Series: Psalms
Title: Our Preacher, his Gospel, his Work
Text: Ps 22: 22-31
Date: May 14, 2014
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
The reason large, established faithful congregations exist is because the members continued together from when they were a very small congregation. Christ planted faithful members. He gave them hearts to be committed to the work. Christ grew them together. There are great advantages and lessons learned from growing together from a small family of believers. When I first became the pastor here,Todd Nibert said to me, “I would much rather begin in a small congregation and grow with them into a larger congregation than start out pastoring a large congregation.”
The reason most people are reluctant to continue in a small congregation is they look to the size of the congregation and the permanency of the building to determine if the church is established. But the true church of God is not established by those things. We are established by Christ our Foundation and our Head.
In this passage we see that Christ our High Priest is also our Preacher, the message is his message and the work is his work. He is the firm foundation of his church. Our subject is “Our Preacher, his Message, his Work.”
Psalm 22: 22: 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 [my devotions] 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.
CHRIST OUR PREACHER
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Preacher of his church. He says to God the Father, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps 22: 22) Moses said, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (De 18:15) Christ is that Prophet. It means Christ is our Preacher.
Christ preached in the garden. He was “the Voice walking” in the garden. We know that is true because God has always dealt with sinners through Christ our Mediator. Christ preached throughout the days of the Old Testament scriptures in different ways through his prophets, by various signs and even by pre-incarnate appearances of himself. (Heb 1: 1) Then as he walked this earth, both by his sermons and his actions, Christ preached to us. God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb 1:1-2) Most especially, Christ preached on the cross by his death, declaring God’s glory, declaring God providing himself a Lamb, declaring God is the justifier of his people, declaring God satisfied his own justice for his people. Christ continues to preach from his throne in heaven through the preachers he sends. Paul said, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2Co 5:20)
When God’s people gather publicly, it is not to be entertained or even instructed by the man speaking from the pulpit. We come to bow before Christ our Prophet to be taught of him. If we truly hear the gospel in our hearts, it will not be the voice of a man that teaches us, it will be Christ Jesus himself. Christ is our Preacher, our great Prophet. “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.” (Heb 12:25)
CHRIST’S MESSAGE
The message of Christ our Preacher is the name of God as Christ praises God in our midst. Christ said to God the Father, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps 22: 22)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVHAH Jireh, “The LORD will provide”, “the LORD will see to it”, “in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” (Gen 22: 14) In God’s holy mount Calvary on the cross, it was seen as God provided for his people by saving his people from our sins by Christ Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Rapha, “I AM the LORD that healeth thee.” (Ex 15: 23-26) All his people were bitter waters, dead in sins. But Christ is the Branch cast into the bitter waters. By Christ’s work of redemption and by Christ being formed in us “with his stripes we are healed.” (Is 53: 5)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVHAH Nissi, “I AM the Lord your banner.” (Exo 27: 15) Christ was lifted up like Moses rod was lifted up. He is lifted up on the cross, into heaven, in the gospel we preach and in the hearts of his people. Thereby, Christ gives us the victory in this war against sin, death, hell. We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. We rally to Christ like soldiers on a battle field rally to their flag. Christ is our Banner.
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Tzidkenu, “I AM the Lord your Righteousness.” (Jer 23: 6; 33: 16) Christ Jesus is the righteousness of God. (Rom 10: 3-4) “God set him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God, to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom 3: 25) Now, by his irresistible grace through faith, his bride has his name “and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.” (Jer 23: 6; 33: 16)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Shalom, “I AM the Lord your peace.” (Judg 6: 24) Due to, Christ reconciling his people unto God, even while we were enemies, Christ worked peace between his people and God. He made us the friend of God. (Rom 5: 6-11) Through faith in Christ, God says to his child what God said to Gideon, “Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” (Ju 6: 23)
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Shammah, “I AM the Lord who is there.” (Eze 48: 35). This is the name of the Lord in the midst of his church. It is why his church is the guarded city; it is why the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church. Jehovah Shammah! The Lord is there.
Christ declares God’s name, JEHOVAH Raah, “I AM the LORD your Shepherd.” (Ps 23). In this valley of the shadow of death, this cursed earth, only Jehovah Raah makes his sheep to lie down in green pastures.
The number of perfection is seven. These are the seven names of God. God’s name is perfect. And the perfection of God’s great name is declared in Jehovah Jesus, “I AM the LORD your Savior.” (Is 43: 3; Mt 1: 21)
Notice, who it is that Christ declare the name of God unto. Christ says, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps 22: 22) Christ declares God’s name unto his brethren in the midst of his congregation. His brethren are those God chose in him, those he made one with Christ in Christ, those Christ sanctified and made holy, those he assembles together. Therefore Christ is not ashamed to call us, “My brethren.” “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, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” (Heb 2:11-12) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8: 29)
The great congregation is Christ’ church. It is his people who Christ assembles in his churches all over the world. He is the gatherer and he is the preacher in our midst. Christ said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18: 20) From heavenly Jerusalem Christ preaches in the midst of the congregation, through his earthen vessels, his earthly preachers. Then at the predestinated hour, he calls for the Holy Spirit to enter into each of his brethren. Thereby, Christ declares the name of God in our hearts, sanctifying us into him by his effectual grace through faith. And he continues to save us by continuing to praise God our Father in our midst through the preaching of his gospel, “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows [my devotions] before them that fear him.” (Ps 22: 25)
CHRIST’S WORK
Next, in our text, Christ declares the work that he accomplishes through his gospel.
