The Bible Dept. Podcast Episode Summary

Day 259: Psalms 21-23
Host: Dr. Manny Arango (ARMA Courses)
Date: September 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Manny Arango guides listeners through Psalms 21, 22, and 23 as part of the 365-day Bible reading plan. With his signature engaging and insightful style, Dr. Manny offers historical and literary context, theological “nerdy nuggets,” and practical “timeless truths” for daily life. The episode unpacks how these three Psalms develop in popularity, their meaning in David’s life, their Messianic foreshadowing, and their enduring relevance for Christian faith and leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intro to Today’s Psalms (05:08)

• All three Psalms (21, 22, and 23) are written by David.
• Dr. Manny notes that they increase in popularity—Psalm 23 being the most universally recognized, “Even heathens are familiar with Psalm 23.” (05:35)
• Listeners are encouraged to read the chapters before the podcast for maximum engagement.

2. Context Clues: Pairing of Psalms 20 & 21 (07:00)

• Psalm 20 and 21 as a Pair:
  • Psalm 20 features the king praying for salvation; Psalm 21 is a praise report for that salvation being fulfilled.
  • “Something about reading praise reports helps you to have faith for prayer requests. Right? They’re corresponding. And so these Psalms work the exact same way.” (08:50)
• Main theme: “The king trusts in Yahweh.”
• Application: The Psalms mirror the spiritual move from petition to gratitude, rooted in trusting God’s faithfulness.

3. Context Clues & Nerdy Nugget: Psalm 22 and Jesus’ Words on the Cross (10:05)

• Contextual Insight:
  • Psalm 22 opens: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—quoted by Jesus on the cross.
  • Dr. Manny explains, “Psalm 22 is the context for the words spoken by Jesus on the cross, not the other way around.” (10:58)
• Jewish Titling Practice:
  • In Hebrew tradition, the first line of a Psalm is its title (e.g., Genesis: “When God Began”; Exodus: “These are the names”).
  • Therefore, when Jesus quotes the opening line, he’s referencing the whole Psalm.
• Misinterpretation Addressed:
  • The idea that God the Father turned away from Jesus is “very anti-Trinitarian”; the full Psalm affirms God’s faithfulness even amidst suffering.
  • Highlight: “He has not hidden his face from him, but has listened to his cry for help.” (18:28)
  • Dr. Manny: “So all these sermons about how God turned his face away from Jesus on the cross, it’s like, no, the end of the Psalm literally says, he has not hidden his face from him.” (18:34)

4. Messianic Nature of Psalm 22 (15:30–20:50)

• Dr. Manny cites numerous verses from Psalm 22 that unmistakably point to Jesus’ crucifixion:
  • “They pierce my hands and my feet… They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garments.” (16:50–17:15)
• Psalm 22 ends: “He has done it.” Mirrored in Jesus’ words, “It is finished.”
• Takeaway: “If you want to understand everything that’s happening in Jesus’s words spoken in Mark 15 and Matthew 27 while he’s on the cross, then you gotta actually read the entirety of Psalm 22.” (20:00)

5. Nerdy Nugget: Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd (20:55)

• Context: David was a shepherd; he applies his lived experience to understand God, declaring, “The Lord is my shepherd.”
• David is the archetype for the “shepherd-king” leader—a role fully embodied in Jesus.
  • “This metaphor of Yahweh being a shepherd comes from the personal life of David.” (22:17)
• Dr. Manny reflects personally: “For most of my career… It’s been very easy for me to be a lion… What’s taken a lot of time is for me to learn how to be a shepherd.” (25:30)

6. Timeless Truth: Two Sides of Leadership (30:20)

• There are two sides to the leadership coin:
  1. Shepherd: Gentle, patient, nurturing, caring
  2. King: Decisive, strong, aggressive
• “In order to be a great leader, you’ve got to be gentle and soft and nurturing like a shepherd. But you also have to be tough and dominant and aggressive and, you know, decisive like a king.” (24:30)
• Spiritual principle: “If I get the shepherd, I get provision. If I get the shepherd, I get protection… Without a shepherd, sheep wander. They die. They get eaten as prey. They get lost. Sheep cannot exist without shepherds.” (33:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:35 — Popularity of Psalms 21-23
• 07:00 — Pairing and context of Psalms 20 & 21
• 10:05 — Context of Psalm 22 and Jesus’ use on the cross
• 15:30 — Psalm 22 as Messianic Psalm
• 18:28 — God’s face not hidden from the suffering one
• 20:55 — Introduction to Psalm 23, Shepherd imagery
• 24:30 — Dual nature of leadership: Shepherd/King
• 33:45 — Importance of God as the Shepherd

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the purpose of praise reports:
  “Something about reading praise reports helps you to have faith for prayer requests. Right?” (08:50)

• On misreading Psalm 22:
  “So all these sermons about how God turned his face away from Jesus on the cross, it’s like, no, the end of the Psalm literally says, he has not hidden his face from him… but has listened to his cry for help.” (18:34)

• On leadership from David’s life:
  “The more I act like a shepherd, the more I begin to see the ways that God is shepherding me… when I act that way towards others, I begin to see God acting that way towards me.” (25:45)

• On the essence of provision:
  “If I get the shepherd, I get everything. But without a shepherd, sheep wander. They die. They get eaten as prey. They get lost. Sheep cannot exist without shepherds.” (33:45)

• On spiritual authority and community:
  “You 100% need a pastor… God shows up to shepherd you through a pastor… If you’re a sheep, you can’t say that you trust your shepherd, who’s God, if you don’t trust the shepherd that God’s placed in your life, that’s timelessly true forever.” (35:25)

Practical Takeaways (“Timeless Truths”)

• God wants to be your shepherd—directly and through earthly leaders.
• Great leadership balances the strength of a king and the gentleness of a shepherd.
• Faith grows when you remember God’s prior faithfulness (“praise reports” feed “prayer requests”).
• Understanding the context and full scope of Scripture deepens theological and personal understanding.
• You need both God and godly leaders (pastors) in your life for spiritual nourishment and protection.

Conclusion

This episode offers a compelling exploration of three key Psalms, grounding them in historical, theological, and practical application. Dr. Manny calls listeners not only to study these ancient songs but to discover their contemporary resonance: to trust God’s faithfulness, understand Jesus’ crucifixion in Psalmic context, and to embody both gentleness and courage as shepherds and sheep in the life of faith.

For the next episode, prepare to dive into Psalms 24–29 as Day 260 in your Bible reading journey!