The division of the Old Testament into the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets, does not rest on the uncertain authority of Jewish tradition, but on the authoritative teaching of the risen Lord. Here are His own blessed words — “And He 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” (Luke 24:4444And he 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. (Luke 24:44)).
The “Law of Moses” here refers to the first five books of Scripture, generally termed the Pentateuch. These books were originally written as one, and are read as such in modern Jewish synagogues. Christ is the holy burden of these books, as said Philip of Bethsaida (John 1:4545Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (John 1:45)), and the Lord before (John 5:4646For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. (John 5:46)) and after His death and resurrection (Luke 24:4444And he 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. (Luke 24:44)).
The “Prophets” embrace that portion of the Bible which is strictly prophetic — from Isaiah to Malachi — and also the historical books, as all having one thought in common. A prophet is one that brings the mind of God to bear upon the conscience: it may be God’s mind as to the present — that mainly characterizes the historical books — or His purpose concerning the future — as in the prophetic writings. But what is important to observe is, that in all these 29 books the mind of God is pressed upon the souls and consciences of Jehovah’s people, and in certain cases on the Gentiles too; and further, that Christ, especially in His regal dignities and glories, is mirrored in these writings. Yes, He is the center of all revelation and the burden of all Scripture.
The “Psalms” are five in number — Job, Book of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. These books are denominated ‘the Psalms’ because they are really the utterances and pulsations of the human heart. Their distinctly moral character and poetic strains have entitled them to be classed under one comprehensive title. The feelings and exercises of the Blessed One, and of Jewish saints in the future crisis of their history, are fully detailed in this divine section of Old Testament Scripture; the death of Jesus and resulting consequences are developed in the Law of Moses; while, the prophetic and kingly glories of the Messiah are, in the main, the themes in the second section of the Old Testament writings.
The divisional title “the Psalms,” meaning the five books already alluded to, must not be confounded with “the book of Psalms.” When this latter is spoken of in the New Testament, as in Acts 1:2020For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (Acts 1:20) and Luke 20:42,42And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Luke 20:42) it refers to the separate book bearing that divine title. It may here be remarked, that Paul, by the Holy Spirit, recognizes the present numbering of ‘the book of Psalms,’ for in Acts 13:33,33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (Acts 13:33) he refers to what is “written in the second psalm” in proof of God’s accomplishment of His promises.
It is important to remark that Jesus was not merely a manifestation of God. Revelations by and manifestations of God are characteristic of the Old Testament; but in Jesus, as portrayed to us in the Gospels, God is perfectly revealed; “and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Tim 3:16).