himself and God forsook Him for a time as part of that punishment and sent Him to the pit (grave). The story does not end here though as God had mercy on His son and raised Him from the dead on the third day.

^{Psalm 88:3-8}

³ For my soul is full of trouble
and my life draws near the grave.

⁴ I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am like a man without strength.

⁵ I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off from your care.

⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.

⁷ Your wrath lies heavily upon me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
Selah

⁸ You have taken from me my closest friends
and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;

Prophetic Themes, Part LII

The book of Psalms overflows with prophecies concerning Jesus. The prophecies of his coming kingdom resonate throughout all the books of the Bible but Psalms especially. In the following verses it is clear that God is talking about David but it is a mirror of Jesus Christ. Actually, God is talking about Jesus and not just David's throne.

^{Psalm 89:26-29}

²⁶ He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.'

²⁷ I will also appoint him my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
²⁸ I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.

²⁹ I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.

God again declares, as the Psalm continues, that David's throne will endure forever. However, David is dead and his throne did come to an end but the reference here is talking about Jesus who was David's descendant.

^{Psalm 89:35-37}

³⁵ Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David-

³⁶ that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;

³⁷ it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky."
Selah

In Psalm 89 we also find some prophetic mirrors and themes that relate to Jesus Christ's suffering and cross in the following verses.

^{Psalm 89:38-45}

³⁸ But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.

³⁹ You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.

⁴⁰ You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.

⁴¹ All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.

⁴² You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.

⁴³ You have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.

⁴⁴ You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.

⁴⁵ You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
Selah

Prophetic Themes, Part LI

Time to take a break from prophetic references and discuss prophecy. The word prophecy makes many Christians uncomfortable. Thanks to many charlatans and others that (outside of the spirit and outside of the word) have made many claims about the end of days, there are many views of biblical prophecy. Prophecy scares people and causes fear. However, prophecy is not just about the end of days but about the promise of a new world no longer separated from God.

Prophecy is just as important of a subject as grace, salvation, or love. The whole of the Bible is about prophecy. All the way through, from beginning to end, each book has some prophetic words in it. In Revelation 19, we find a very important scripture. The angel tells John that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. Paul used prophetic references from Psalms and other books of the Old Testament to get his point of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ across to the Jews of his day.

Events such as the birth of Christ, birth of John the Baptist, location of the birthplace, Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection, and return are all found as prophecy in the Old Testament. Prophecy comes from God not from man. Although many take God's word and interpret it in many ways, the word of God stands true. There is only one truth and only one way to discern it and that is through the word of God. We may not know the details of the future or end times but through prophetic themes and connections through His word, we know exactly what is going to happen. Do not listen to those who prophesy the details without scripture to back it up. Oh, and not just one scripture but many.

Revelations 19:10

10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."