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Beyond the Limitations of King Solomon
(Psalm 72)
Andy Nagahara
A. Even great kings have limitations
1. The king’s conscience (1-7, 12-14)
0 Of Solomon.
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
5 He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
2. Power leads to corruption (8-11)
8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. 11 All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.
B. God, the king of all (15-20)
15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. 16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. 17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
1. Jesus, the perfect king
2. The joy of following Jesus
Summary
No matter how intelligent or kind someone is, they cannot escape the human tendency to cause pain and suffering. Even reformers who are driven by ideals and a strong sense of justice can become brutal dictators when they experience power. We believe and follow Jesus, the only king in all of history who has never caused pain or suffering, but brings peace and joy to all.
For Discussion
1) What were Solomon and David’s strengths and weaknesses?
2) In what way is Jesus the perfect king?