The gospel according to the Psalms

The Psalms are full of gospel truth! In these songs written by Old Testament believers, we see--

• Confession of sin: "There is none righteous, no, not one" (14:1).
• Conviction of guilt and demerit: "If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand?" (130:4,7).
• Fear of God's righteous judgment: "Rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure" (6:1).
• A sense of inevitable condemnation on the ground of God's Law: "Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified" (143:2).
• The earnest cry for undeserved mercy: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions" (51:1).
• Faith in His revealed character as the just God and the Saviour: "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore will He teach sinners in the way" (25:8).
• Hope of pardon, resting on a propitiation; for "with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption" (130:7).
• The pleading of God's name, or the glory of all His perfections: "For Thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great" (25:11).
• Joy and peace in believing; for "blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance; in Thy name shall they rejoice all the day" (89:15-16).
• A trust in God and the faithfulness of His promises: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever; with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations; for mercy shall be built up for ever, Thy faithfulness shalt Thou establish in the very heavens" (89:1-2).
• A trust in the Saviour of sinners: "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way: blessed are all they that put their trust in Him" (2:12).
• A confidence in another righteousness than their own: "Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine Anointed" (84:9).
• Patient, persevering, hopeful waiting upon God: "My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him; He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us" (62:5-8).

(These points are taken from James Buchanan, The Doctrine of Justification.)