Timeless Biblical Truth.
When the Messiah reigns over His kingdom on earth, righteousness/justice will thrive, the land will produce abundantly, and all nations will submit and be blessed under His authority.
- When God gives His King to rule, His people will enjoy righteousness, peace, and prosperity (1-7).
- God will give the King the righteousness in which to rule (1).
- The King’s reign will be characterized by righteousness/justice, peace, and prosperity (2-7).
- When the King receives from God His universal reign, the nations will submit, honor and serve Him (8-11).
- The King will reign over all the people of the earth (8).
- The King’s reign will include all the nations who will then submit to, honor, and serve Him (9-11). 1. The nations of the earth will submit to Him (9). 2. The nations of the earth will honor Him with their gifts (10). 3. The nations of the earth will serve Him (11).
- The King will deliver all who are oppressed (12-14).
- The King delivers the poor and the needy from oppression (12).
- The King has pity on the weak and needy and saves them (13).
- The King redeems His people from violence (14).
- When the blessing of God is on the land and the people, the name of the King should be blessed forever and God should be blessed for His glorious works (15-19).
- The King will live long and receive honor, tribute, prayers, and praise (15).
- During the King’s reign, both the crops of the field and the people of the land will prosper (16).
- The King will have the acclaim of all the people [because of the blessings of His reign] (17).
- The LORD of Israel will be solemnly praised for His glorious character and wonderful works (18-19).
Questions for Second Milers
- What are the characteristics you think that a king should have, especially regarding his own nation and all humanity? Note especially the metaphors used in this psalm about this King and His character.
- To what extent does this psalm describe Solomon’s reign as seen in 1 Kings 1-11?
- How have you experienced these characteristics in Christ as your Divine King?
- What do you think would be the natural effect of a righteous national administration? To what extent do you think our nation (past and present) has been righteous? Do you pray that our government will be righteous?
- How does this psalm relate national prosperity to righteousness? Do you believe that is also true for our nation? Why or why not?
- In what ways are verses 18-20 a fitting doxology for this psalm?
- Give your own short title to this psalm.
“Hebrew poetry . . . is not characterized by rhyme. Rather, there is a balance of parallel mem-bers expressing the same thought or a contrasting one in other words. . . . There is a beauty of emphasis in this repetition in Hebrew poetry, but the power of the Psalms is not to be found merely in its literary style. The Psalms, like other great poetry, owe their effect rather to the grandeur of thought, illustration, and concept expressed by the authors under the influence of the Holy Spirit. . . Poetry has been defined by Wordsworth as ‘the overflow of spontaneous emotion recollected in tranquility” (Preface to Lyrical Ballads, 2nd edition). . . Blessed is the man who hides these songs of Zion deep in his heart. They are both songs of comfort in the night and songs of praise for use when joy cometh in the morning.” R. Laird Harris, “Psalms” in The Biblical Expositor: The Living Theme of The Great Book, 2: 36, 37.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
