In previous lessons we have studied how God created the world good, and how corruption, conflict, sorrow and death entered the world because of sin. We learned how God chose one man, Abraham, and promised to bless all nations through his descendents. We studied how God delivered Abraham's descendents from slavery in Egypt, made a covenant with them, gave them leaders, land, and the laws of the covenant, teaching them how to live in the good land that God had given them. We saw that God's people did not keep covenant with him, and how God punished them by destroying their nation and sending many of them into exile. This destruction was so severe that the Northern Kingdom of Israel disappeared from the face of the earth and was resettled by peoples from foreign countries. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was also conquered and a great many of its people carried away to Babylon. This happened 597 years before Christ. After a period of captivity, some of these people were permitted to return. They rebuilt their temple to the Lord and attempted to live by the law that he had given them.
As these things happened, many believed that God had permanently deserted his people. God, however, spoke to his people, promising them that one day he would restore his kingdom. On that day, God would make them a new people and heal them of the sin that led to their destruction.
Before reading and discussing this week's lesson, however, let us review the questions that we first introduced at the beginning of this series of lessons.
Where did we come from? We came from God who created us, and we are also descended from Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ. Who are we? We are people of the covenant, a covenant with God and each other. Where are we now? We are falling beneath the judgment of God because we have not kept his laws. Apart from God's mercy, we are subject to the very judgment that fell upon Israel and Judah for their violations of the covenant. What must we do? We must repent and seek the forgiveness God has given us in Christ Jesus. Where are we going? Because of our sins we are going to die, but in Christ, by his sacrifice on the cross and received by faith, we are going to live eternally with God. What else must we do? We may gladly given thanks that God has sent a mighty savior to die in our place.
Let us not forget to spend time with one another, encouraging one another, and sharing what is happening in our lives. Perhaps there is someone new to your group. Before you begin this lesson, perhaps it would be a good time to introduce yourselves, share something of your life, allow the new person to share something about themselves, and welcome them into the group. Also, there may be needs or struggles that need your help and prayer. Let God bring you close to him and each other in love. Forgive each other if there has been any conflict or misunderstandings. God is good, and he is so thankful that you are working together to walk in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. Let us begin this lesson with a prayer.
O great and living God, we give you thanks that you have not left us like sheep without a shepherd. Pout out upon us your Spirit that we may see ever more deeply into the wonder of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 72
Our lesson for this week is psalm 72. As we have seen in past lessons, leadership is of great importance in God's Kingdom. For that reason, Scripture pays great attention to kings. Among the kings mentioned in the Bible, David was certainly one of the greatest. As described in our lesson, Micah Three, he lived about 1000 years before Jesus. He conquered a large territory and established a powerful kingdom. Jerusalem was his capital, and once the nation was secure, David decided to build a temple to the Lord. Until that time, God had been present with his people in the Tent of Meeting, a tent the people carried with them in the desert as they journeyed from Egypt to the land promised to Abraham. God, however, told Nathan the prophet that David was not to build him a house. David's son, Solomon, would do that. Rather than David building a house for God, God was going to build a house for David, that is, God would establish David's rule forever. This meant that a descendent of David would always reign over God's people. This prophecy can be found in II Samuel 7. Jesus was a descendent of David, and he is the one who now reigns over the people of God. For as Paul stated in II Timothy 2:8-9: "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!"
Descendents of David reigned for many years in Jerusalem, and as a new king came to the throne, the people prayed that he would be a righteous king. One of those prayers was psalm 72, quite possibly recited when a new king was crowned. In spite of God's many blessings, however, many of these kings were not righteous. They often led the people astray. For that reason, the people of God longed for a righteous king, just as people today long for just and righteous leaders. This is true of all people everywhere. No king but Christ, however, is righteous. For that reason, in this lesson, we will learn how Jesus Christ fulfilled the hope of Psalm 72.
In past lessons, we have often read portions of Scripture and then answered questions to help us discuss what we have read. For this lesson, psalm 72 will be read in blocks of verses, and for each block, it will be shown how Christ fulfilled the verses of that section. As you read these comments, take time to discuss what you read as ideas occur to you. Please begin by reading psalm 72 at least once aloud, and then read the verses given below aloud, as well as the comments that follow them. Then, if you wish, discuss what you think about the verses and comments you have just read.