First, through his gospel, Christ commands every believer to praise, glorify and reverence God, “Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” (Ps 22: 23) When Christ gives the command, Christ gives the power to obey. It is by the word of his power that the sinner is made willing to praise the LORD, to glorify the LORD and to reverence the LORD.
Secondly, through his gospel, our great Preacher teaches us why we are to praise, glorify and reverence God, “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.” (Ps 22: 24) We despised God and his Christ; we were enmity against God and his Christ; we turned our face from God; we would not hear God. This was our affliction: our sin, our rebellion against God, our total ruin and inability.
Yet, God, he sent his only begotten Son to bear our sin then to bear the affliction of divine justice which his people deserved. Since Christ satisfied God’s divine justice for us, now, you who are truly afflicted—by your sin, by your need of mercy, by your need of God to save you—for Christ’s sake, you can go to God and he will not despise nor abhor your affliction, neither will he hide his face from you. When you cry unto him, in Christ’s name, he will hear you.
Once, I was painting nose-art on KC-10 aircraft for the United States Air Force. I was a civilian so the servicemen were not paying me any attention. When I would go the tool crib it was impossible to get them to give me the tools I needed. One day, I was walking back to a plane when a gentleman asked me what the problem was. After I told him, he took me to the tool crib. When we stepped inside, every soldier in the building jumped to attention. The man was a full bird colonel. He told the servicemen that from then on, when I walked in the room, they were to regard me as him. So from then on, anything I asked, in his name, I received. So it is with Christ as our Advocate with the Father. Christ said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (Joh 16:23)
Thirdly, through his gospel, Christ our Preacher shall successfully give his people all his spiritual blessings, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” (Ps 22: 26) It is only by the grace of Christ that each of his hardhearted, stiff-necked people are created anew and given hearts which are meek. Then Christ makes us to eat his flesh and drink his blood and to be satisfied with his gospel. It is by Christ’s work in our hearts that we are made to praise the LORD rather than giving ourselves praise. By Christ’s work in our hearts, Christ makes us seek him as he shows us our constant need. And Christ makes us live forever, Christ himself being our Life and our Light.
Fourthly, through his gospel, Christ our Preacher shall make his gospel effectual in his people no matter where we are in the world, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.” (Ps 22: 27) He does not say all the world but “all the ends of the world”; he does not say all the nations but his chosen people in “all the kindreds of the nations.” Christ is able to send the gospel and call out his people no matter where we are in this world. Christ shall make his gospel effectual in the hearts of his people, so that no matter their kindred or nation, they “shall turn unto the LORD” and “shall worship before him.”
Fifthly, through his gospel, Christ our Preacher shall make his gospel effectual in his people no matter who we are in the world. Some of his people—not many but some—are rich and influential. He says, “All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship.” (Ps 22: 29) Likewise, those who are poor, “All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.” (Ps 22: 29) Not one of his redeemed children—rich, poor or in between—shall be left out. All shall be brought to repentance, fed and saved by Christ our Prophet.
Sixthly, through his gospel, Christ our Preacher shall make his people give God all the glory for every aspect of our salvation. Each one shall praise Christ that Christ is our eternal Life, “And none can keep alive his own soul.” (Ps 22: 29) We have eternal life, not by our works, but by Christ our Life!
Also, Christ’s elect seed shall give Christ all the glory by serving him and crediting Christ for doing this work in his people from generation to generation, “A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” (Ps 22: 30) Christ’s “seed” are God’s elect. Each shall be brought to serve him. And each shall account this work to be by Christ alone. We declare that Christ brought his seed to serve him from generation to generation. We glory in Christ because it is by the work of the Lord preaching the gospel to us, by Christ making the word effectual in our hearts, that we lay hold on Christ our Righteousness through faith. The next verse declares this is the meaning
Seventhly, the next verse also declares another work Christ shall accomplish through his gospel. Christ shall make us declare this gospel of his righteousness and through it, Christ shall birth more of his people into his kingdom, “They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” (Ps 22: 31)
By Christ’s work, one generation after another, shall come declaring the gospel of God’s righteousness, the Lord Jesus our Righteousness. By Christ’s grace, we preach this gospel unto a people that shall be born of God. They, too, are the seed of Christ. They shall serve him because God chose them, Christ redeemed them and through the gospel the Holy Spirit shall regenerate them. Our message to this people who shall be born is that our triune God in the person of Christ Jesus "has done this."
Believer, rest assured that Christ’s church is established forever! It is because Christ is our Preacher. It is because Christ’s message is the name of God. It is because Christ works all that is declared here, from accomplishing the work of redemption for us, to making this word effectual in our hearts.
Christ is our great High Priest who lived and died to make us the righteousness and holiness of God. And Christ is our Prophet who reveals the gospel in our hearts. One last thing. The reason our Prophet and Priest shall successfully bring all these things to pass through his gospel without fail is because Christ is also our King, our God, “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.” (Ps 22: 28)
All power belongs to the risen, glorified GodMan, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior. All authority in heaven and earth is his. (Mat 28:18; Eph 1: 20-2: 1) That is what Isaiah meant when he declared, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6)
Amen!