Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• (v.12-14) “He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will save them from oppression and from violence, for their lives are precious to him.” While Solomon fulfilled this as a political King, Jesus fulfilled these attributes towards the needy in the course of his ministry. When answering John the Baptist’s question concerning whether he was the Messiah Jesus said: “…the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”(Mt.11:5) Jesus brought justice to the poor, the oppressed, the defenseless, and the needy.

II

HIS REIGN IS PROSPEROUS - vs. 3

“May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful, because the king does what is right.”(v.3)

Solomon’s reign was the wealthiest ever recorded in the Bible and all the citizens of the kingdom received the benefits of possessing a wise and conscientious king. “The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.”(1 Kings 4:20) Jesus is the ‘greater son of David’ and his kingdom is also designed to bring bless- ing for each of his subjects: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt. 6:33 NIV) • “May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the end of time.” (v. 7) The Messiah’s reign is eternal and his abundance will last until the end of time. “All the godly” is an inclusive term for everyone believing in Christ. Our lives flourish as we follow the king. • “May there be abundant crops throughout the land, flourishing even on the mountaintops. May the fruit trees flourish as they do in Lebanon, sprouting up like grass in a field.”(v.16) In Messiah’s reign the harvests are to be abundant both naturally and spiritually. God desires every generation to have a great harvest of ‘souls’ for his glory. “Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the har- vest.”(John 4:35)

III

HIS REIGN IS ETERNAL - vs. 5

“May he live as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon continues in the skies. Yes, forever! (v.5)…May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines.”(v.17)

This verse is prophetic of the Messiah who is both an earthly descendent of King David and yet a divine, eternal being. Only Jesus adequately fulfills this description, he is the God-man who reigns for- ever as Lord and King: “So let it be clearly known by everyone in Israel that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!” (Acts 2:36)

IV

HIS REIGN IS UNIVERSAL - vs. 8

“May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.” (v.8)

Solomon enjoyed the most expansive kingdom of all the rulers of Israel: “King Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates river to the land of the Phillistines, as far south as the border of Egypt.”(1Kings 3:20) His kingdom was the most respected and admired of all other kingdoms of the world and is reflective of the great dominion of God. It was an inclusive kingdom: • “Desert nomads will bow before him…”(v.9) This refers to the people who dwelt in the eastern regions from the land of Israel. • “The western kings of Tarshish and the islands will bring him tribute.”(v.10) Tarshish was on the western coast of Spain and the ‘islands’ is in reference to all of the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. • “The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.”(v.10) This was fulfilled when the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon: “When the Queen of Sheba realized how wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built, she was breathless.” (1 Kings 10:4)

The vision of our Messiah-King is expansive and his desire is that his kingdom would touch every na- tion and tribe upon this earth with wisdom, love, justice and prosperity.

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