A thousand years before Christ’s birth, in Psalms 104 – 112, the poetry of psalmists expressed the Story of God’s redemption of His people through Jesus Christ. This God-inspired prophecy, starting with Creation history, calls us to praise God today just as it did in David’s and Jesus’s time.
In Psalm 104, God’s power is shown through the Creation of the World. We are treated to a sensory explosion of words describing the beginnings of time. Everything was made in God’s wisdom and the earth’s creatures depended on God. If God turned away, the creatures panicked and died. The psalmist praises God for the beautiful Creation.
Psalm 105 continues the praise to God for “…the wonders He has performed, His miracles, and the rulings He has given.” We are reminded of how God remained faithful and stood by His covenant through the times of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and will do so for “thousands of generations.” This Psalm is filled with God’s deliverance of His people so they (and we) would follow his decrees and obey His instructions.
Psalm 106 is one of lament. Why -- when God had blessed all so bountifully? We soon forgot what God had done and tested God’s patience –landing us in a dry wasteland of sin. Despite our rebellion then and now, God continues to rescue us; He remembers His covenant with us and “relented because of His unfailing love and mercy.”
Psalm 107 foreshadows Jesus Christ, the One who will rescue and redeem us by God’s mercy, and allow us to stand in the presence of the Holy God. It starts with: “His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!” When we cry out, He rescues us from our distress through Jesus, our Redeemer. Our response? “…Praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done.., and [to] exalt Him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.”
In Psalms 108, David reminds us to plead to God for “help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless, [but] with God’s help, we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foes.”
Psalm 109 sets David and us in a courtroom for trial. Our case comes up for judgment with an accuser calling us guilty and an evil witness against us. The accuser asks the “Lord [to] never forget the sins of [our] fathers” and “that [our] mother’s sin never be erased from the record.” But when we, as David, cry out in faith and trust to be saved, we can give thanks for the Lord sent Jesus to “stand beside the needy, ready to save from those who condemn them (and us).”
Psalm 110 is written by David in prophetic language pointing to Jesus Christ, David’s descendant, who will be the Lord that “stands at our right hand to protect us. It starts with: “The Lord said to my Lord…” and is quoted by Jesus to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:44 shortly before his death when He offers it as explanation to the Pharisees. Peter also quotes this passage in Acts 2:34 at Pentecost proclaiming that the crucified Jesus Christ was the Messiah.
Psalms 111 and 112 bring us full circle to praise of God for our redemption. “How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands. All His commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.” “God has paid a full ransom for His people” by His Son Jesus. “He has guaranteed His covenant with them (and us) forever.” “What a holy, awe-inspiring name He has!”
I am so grateful to God for giving His Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, the Reason for this Season.