While Catholic and Lutheran commentators tend to find Christ more immediately in the Psalms, Reformed commentators generally prefer to use the language of typology. We can see this in Wolfgang Musculus’s (1497-1563) exegesis of Psalm 21. Reading this royal psalm, he argues that the text looks beyond its historical context and that through the lens of faith, an image of the future kingdom of Christ can be discerned.

Contemplate This Psalm Typologically in Christ

Both parts of this psalm have an eminent type for the kingdom of Christ. For he is truly that king whose desires and petitions are accomplished by God the Father.The mind gifted with the spirit of faith will reflect on this most beautifully in Christ according to the prefigured type. On him the Father has heaped the highest blessings. The Father has inaugurated him with the crown of the heavenly kingdom. He has given him eternal life. He has illuminated him with glory and splendor. For this reason, he has been made an eternal blessing for all mortals. In eternal joy he gladdens him with his face and in this way strengthens him so that for all eternity he cannot be moved. Finally this is his lot, that all his enemies accomplish nothing with their scheming, devising, planning and striving against him, except that by this they make themselves guilty of extreme, sure and eternal destruction. The mind gifted with the spirit of faith will reflect on this most beautifully in Christ according to the prefigured type which David contains in himself and will receive powerful consolation.

COMMENTARY ON PSALM 21.

Psalms 1-72, ed. Herman J. Selderhuis, Reformation Commentary on Scripture, OT vol. 7, p. 164.