JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS III (20-29)
JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS III
Psalms 20-29
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
August 12, 2025, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Last week, when we finished with Psalms 10-19. Sonya perceived, “We went from Israel to Heaven.”
It was a really good trip. Let us see where the Holy Spirit takes us today.
Psalm 20 – The Assurance of God’s Saving Work.
20:9: Save, LORD!
This Psalm of Trust is like a National Anthem that was sung in public before going to battle (Battle Hymn).
It is timely for us to decree over the upcoming meeting with President Trump and Vladimir Putin. 20:1-4: May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob defend you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion… May he grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your purpose.
Psalms 20-24 are closely connected. This is the prayer of the people on behalf of the King as he goes forth to battle.
This Prayer for Victory reveals Jesus the bunt offering.
20:5-9: We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God, we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots; and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. SAVE, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.
PSALM 21 – The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD.
In Your salvation, how greatly shall he rejoice!
This continues Psalm 20. It is David’s triumphant Song. It is his thanks for victory after the battle. Again, as President Trump goes into this meeting with Putin, we can decree this song of victory over him. We can also declare the LORD’s victory over the meetings.
21: 2-5: You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him--- length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation. Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
It is the Psalm of the exaltation of the Christ. It is the Psalm of the King and is the Royal Triumphal Ode. It is the out-poured joy from the heart of Jesus Christ.
21: 7-8: For the king trusts in the LORD and through the mercy of the Most High, he shall not be moved. You hand will find all Your enemies. Your right hand will find those who hate You.
The enemies who planned evil are swallowed up, destroyed and utterly overcome.
Verse 9 speaks of the “hot fire” of the king as well as the fire of God’s judgment. “The king” in this Psalm could speak of anyone in a place of authority (civil, domestic, ecclesiastical) in various dimensions. I remember Kim Clement’s prophecy over President Trump that he would be “hot blooded.”
21:9: You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger. The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath; and the fire shall devour them.
PSALM 22 – THE CROSS – THE SAVIOR
This Psalm has a name, “Aijeleth Shahar” Hebrew for the Deer or (hind) of the Dawn or the Day-Dawn. The “hind” is symbolic of the LORD.
As we continue through Psalm 24. Note the pattern:
1. Psa. 22 – THE CROSS – THE SAVIOR
2. Psa. 23 – THE CROOK – THE SHEPHERD
3. Psa. 24 – THE CROWN – THE SOVEREIGN
This is one of the chief Messianic Psalms. It further reveals the secret principle that must work in us on this spiritual journey if we are to be part of the reality of this NEW DAY.
It reveals the heart-cry of the Crucified Man. It has two great movements. The first admits us to the lonely suffering of the Lamb of God (1-21). The second brings us into the presence of the joy of the Victor.
In His Passion on the Cross, Jesus quoted the exact first words.
22:1: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
(My Eli, My Eli Mt. 27:46)
Why are You so far from helping Me and from the words of My groaning?
22: 1: Why…?
22: 3-5: But you are holy…
22:6-8: But I am a worm, and no man, a reproach…
22: 9-11: But thou are He that look me out of the womb…
22: 12-18: Bulls surround Me, strong bulls of Bashem…
22: 19-21: But don’t be far from me, O LORD…
The Victor who saw the Triumph through His Travail and the Votive (vow) Feast:
22:22-26: I will declare Your name to My brethren in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
We can decree this over Israel as they fight the nations of the earth to protect their people, their cities, and their land. We, too, are of the DNA of Israel through the Blood of Jesus Christ.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. Nor has He hidden His face from Him. But when he cried to Him, He heard. My praise shall be of You in the great assembly…
The Boundless Kingdom:
22: 27-31: All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For the kingdom is the LORD’s and He rules over the nations… All those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him. Even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the LORD to the next generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born; that he has done this.
PSALM 23:1: – THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
This is the Shepherd’s Psalm and the Pastoral of our Heavenly David. Its truths are inexhaustible. To those who have received Jesus as Savior, he becomes to us a Shepherd.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. Jn. 10:10.
Jesus is the Great Shepherd of Heb. 13:20.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of 1 Peter 5:4.
“This Psalm has flown like a bird up and down the earth, singing the sweetest song ever heard. It has charmed more grief to rest than all the philosophies of the world. It will go on singing to your children, and to my children, and to their children, till the end of time. And when its work is done, it will fly back to the bosom of God, fold its wings, and sing on forever in the happy chorus of those it had helped to bring there.” (Henry Ward Beecher).
