Bible Studies

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The Songs
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 – The Perfect King
Key Verses: (NRSV)

• 1: “Give the king your justice, O God.” – In this Psalm, God is being asked to help a king rule the nation justly and wisely.
  
  
• 4: “May He defend the cause of the poor of the people…” – A request that the needs of poor be a primary concern of the king’s government.
  
  
• 7: “In His day may righteousness flourish and peace abound.” – Everything that is said about the king depends on God’s justice and righteousness.
  
  
• 11: “May all kings fall down before Him, all nations give Him service.” – A call for all nations to revere and follow God.
  
  
• 12-14: “For He delivers the needy when they call…, from oppression and violence He redeems their life; and precious is their blood in His sight.” – This psalm, written by Solomon, calls for God to help his son rule the nation perfectly according to God’s will. History has proven, however, that Christ is the only king able to fully achieve this perfection.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Do our “kings” rule with God’s justice in mind? How do you think modern governments would differ if they followed the teaching of this psalm? If the main purpose of governments, as suggested in this psalm, were to care for those who cannot care for themselves, “defending the cause of the poor of the people,” how would things be different in our modern world? Would we be experiencing such a gulf between the haves and the have-nots? Would terrorism have any purpose or focus? Is prosperity for all an obtainable goal? If so, how? If not, why?
  
  
• Does God’s “righteousness flourish and peace abound?” How, as Christians, are we called to see that this happens? Is it our fight to insure that the needs of the poor are met? In what ways can we make a difference? How can we shine God’s light into the darkness that exists? How can we insure that His righteousness flourishes? What steps can be taken to bring peace? Jesus spent most of His ministry defending the rights of the needy. His gospel reiterates the importance of this ministry in our lives and in our governments. Are you ready for this task? What steps can you take to help make the causes of the poor a priority?
  
  
• Are you a kingdom builder? What does that entail? Jesus continuously taught us how things should be in the kingdom of heaven. Was there are reason for these teachings? When we read that God “delivers the needy when they call” and “He redeems their life,” how does this happen? Does He magically touch the lives of those who call upon Him or does He send people like you and me to meet their needs? Are you responding to His call? Are you ready to deliver the oppressed from the darkness of their lives? Can you be their redeemer? Are they precious in your sight? Are you a kingdom builder?
  

Promise of the Gospel:

This psalm from Solomon calls us to focus our attention on righteousness and justice for the weak and oppressed. Our governments should be a reflection of this same focus. Understanding and visualizing God’s plan for all the world does not simply rest on the shoulders of a few but upon the shoulders of all the nations of the world. But most importantly, we are called to realize that building the kingdom of God, changing the world to reflect His love, is a task that falls directly on the shoulders of every Christian. If the needs of the poor, needy, oppressed, outcast, and forgotten are to be met, if God’s righteousness is to flourish and His peace is to abound, then it will happen through our response to His call. When we take on the role of redeemer, when we look out into the world and see that everyone is precious in His sight, then we are becoming the kingdom builders that God is calling us to be.

FUMC Devotionals

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