David's Messianic Psalms

David, the great soldier and king, was also a musician who wrote many psalms (songs), several of which prophesied that the LORD would send a Messiah who would suffer and reign.

David, the mighty warrior, became a great king. He was also a musician and wrote many songs called Psalms under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. Sometimes, David used his songs to praise God for His goodness and protection. Other times, he cried out for forgiveness of his sins. Still other times, he complained to God about the situation in which he found himself. David wrote his songs about his own personal struggles and victories; he had plenty! But the lyrics of some of his songs deal with grander—and more horrific (!)—situations than David ever experienced. In these instances, David was writing about a person who was to live on this earth after him, about a Promised One who would come later. David was prophesying about a future deliverer. Because of God’s covenant with David, David knew that God would deliver his descendant(s) from trouble and suffering just as he had delivered David.

Speaking or writing about someone who would come to deliver God’s people was not new. God first spoke of a person when He told Adam and his wife that from Eve would come one who would defeat Satan. God also spoke of blessing all families of the earth through a future descendant of Abraham. Someone special was referred to when Jacob declared that the scepter would never depart from Judah and later when Nathan told of the unending reign of David’s line. Even Moses’ proclamation of a future prophet who would instruct the people foresaw the coming of a significantly different, important person.

All this foretelling of someone special who would deliver or, bless or reign brought hope to God’s people. As time passed, those Israelites who were serious about all that the Lord had said and who thought deeply about it began to realize that the LORD’s plan to provide lasting hope and joy for mankind was focusing on one special person whom they referred to as the Messiah (“anointed one”).

Through David’s songs about that person, the general identity and intended roles of God’s Messiah became increasingly clear. These songs came to be known as messianic psalms. Among other things, these songs tell us that the Messiah will be a powerful ruler whom the enemies of the LORD will fear. And yet, they also tell of one who will be humiliated, suffer greatly—even die—at the hands of His enemies. How can this be? Who can this be?