The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty- he is the King of glory.
Psalms 22, 23, & 24 are often called the Shepherd Psalm Trilogy.
Psalm 22 tells of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the flock and is a summary of what He did. It begins with the Lord’s first words from the cross and ends with His last. Its focus is humanity.
Psalm 23 portrays the Great Shepherd, a title from Hebrews 13:20, Who protects His flock. It’s what He’s doing now. It begins with our pledge of allegiance to Him and ends with the rapture. Its focus is the Church.
Psalm 24 describes the Chief Shepherd, so named in 1 Peter 5:4, Who rewards His flock. It explains what He’s going to do. It begins with the God of Jacob establishing His ownership of Planet Earth and ends with the Messiah in Jerusalem. Its focus is Israel.
The three Psalms form a unique picture of the Mission of the Messiah. (For more detail on Psalms 22-24 read The Shepherd Psalm Trilogy ) Written by King David over 1000 years before the first Christmas to show those things that must come to pass, it’s perhaps the best example anywhere in Scripture of how our Book is different from any other of the so-called holy writings. Only the Bible is self-validating, telling us things that will happen before they do with 100% accuracy, so we’ll know we can trust what it says.
“I am the LORD, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” (Isaiah 45:18b-19) Better believe it.