I ended quoting the entire Psalm since the progression of it really paints a picture.
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.’ Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ” (v1-11)
Do you notice how around verse 7b the song changes perspective from a human viewpoint to that of God? It switches from speaking of God as “He” to speaking of Him as “I”. this leads me to one of two conclusions – One, the psalm has two perspectives built into it, kind of like other chapters where prophets are repeating God’s words to the people (eg. Moses or Isaiah). Or two, the psalm is written from the perspective of the angel of the Lord (ie. Jesus).
I realize scenario one is more likely, however picture for one moment that scenario two is true – this is a psalm written by Jesus. Now reread it. I’m not sure about you, but I can picture the heart of Jesus throughout that psalm praising the Father, and then mourning the loss of those who wouldn’t follow Him in the wilderness.
Now let’s consider these two passages: “At that time Jesus declared, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ ” (Mt 11:25-30) “So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’ ” (Jn 10:7-11)
Jesus’ heart is parallel to the psalmist’s in these ways:
– they both praise the Father for who He is (Lord and creator of heaven and earth)
– they approve of the young/sheep for being teachable and mourn the stubbornness and hard hearts of the others
– both long for people to have soft hearts toward God and they lament those who do not
– both long for rest for the soul that only Jesus/God can provide
– both refer to people as sheep, and are grateful God/Jesus is their shepherd
I know that this psalm isn’t written by Jesus (or the angel of the Lord as He was called in the OT), though I can’t help but wonder what a psalm written by Him would look like – would it look something like this?
Father God, praise be to You Lord and Creator of heaven and earth. Thank you for being our good and gentle shepherd, and softening our hearts toward You. We pray for Your continued guidance each and every day that our example of Christ-likeness would help soften the hearts of others. Father please continue to work in and through each of us, so Your heart may be known to us and those around us. Thank you for loving and protecting us, and giving us safe pastures where our souls can find rest. Thank you especially that the Good Shepherd laid down His life for us, His sheep. All honor, praise and glory be to You, the rock of our salvation. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training