The Lord reveals Himself to us in this Psalm as our Shepherd, Provider, Guide, Salvation, Faith, Comforter, Security, Rest, Peace, Hope and Future. Many types of loss and fear of loss can bring people into the wilderness of grief: death of a spouse, family member, or friend; loss of health, terminal illness; birth of a child with a mental or physical challenge; divorce, job loss, geographic move; child with a severe or terminal illness; end of a love relationship and many more.
All the circumstances of our earthly pilgrimage are here: want, weariness, journeying s, wanderings, death, perplexities, the shadowed mysteries of the valleys, the thronging enemies, and the infinite beyond, are present and the singer knows them. Finally, the path runs on, not into a tangled wilderness, but into the King’s own palace.
Psa. 23: 1-6: The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cups runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
People search for eternal and human comfort from the storms, droughts, hungers, earthquakes, illnesses, loss of love through death or divorce, financial losses, trauma, loss of dreams, etc. The soul often searches wandering and wondering around for new direction, hope and happiness. After such loss we must slowly renegotiate our roles, goals, love, finances, family, future, etc. The Chief Shepherd has left us a comforter, the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth and help us enter the mystery of the unknown. Throughout the life cycle we had to die in order to live. Faith is the fuel that feeds our spirit and courage as we make the journey.
The Great Shepherd of Psalm 23 now becomes the Chief shepherd of Psalm 24 as the King of Glory! This Psalm completes or consummates the series of Messianic Psalms which began with Psalm 15. Psalm 24 reveals One who is All - Creating, All- Holy, and All- Victorious, the King of Glory.
PSALM 24: 8: WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?
24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.
This Song is the ascension and the arrival of the King in Zion. Zion is where the Throne of God is eternally established and sure against all attacks of an enemy. (Psa. 2:6; 87:5)
Psalm 15 deals with abiding in Zion. In Psalm 24, we ascend into Zion.
Ps. 15:1: Lord who shall bide in your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in your holy hill? He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.
He that does these things shall never be moved” This is a picture of the Overcomer, who is a pillar in the Temple of God. These are the true citizens of Zion and the character of the Godly, and the man after God’s heart.
There is presently in the earth a Zion company who are ascending progressively into the realms of the Spirit. Like eagles we are soaring from the realm of dust into the heavenlies!
In this Messianic Psalm the Savior who triumphed through suffering, the Shepherd who leads his own through pilgrimage is seen ascending to the place (THRONE) of power and authority in Zion. The first movement recognizes the Sovereignty of Jehovah over the created world and its inhabitants.
Then we see some accompanying the King as He approaches the place of power, and others wait, guarding the entrance. Verse 3 is a single voice and Verse 4 is an answering voice.
24:3-4: Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
This is the invitation of the seed of Abraham to the top of the mountain. Vanity in verse 4 is the idolatry of duality. “The man of impeccable behavior and pure motives”, who never sets his mind on what is false and who never swears to a lie.
24: 7-10: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O your gates; even lift them up, you everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Verses 7-10 gives a double witness pertaining unto Jesus and His brethren. The King of Glory here is Jehovah Tsebaoth (hosts = armies).
Psalm 25 is connected to Psalm 24. As 24 refers to Zion, the new place of worship, Psalm 25 is to the worship itself. Psalm 24 corresponds with 1 Chron. 15, and Psalm 25 with 1 Chron. 16, which together give a full description of the worship on Mount Zion. The Day of Atonement principle.
PSALM 25:1 – TO YOU, O LORD, I LIFT UP MY SOUL.
This Psalm is David in miniature. A picture of his whole life. It could have been written in his latter day. I prefer to picture him in prayer as young man in search of the redemption of his soul.
25:1-5: Oh my God, I trust in You. Let me not be ashamed. Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed let no one who waits on You be ashamed. Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Show me Your ways, O LORD. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me. For You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all day. Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies, and Your loving kindnesses, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for your goodness’s sake, O LORD.
Verses 1-7 is the sobbing of a man or woman in travail to be delivered from the pain of the soul, whether this pain is depression, rejection, abandonment, betrayal, being falsely accused, or in danger. I can identify with this type of praying as a young woman as I too prayed from the realm of the pain of my soul with this same intensity.
