Christ, the King
Sermon 11 in Series
Psalm 72
[1] Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
[2] May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
[3] Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
[4] May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
[5] May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
[6] May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
[7] In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
[8] May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
[9] May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
[10] May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
[11] May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!
[12] For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
[13] He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
[14] From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.
[15] Long may he live;
may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
[16] May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
[17] May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
[18] Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
[19] Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!
[20] The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1. Have someone read or summarize through 1 Kings 1-2 and 1 Kings 12:16-20. What do you know about the history of the Israel’s kings from David to Solomon and beyond? Why is this relevant to Psalm 72?
2. What is significant about the terms justice and righteousness in vv.1-4? How does this set the tone for the rest of the Psalm?
3. “There is no path to peace that doesn’t go through God’s Word and God’s way.” What does this mean and in what ways are you tempted to search for “peace” outside of God’s way?
4. How does the king’s dominion connect him back to Adam? What does this mean for the significance of this king?
5. What is the message of vv.12-14 to the weak and needy? What do these verses speak to those who think they are strong?
6. How does Psalm 72 propel us forward to the first century and beyond? How does it encourage you to know that the king of Ps. 72 has already come, and is coming again in glory?
References: 1 Kings 2:1-4; Amos 5:24; Deuteronomy 17:14-20; Genesis 3:15; 2 Samuel 23:3-4; Isaiah 55:10-11; 1 Kings 4:21; Genesis 3:14; 1 Kings 10:1-13, 22; Zechariah 9:9-10; Genesis 1:28; Luke 5:31; 2 Samuel 7:9; Genesis 12:3; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 41:13, 89:52, 106:48; Luke 2:11.