I. The singing and sanctification of Christ
Psalms 22:22-31 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. {23} Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. {24} For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. {25} My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. {26} The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. {27} All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. {28} For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. {29} All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. {30} A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. {31} They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
A. Psalms 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.Prophetic passages of the messianic kingdom all find their fulfillment in Christ. This passage is quoted as fulfilled in Christ in Hebrews 2:
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.Then we see a verse of Hebrews (connected with Psalm 22) that finds a beautiful comparison with the prayer of Jesus Christ:
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,How is God able to call them His brethren, bring them to glory, and to sing over them and rejoice over them? Through sanctifying them through His own sanctification. He set Himself apart (sanctified) not only through His death, but also through His resurrection:c. John 17:17-19 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. {18} As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. {19} And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
d. Zephaniah 3:9-20 (especially vs. Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.)
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.Christ's resurrection was ultimately the goal of His complete sanctification and our sanctification or being made holy. We must remember that Christ was made a curse for us:
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Christ became sin for us:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.He was a worm and reproach and bore our sin for us:
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.In the most real sense Christ was made holy (sanctified) through His blood and resurrection:
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he (Christ) was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?Compare with:
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.Of course He was vindicated and justified from that curse through His resurrection:
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.II. To fear God is to praise God
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.And especially:2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;I believe it is Christ speaking when He says:
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:1-4 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. {2} For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. {3} But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. {4} For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Psalms 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.Remember, the context speaks of Christ declaring the name of the Father to the congregation and singing praise in the midst of the congregation:
Psalms 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.Hebrews shows this is Christ:
Hebrews 2:11-12 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, {12} Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.Therefore we should seriously consider that the praise to the Father in the midst of the congregation is speaking of the Son as well as the vows offered, for this too involves the praise to the Father by the Son in the great congregation and paying vows for those that fear Him:
Psalms 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.It is Christ who offers the vows and praises the Father, singing with joy over the congregation. The vows He offered are the "better sacrifices than these."
Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.Here is another passage that speaks of the vow and its effects:
Psalms 65:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. {2} O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. {3} Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. {4} Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."Unto Thee shall the Vow be performed." It is this vow that effects the "purging away" of the transgressions of His people. Through that vow or offering of Christ, not only are His people purged, they are also caused to approach God and satisfied with with the goodness of God's House and Temple. Of course His people are the House and the Temple in whom God has made His presence:
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.In regard to fearing God, the passage in Psalm 22 says:2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Psalms 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.What does true fear of God produce? Praise. It is inevitable. This is by the sovereign working of God upon the hearts of His people:
Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.Psalm 111 speaks of this fear of God:
Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: {4} That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.An incredible passage that speaks of the fear of God and the praise of God is Jeremiah 33:
God shows the immediate punishment coming upon Israel by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), but then gives the glorious prophetic outlook concerning the messianic kingdom. God says He would bring His people health and cure and reveal the abundance of peace and truth to them (vs.6). Compare this with:2. Jeremiah 33:1-18 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, {2} Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; {3} Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. {4} For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword; {5} They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. {6} Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. {7} And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. {8} And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. {9} And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. {10} Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, {11} The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. {12} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. {13} In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD. {14} Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. {15} In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. {16} In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. {17} For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; {18} Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
Health:
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.Peace:
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 2:13-17 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. {14} For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; {15} Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.And the revelation of Truth:
John 1:14-17 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. {15} John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. {16} And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. {17} For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.God also tells Jeremiah that He would set the captives free and that He would build them again:2 John 1:1-2 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; {2} For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
Jeremiah 33:7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.Certainly Amos agrees with this:
Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:And of course James in the book of Acts says this was being fulfilled:
Acts 15:13-17 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: {14} Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. {15} And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, {16} After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: {17} That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.Jeremiah continues:
Jeremiah 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.To ascribe cleansing to any other period than the messianic period through His blood would be error. The Bible is clear:
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {26} That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, {27} That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.Certainly the blueness of Christ's wounds and His stripes have cleansed away our evil and the grotesque wickedness within our hearts.Proverbs 20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
In vs.9 God proclaims:
Jeremiah 33:9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.God says that the New Jerusalem shall be to Him a name of joy. There are other passages that speak of this delight God has for His church:
Zephaniah 3:16-20 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. {17} The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. {18} I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. {19} Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. {20} At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.Of course Jeremiah portrays this at taking place before the nations. This theme is addressed elsewhere:
Psalms 132:13-14 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. {14} This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
Isaiah 61:9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.Prosperity and goodness are two elements which Jeremiah predicts. In Christ these elements are secure:Ezek 37:28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
Isa 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?What a blessing to do a word study on riches and the prosperity we have in Christ. It makes the Word of Faith Prosperity Movement look like a bunch of peasants.
Romans 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Romans 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
To continue, Jeremiah says:
Jeremiah 33:11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.Who is the bride and the Bridegroom?
Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.Jeremiah spoke of the joy of this Messianic period and so did John the Baptist and Christ:Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {26} That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, {27} That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.Now, we all would agree that there is no greater joy than the joy that Christ has. Remember, He rejoices over us with singing. So then, if Christ prayed that we would have this joy fulfilled in ourselves, then it follows that there is no greater joy than being in Christ. So if Jeremiah 33 is speaking of a yet future period, then whatever joy would come in that period would only be less than the joy which we already have as a result of Christ's prayer and sacrifice. Remember that Christ prayed that His servants would be with Him where He is to behold His glory. That is real joy. The Psalmist understood that this prophetic element would come:
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.Just a note: It is important to realize that these passages I am citing are all passages concerning the New Covenant.
Psalms 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Psalms 51:8-9 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. {9} Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalms 65:13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Psalms 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Psalms 137:6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.Notice that joy in the above verse is associated with seeing the glory of the Lord. This takes us back to Psalms:
Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.Not only this, but contemplate the joy of which the New Testament writers spoke:
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.Again, in the above passage, notice the association with joy and the revelation of the glory of God, a glory which was already in the process of being revealed as the first century church was being changed from OC death into NC life:1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.The theme of joy continues in the New Testament:
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.Also, consider this relation:
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.Remember, the Bible says they were already in heavenly places. So really, the joy in heaven was already taking place during the first century:
Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.But specifically concerning Christ and the joy of salvation:
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.This prayer was answered, and now our joy is full through Christ dwelling in us.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.Not only was the prayer of the apostles answered that their joy would be full, Christ's prayer was also fulfilled. God did answer His prayer and the joy of His people was fulfilled as they entered into the holiest of all, being face to face with Jesus Christ, their Husband.
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.Again, is there greater joy than being in the kingdom of God?
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. {4} And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.The joy of heaven is especially apparent in our communion with believers, for this is the physical manifestation of our heavenly union with Christ in the City of the Living God, where we have come to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Finally, here, again, is the association of glory and joy:
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,I suppose I will finish with that for now. Psalm 22 is truly a wonderful Messianic passage.