Psalms 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book, it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
When studying the Bible, Jesus Christ must always be at the center and focus of attention, because the purpose of the Bible being written is to point us to Jesus, primarily, and secondarily as sacred history containing His laws and instructions together with prophecies and the experiences of those whom God saw fit to set before our faces as learning curves.
In other words, whatsoever and however we might read and study the Bible, the bottom line is to have a clearer view of Christ, and a deeper relationship with Him. Any other purpose will fall short of God’s glory and will just be an escapade in gathering much information.
Very much of what we read in the Bible points us to Christ, and even though the passages might not say so explicitly, yet, with Him being at the center of our focus, we will see Jesus clearly in the shadows, and types that are written. This is true not only of Moses who wrote the first five books of the Bible, but of all the other writers of Scripture.
Isaiah and David, Jonah and Daniel, and all the rest of the Bible writers point us to Christ, some more, and some less. Thus, every time the Bible is opened in study, we must see Jesus as the focal point, and if this is done continuously, many things that seem to be murky, and riddled with dark sentences would be made very plain. Let’s read:
John 5:46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?
Almost all of what Moses wrote was about Christ, in some form or fashion and even though Jesus wasn’t mentioned by name, He is present all over Moses’ writings. In fact, our opening passage which says “Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me” is a reference to the Pentateuch which contains tons of information about Christ.
The Manna pointed to Christ, the uplifted serpent pointed to Christ, Joshua pointed to Christ, the sheep and sacrificial offerings pointed to Christ, Aaron also pointed to Christ, the stone which David used in his sling pointed to Christ, and even the goat offering on the day of Atonement, pointed to Christ. In fact, from Genesis to Revelation it’s Jesus from beginning to end. Let’s read:
John 8: 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Matthew 12: 39 But he answered and said unto them, an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, what think you of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
43 He saith unto them, how then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, these are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
Great care should be taken whenever we open the Scriptures, seeking to understand the meanings of passages and therefore, the Biblically recommended ways and means of exegesis must include line upon line, line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little.
Especially is this the case when studying the Psalms, for David goes back and forth between the first and second person as The Spirit gives him utterance, and thus, in one breath he might be speaking of his very own experiences, and in the next breath, he’ll shift directly to Christ, very often, without any notice to the casual reader.
Thus, whenever we study the Bible, we must seek to see Jesus, whether He be in the shadows or types or whether He be in plain sight. In other words, Christ must be our theme and focus, whenever the Bible is opened for study, because this is how Paul, and the other prophets studied the written word. Let’s read:
Hebrews 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, what is man, that You are mindful of him? or the son of man that You visit him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of thy hands.
To the cursory reader, this might seem to hearken back to creation week, when God set Adam over all the things He had created in this world. After Jesus was finished creating, He made Adam, and handed him the keys of dominion over everything, animate and inanimate, to rule over them according to God’s will. Let’s read:
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.
Psalms 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
6 Thou made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field.
To the casual reader, it seems set in stone that David and Paul are definitely referring to Adam. That’s one rendition, but Adam is not the focus of the scripture because he never died to save anyone. Thus, as Paul studies and writes, with Christ as the focal point, he comes up with a different understanding of the very same text. Let’s read:
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Here again is the very same thing occurring as David seems to be blurting out a barrage of curses against some unknown person, who, on the surface, seems to have done him some great wrong. In the next few verses, David seems to be seeking for revenge on his enemies, something which God instructs us against.
In fact, David himself was warned and instructed by God not to seek revenge upon Saul who hunted him like a wild beast for a long time, and David took the correction in stride, as he explained it to his soldiers, that they should not seek vengeance upon Saul.
Furthermore, Saul had been very dead, a few years well, so David could not be referring to him. And it’s not written anywhere in the Scriptures where David had such a bad beef with another person, for him to be uttering these withering curses, and asking God for revenge upon the person’s head.
