Jesus in the Psalm
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7-8; Psalm 69
This morning, we are reading from two great texts, and I had a hard time choosing which one to focus on for our devotional. Our reading in Deuteronomy contains one of the verses Jesus quoted to the devil during His temptation, which alone makes it worthy of our utmost attention. But Psalm 69 is also a significant Christological text. This time, I decided to go with Psalm 69.
My hope is that if you aren’t already doing so, you will begin to read the Old Testament with Christ-centered eyes and interpret it through the lens of the New Testament. After the resurrection, Jesus twice told His disciples that the Old Testament was about Him. That doesn’t mean it lacks life principles, practical applications, or lessons for daily living. It does mean, however, that its primary purpose is to point us to Christ as our Savior and Lord.
Psalm 69 is no exception. As you read, try to listen for echoes of the New Testament—without relying on marginal notes that point out where certain verses are quoted. Did you hear them?
I won’t give you the exact references here. Instead, I encourage you to find them yourself and train your mind to see how the text points to Christ. When reading the Psalms, I try to begin with this question: “What is the Christological interpretation of this Psalm?” Once you develop this habit, these connections will become more obvious, and you will see them more often.
Historically, Psalm 69 was written about David’s suffering and troubles. But in its Christological intent, it points to Christ’s suffering. Read it with that in mind. Doing so helps us enter into a deeper understanding of all that Jesus endured in His humiliation and suffering on our behalf.
Does that mean this psalm has nothing to do with us personally? Actually, it becomes even more helpful when we first see it as speaking of Jesus. When we recognize it as a description of His suffering, we gain a deeper appreciation of what Hebrews teaches about Jesus as our sympathetic High Priest—one who fully understands our sufferings, trials, and temptations. It also reminds us that in Christ, our suffering has been overcome and defeated. Victory is ours. Satan loses. And in the end, we will stand with Christ on resurrection ground.
As you read today, let Psalm 69 shape your worship and deepen your appreciation of Christ’s suffering on your behalf. May it also remind you that in Him, suffering is not the end of the story—resurrection and victory await.
