Psalms 1 41: Book 1

1. Summary: Psalms 12 have no titles that attribute authorship (but see Acts 4:25 for Psalm 2);
they provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. The remainder of Book 1 is made up
almost entirely of psalms of David: only Psalms 10 and 33 lack a Davidic superscription. Prayers
issuing from a situation of distress dominate, punctuated by statements of confidence in the God
who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (4041).
Reflections on ethics and worship with integrity are found in Psalms 1; 1415; 19; 24; and 26.

2. Places where this book of the Psalms point to Christ: Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and
follow him, and he makes a striking provision for us in the Psalms to do so. The Psalterin its
own way as much as the Gospelssums up Christs life and work while also making that life
and work something with which we can identify in a powerful way.1 Christ as representative man
experienced our human condition, yet without sin, and so the Psalms become his prayers to God
(see esp. Heb. 2:12; cf. Matt. 27:46 with Ps. 22:1).2
a. Ps. 1:1 - Gods commitment to bless the righteous is supremely shown when he blesses
Christ, the perfectly righteous man, by raising him from the dead and enthroning him
(Phil. 2:1011).
b. Ps. 2
i. 2:1 The rebellion of the peoples anticipates the rebellion against the message of
Christ (Acts 4:2527).
ii. 2:6 God uses David and other Israelite kings to protect his people against
enemies. These kings prefigure Christ, who is enthroned after his resurrection
(Acts 13:33) and now rules on behalf of his people (Eph. 1:2022).
iii. 2:8 Christ rules over all nations (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:21).
iv. 2:12 Salvation or damnation depends on ones relation to the Son (John 3:36).
c. Ps.8
i. 8:2 Praise from infants anticipates childrens praise of Christ (Matt. 21:16).
ii. 8:5 God gave Adam a distinguished role (Gen. 1:2830). But because of the
disobedience of Adam and his posterity (Rom. 5:1221), it is Christ who fulfills
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Joel J. Miller, http://goo.gl/QiHk5g. Accessed online 13 November 2014

ESV Study Bible Notes on the History of salvation in the OT. Accessed online 13 November 2014

the role and receives glory and honor in his resurrection and ascension (Heb. 2:5
9).
iii. 8:6 Dominion is finally achieved through Christs reign (1 Cor. 15:2528; Eph.
1:22; Heb. 2:59).
d. Ps. 22
i. 22:1 The suffering and abandonment of the psalmist prefigure the suffering of
Christ (Matt. 27:46).
ii. 22:8 The bystanders mock Christs trust (Matt. 27:43).
iii. 22:18 The soldiers around the cross divide Christs garments (Matt. 27:35 and
John 19:2324).
iv. 22:22 Public praise prefigures Christ praising God to his people for the salvation
that God has accomplished in him (Heb. 2:12).
v. 22:27 The Abrahamic promise of salvation to all nations (Gen. 12:3) will be
fulfilled as the message of Christs resurrection spreads (Matt. 28:1820; Luke
24:47; Gal. 3:14).
e. Ps. 40
i. 40:7 The psalmists eagerness to serve God prefigures the perfection of Christs
willingness and the perfection of his sacrifice (Heb. 10:510).
ii. 40:9 See note on 22:22.
f. Ps. 41
i. 41:9 The treachery against the psalmist prefigures Judass treachery against Christ
(John 13:18).
ii. 41:12 The eternal enjoyment of Gods presence anticipates the resurrection of
Christ (Heb. 9:24).3
3. FYI there are text critical notes on the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Hebrew Old
Testament) that would combine Psalms 1 & 2 into one psalm. Try reading them as one psalm and
see if that brings out new meaning for you!

All references taken from ESV Study Bible Notes on the History of salvation in the OT. Accessed online 13
November 2014
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