From Jeffrey R. Holland and his book “For Times of Trouble”:
Perhaps the reason Jesus quoted Psalms more than any other book of the Old Testament is because He found His teachings, His mission, and His majesty recorded there in such a pronounced way. As such, surely He was using His favored book as preeminent among all the earlier texts that were witnesses of His divinity. In a sense, like the Old Testament, like the law of Moses found there, was something of a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ,” as the Apostle Paul said. (GAL 3:24) But whatever elementary teachings other parts of the ancient records give us about the Messiah—and some obviously give more than others—the psalms give us the most. In terms of Paul’s metaphor, these lyrical declarations seem to take us directly to graduate school regarding the merciful nature and compassion of the Savior of the world.
While it is not quite literally so, the reader can have the impression that almost all of these 150 “chapters” have some reference to, some application about, or some meaning found in the life and ministry of the Son of God. When the resurrected Jesus joined His two brethren on the road to Emmaus, Luke says He began “at Moses and all the prophets,” and “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) From His own lips we know the Psalms were among the principle texts to which He referred in this setting because He used them in other settings. Appearing to the Apostles just prior to His assertion into heaven, Jesus “said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45 emphasis added)
Perhaps noting just a few of the more obvious Messianic Psalms will be enough to invite the readers consideration of many others, finding in unexpected places a reference or an analogy or type that takes one once again to the life, mission, and message of Jesus Christ. ~Jeffrey R. Holland, For Times of Trouble (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012) p. 157-58
