We have no record of his quoting Psalm 23 directly, but we can easily see how David's greatest song informed Jesus' profound grasp of his role and sacrificial mission and the comfort, provision and protection the Father bestows on him.

Jesus knows from reading and praying Psalm 32 that a world burdened by innate sin and its persistent, destructive expression could only find relief through daring confession.

How can someone be truly human and yet now be predisposed to sin? How could one feel completely oriented toward the Father even as everyone around seemed focused on self? Jesus lives this freedom. He lives this loneliness. He lives this joy. He lives being odd.

The people of the LORD in Jesus' day languished under foreign oppression similar to when Psalm 80 was written. He grows restless with them for the arrival of the Messiah to restore them. He sings with the congregation, "Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!"

In this episode, we consider the psalms that connect to various events in Jesus' ministry.