1. Verses 1-3: In these verses the people ask that their king act justly, that he bring justice to the poor and righteousness to the people. In a past lesson, Amos Five, we learned that a righteous person is one who restores covenant relationships. Jesus was righteous because he restored us to God, to each other, and to ourselves by his death on the cross. He manifests his justice by judging us not guilty of our sins as we repent of them. From the cross he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
2. Verse 4: One of the ways that Jesus defended the afflicted and saved the children of the needy was by his miracles of healing and casting out demons. He healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22-28), he healed the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:40-42), and he cast a demon out of a desperate man's son (Mark 9:17-27). On another occasion, Jesus defended a woman whom others condemned (Luke 7:36-50), he honored a man who was hated by coming to the man's house for dinner (Luke 19:1-9), he associated with sinners and prostitutes and lifted up the lowly. In many, many ways Jesus defended the afflicted and saved the children of the needy.
3. Verse 5: Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. He lives, he conquers, and in the end, his kingdom will overcome the world. "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever'" (Revelation 11:15).
4. Verses 6-7: Anyone, any group of people, who hear and obey the words of Jesus will discover that his words are like "rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth." Then, as you put his teaching into practice and receive his righteousness by faith, you will discover that the "righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!" You will be greatly blessed as you keep his words. In a future lesson we will discuss the meaning of the word "flourish" more fully. As we shall see, this word includes the privilege of suffering for Christ's sake. God will, however, meet all your true needs.
5. Verses 8-11: As we have seen, the Old Testament kingdom was established by the escape from Egypt, covenant and law, and a violent conquest of the land promised to Abraham. An important difference between this Kingdom and the Kingdom established by Jesus is that Jesus did not kill those who opposed them. Rather, he gave up his life on the cross for his enemies. Verses 8-11, therefore, are not fulfilled by anyone licking the dust at Jesus' feet. Rather, his Kingdom is established by his love for us. Our hearts are his tribute, verse 11. The gift Christ receives is our very selves. Today, this very minute, people from every nation and tribe love and serve him, verse 12, because he died for them in love. There will come a time, however, when Jesus will execute judgment against those who persist in doing evil. Here are his words, referring to himself as the Son of Man.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear (Matthew 13:41-43).
6. Verses 12-14: The gospels are full of stories where Jesus delivers the needy, where he takes pity on the weak, and rescues the helpless from oppression and violence. As it says in Matthew's gospel, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).
7. Verse 15: In regard to Jesus, "long may he live," is true, and further, as seen in point five, the gold and blessings he receives are our loyalty and love.
8. Verses 16-17: When the king is a righteous king, when he keeps covenant, the Lord considers his obedience and blesses those who follow him. This is certainly true of Jesus since we are forgiven and justified by his blood. One of those blessings is material prosperity, abundant grains and fruits as described in these verses. Jesus fulfilled these blessings in three ways. First, he feeds us with his body and blood in the Holy Communion, giving us the very life of God. This is our spiritual food. Secondly, there are times when Christ has miraculously fed people, as he fed the five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fishes (Luke 9:12-17). Thirdly, and this is how God normally works to bless people materially, Jesus reconciles us to each other. He teaches us how to treat each other justly, especially in regard to land, work, and employment. He enables us to work hard and to work together. As these things occur, we can be blessed materially. We studied this in our lesson on Land and Work.
9. Verses 17-19: These verses are a fitting ending to this beautiful psalm. The name of Jesus will last forever, as long as the sun endures. All nations are being blessed by him and call him blessed.
10. In light of the righteousness of Christ, received by those who love him, how would you answer the following questions: Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we now? Where are we going? What must we do?
Finally, in light of the great blessings proclaimed in this psalm, our only response is to end this lesson with the ending of the psalm.
Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
Let us praise the Lord!!!
The Rev. Robert J. Sanders, Ph.D.
February, 2013