Verse 8-15 is the prayer of Faith in the absolute certainty of who God is even in the midst of deepest distress and travail of the soul. It is the certainty Good and upright is the Lord… The humble He guides in justice… The paths of the Lord are mercy and truth… pardon my iniquity, for it is great… the man who fears the LORD shall dwell in prosperity and his descendants shall inherit the earth….
Verse 14 is the secret of the lord. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him He will show them His covenant.
In verses 16-22, the prayer again moves into supplication for the great need of a troubled man… ending with.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles.
This begins a new section of Psalms which ends at Psalm 39.
Psalms 26-28 are written by David during a time of his reproach. Psalm 26 is his declaration of innocence in which he protests his integrity and offers a prayer for vindication. This is the prayer of a good man. He is not claiming perfection, but a consistent life of trust and obedience to God.
PSALM 26 - Vindicate me, O LORD; for I have walked in my integrity I have also trusted in the LORD. I shall not slip.
David is in reproach. The occasion is the murder of Ishbosheth by Baanah and Rechab (2 Sam 4: 2-9). This is his declaration of innocence. This is a prayer of a good man. He is not claiming perfection but a consistent life of trust and obedience to God.
The central word of the song may be 26:6: …so will I compass thine altar, O LORD. (KJV).
1-6: Conditions of personal life necessary to worship. (nothing to hide).
7-8: The true exercise of worship. that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all your wondrous works.
9-11: Prayer for preparation.
12: Assurance – My foot stands in an even place in the congregations I will bless the LORD.
PSALM 27 – THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION,
whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
David was a man with one desire. 27:4: One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
I remember praying this to the LORD, not that I was quoted the scripture, but I asked the LORD for the blessing to always dwell in the house of the LORD. It was in a Methodist church, at the altar, one Sunday evening. I was 41. I remember that prayer and that evening. The Lord answered that for me. I had no idea I would one day pastor a church,.
The cry of David here is very urgent. The peril is so great that death threatens. Jehovah is the only help. Suddenly the prayer becomes a song of praise, and act of adoration. The prayer is heard. The help is granted, and the song begins.
PSALM 28 – To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock.
This is a sequel to Psalm 27 and is a prayer for deliverance. David was ever slandered and this was another of his songs in the night. This is a cry for judgment upon the enemies and praise for the anticipated deliverance. Church, it is okay to pray for deliverance from all evil and the evil doers. The Psalm which follows is twenty-nine and another of one my favorite Psalms. I am happy to have it to close with during this session.
The 28th Psalm is the cry of the remnant who are experiencing great distress and cry for help, and who in faith look forward to it.
28:7: The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.
PSALM 29:3: THE GOD OF GLORY THUNDERS
This is the Psalm of the voice of the Lord and pertains to the Day of the Lord, described here as a great storm. The voice of the LORD is Jesus as seen in Jer. 33: 7-13 and Rev. 19:10. But that voice is being multiplied into a voice of many waters Rev. 1:15 and Ezek. 47:1-12.
It is the answer to the cry for help in Psalm 28 which corresponds unto the groan of creation in Rom. 8: 14-25.
This is the Psalm of the Seven Thunders of the Lord:
1. 29:3: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders.
The Lord is upon many waters (humanity).
2. 29:4: The voice of the Lord is powerful.
3. 29:4b: The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. This is the fullness of His stature from the Most Holy Place.
4. 29:5: The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. These are the Kings of the trees. Cedars speak of the great men of the earth. Cedars speak of those called to be kings with Him. He makes them also to skip like calves.
5. 29:7: The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. This is another designation for the Sons of God as fire carriers.
6 29:8: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kedesh. The word is shaking the place of decision. Our unbelief and rebellion are being shaken by the Word.
7: 29:9 - The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to calf and discovers the forest. (Trees represent men).
29: 9b: In his temple everyone says, “Glory!”.
29:10: The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever.
The rainbow of covenant-peace over the entire Psalm is in the last verse, 29:11: The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 18:13: The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Rev. 10: 1-5: And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book open; and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars; and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them now. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven.
The colossal, mighty angel gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted the voices of the seven thunders spoke…The angel said (Verse 6): There will be no more delay! ( KJV) time no longer. (NIV) No more Delay.
Joel 3:16: The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, the earth and sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX