It is not just the prophets of the Old Testament that foretell of the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, but it also the royal psalms. In the worship life of Israel this psalm was used for the coronation of a king. In the course of the history of God’s people-- especially during the four-hundred years before Jesus’ birth-- it was used to prophesy of the coming of the Messiah who would rescue them/us from all enemies and give us salvation.
These words of the psalmist are particularly important for the year of readings we are in from St. Matthew. We use this psalm on Transfiguration Sunday to connect us with the words from above of God to Jesus, “This is my Son, my beloved, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5) On Baptism of Our Lord Sunday we connect these words to Jesus’ own baptism when Jesus “
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17) This evangelist Matthew who speaks time and again of Old Testament Scripture being fulfilled in Jesus makes ultimate use of this royal psalm. He even points in the direction of us by virtue of our own baptisms being made sons and daughters of God.
In our worship life it is important to lift up Jesus coming as the Son of God to save us, even as He demonstrates to us what a really, godly ruler looks like. We need to remember that we are blessed sons and daughters of God. We especially need to remember God blesses us as His royal sons and daughters during this coronavirus crisis.
How does it feel to be royalty?
Let us pray.
“Gracious God, help us always to remember that God keeps His promises, even as He kept the long-ago prophetic promise that He would send Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Help us to trust in promises still to be fulfilled, knowing God will keep them. Amen.”
Pastor Roger
Tomorrow: Psalm 8 “Rejoicing over the Blessing of Creation”