Therefore, it seems quite strange and odd, that here David would be found drooling over retaliation upon some unknown person, for he had already crossed that bridge, and thus, the question is: Who on earth could David be speaking of, in the following verses?
We must let the Scripture be its own interpreter, for when a Christocentric focus is employed in studying, it seems as if the verses in question have absolutely nothing to do with David. Thus, we will take several passages from Psalms 109, and we will permit the Bible to explain who David is referring to. Let’s read:
Psalms 109: Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
John 15: 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
Psalms 109: 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Luke 22: 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, you come out as against a thief, with swords and staves?
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Psalms 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. 7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
Psalms 109:8 Let his days be few, (That is because Judas’ days would be cut short by suicide) and let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. {All references to Judas’ death by suicide}
Matthew 27: 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Obviously, an entirely different picture is beginning to emerge, because it is evident that David was not the focus of these passages, nor are his words some off the cuff rant, against some unknown individual, because of him drooling over personal revenge.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and thus, whatsoever might be one’s interpretation, we must never forget this: The Holy Spirit inspired David to write these things, and as such it definitely will pass the smell test. Let’s read:
2nd Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2nd Peter 1: 19 We have also a more-sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Furthermore, the scriptural references in the New Testament point us directly, and unmistakably to the fact that it is the experiences of Christ, with Judas as His betrayer, that David was referring to, and not to David himself venting a personal vendetta against some unknown person. Let’s read:
Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Psalms 109:13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
Matthew 26: 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
23 And he answered and said, He that dips his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
The reason why David, and then Jesus cemented the doom of Judas in such graphic terms is because it is true that it would have been better if Judas had not been born, because, according to the Scriptures and according to the prophet “Hulda”, Judas will have to die three times, in order for justice to be served and his name will be blotted out from the Lamb’s book of life. Let’s read:
Daniel 12: 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
This is a prophecy pointing unmistakably to the first resurrection at which the righteous and some of the notoriously wicked will arise from their graves at the same time, to see Jesus coming in the clouds.
The chief priests, Pilate, Herod, Judas, and the most violent offenders against Christ’s kingdom would be raised to see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven, and then they will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming, only to be resurrected again at Christ’s third coming, to receive their final reward, which is permanent extermination, once and for all. Let’s read:
Revelation 1: 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
[The Great Controversy pp 637] Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth ... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. “They also which pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7). Those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agony and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.
Psalms 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh fails of fatness.
25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me, they shook their heads.
Matthew 27: 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
The reason why it’s important for us to always have Jesus as the focal point of any Bible study is because if one were to read Psalms 109 and were to come to the conclusion that David is referring to himself, the next conclusion would be that it is okay for persons to follow his lead, and since he prayed for revenge, we too can also pray for revenge against offenders.
The fact is that there are things that David and some of the other prophets and Bible writers did, which we must never ever do, even though their deeds are written in the Scriptures.
In studying the Bible and its writers, we’ll have to choose the good and utterly refuse the evil because many of them did some good things, but many also did some bad things. Noah’s drinking must never be emulated, but you can follow his preaching.
Moses’ faithfulness can safely be duplicated by the people of God, but his anger management must be avoided. Abraham’s practice of the morning and the evening sacrifice can be mimicked by the saints, but the tendency to tell lies when in difficult situations, must be avoided.
When Christ is the theme and focus of our attention in the study of the Bible, we’ll always have a perfect example of what we can or cannot do, as far as the building of sterling character goes, and as God leads us in the various vicissitudes of life. Thus, when we might read in the Psalms of a call for vengeance, we must also remember the following passage, which justifies the utterances of The Holy Ghost through David, in Psalms 109. Let’s read:
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Let Jesus always be the focus of our study and dark things will be made plain, clarity would be brought to otherwise difficult passages of Scripture, and we will have Christ’s perfect example before our faces so that we need not err. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that should help us to keep our focus on Christ, for the Bible is all about the Person and Character of Jesus, from beginning to the end. Let’s read:
2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open faces, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
God Bless!