Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

This Psalm closes out book 2 of the Psalter.

The authorship is a little uncertain.

The superscription (“of Solomon”) is the same as many Psalms that we would say were written by David.

In other words, consistency would argue that this means the Psalm is BY Solomon.

However, the subscript suggests it is a Psalm of David - the “last” (at then end of book 2).

One possible solution (Calvin) - A prayer of David for his son, Solomon, then recorded as a Psalm by Solomon himself.

OTOH, it’s not impossible that this is simply a Psalm written by Solomon - expressing his own prayer concerning his kingdom.

Whichever is correct, it’s certain that this Psalm looks beyond the kingdom of Solomon to the greater son of David, of which he and his kingdom were a type.

The prosperity and peace of Solomon’s kingdom was a foreshadow of the coming reign of Jesus Christ.

So, this is, ultimately, a Psalm about the Lord Jesus Christ and about his kingdom, which is also his church.

I.

A righteous reign (1-7).

A prayer for righteousness.

This is at the heart of the prayer for the king - that God would grant him to rule with HIS justice and righteousness.

This was the role and responsibility of the king of Israel - to govern God’s people according to God’s Word and lead them in the way of righteousness.

And, if he would do this, the result would be (verse 3) prosperity for the people and righteousness for them.

The word translated prosperity is one that might sound familiar - “shalom” - “peace”.

BUT = more than just peace, as in the absence of conflict.

It means, broadly speaking, wholeness, health, blessedness.

And “prosperity” is a good translation, really.

You could say it’s a prayer that things would be well for the people.

The proper effect of good government is peace, a word used in Scripture to include not merely quiet, but the blessings of plenty, prosperity and general happiness

A couple of things we can note, here about good government in general.

Good government comes from God.

The wisdom and ability to govern successfully is something to pray for.

And rulers should depend upon God and pray to God for this blessing - that they might reign with justice and righteousness.

Rulers should seek to govern according to God’s Word.

The law by which men should be governed = God’s law.

To the extent that human laws are a reflection and application of God’s laws - of God’s standards of righteousness and justice - to just that extent they are good, and they fulfill the purpose for which God has ordained earthly rulers.

When this is the case, it’s good for the people.

could note here, also, just the fact (and this should be obvious, but it isn’t always so clear as maybe it should be) that it is the responsibility of governing authorities to govern and rule and maintain order FOR the good of the people.

They are not free to simply serve themselves - to treat the people like sheep to be sheared for their own benefit.

By the terms righteousness and judgment,

the Psalmist means a due and well-regulated administration of government, which he opposes to

the tyrannical and unbridled license of heathen kings, who, despising God, rule according to the

dictates of their own will (Calvin)

The general principles of government, here, which find their ideal in the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom, also show what kind of government is good for people.

Government ordered and regulated by the truth of God, by his rule of righteousness and justice.

(Calvin)

Verses 4 and 5 = some insight - some fleshing out - of what this govt.

looks like, ideally

There is the particular concern for the poor and needy - those who are being wronged and oppressed and cannot defend themselves.

The king who applies God’s justice and righteousness, with wisdom, does not show favoritism.

He judges fairly and with an even-handedness.

But there is a particular concern to protect those who are vulnerable.

The power of the sword, given to the king, is to provide protection from violence and robbery and oppression.

AND - verse 5 - When the king or earthly ruler does his job well, it promotes godliness - the fear of the Lord.

* So, we ought to pray for authorities, and we should pray to a particular end - that they would govern in accordance with God’s Word.

We should pray that they will subject themselves to God, that they will seek to serve the people the govern (because that’s God’s design), and that God will grant them to govern with righteousness and justice according to the standard of his Word.

And the result = prosperity and blessing.

A foreshadow of righteousness.

The ideal prayed, here, for Solomon was realized, to some extent, in his reign.

This is true, as we’ll see, for other parts of this Psalm also.

Solomon, early on, prayed, specifically, for the wisdom to serve God’s people - to govern them according to God’s word in such a way that they would be blessed, just like the Psalm indicates.

God answered that prayer.

Solomon was granted wisdom like none of his peers before or after.

Israel = unprecedented prosperity - peace and wealth and the expansion of the kingdom in the days of Solomon

Yet, Solomon was fallible and sinful - and eventually fell into idolatry.

The ideal reign or righteousness had to await the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus not only is “able” to rule with perfect righteousness and justice.

He gives righteousness.

His reign is one that brings true righteousness.

He gives spiritual blessing, life, peace, and prosperity, in fullness, to his people - those who are under his saving reign of righteousness.

Jesus delivers the poor and needy from the oppressor, spiritually - those who are utterly needy and helpless, because we are fallen in sin and under the curse and condemnation of the law.

Brings the ultimate “shalom”

The blessedness of this righteous reign = illustrated beautifully in vs. 6 - like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!

pictures grass that has been dried up - ground that is parched and cracked under the burning sun.

When rain comes = refreshing, life-giving, invigorating

= Christ’s reign - not an oppressive, stifling, withering rule.

For the righteous - those who trust and submit to King Jesus - His reign is refreshing and life giving - brings life to dried up souls like water on dried ground

causes the righteous to flourish - i.e., he gives life and renews our lives as we live under his reign, by his Word and Spirit.

Christ’s kingdom is the true kingdom of righteousness that brings true prosperity and blessing to God’s people.

II.

A universal reign.

Solomon’s dominion.

Solomon’s kingdom was, again, a type of the kingdom of Christ.

Sea to sea = Mediterranean to Arabian seas - river to ends of the earth = probably Euphrates to Mesopotamia.

Tarshish and coastlands + Sheba and Seba = in effect, the world as ancient Israel would have known it and would think about it

And Solomon’s reign, in one sense, fulfilled what was promised to Israel - filled the “promised land” - the borders that God promised to Abraham initially + in a sense, the kingdom was extended to the neighboring nations, because they did bow down to Solomon and bring him tribute.

cf.

Queen of Sheba - who came to hear of the wisdom of Solomon and brought a gift

Christ’s dominion.

Solomon’s = only a type and foreshadow of the dominion of Christ Jesus.

What is stated here clearly was never fully true of Solomon’s reign (vs.

11 - “all the kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!)

Sea to sea - river to end of the earth = the whole of the earth and all its peoples and kingdoms must come under the rule of Christ.

The kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ encompasses and includes all nations and peoples.

It grows and expands by the preaching of the gospel.

The message of the gospel is the message of the saving, glorious, righteous reign of King Jesus, and it is an offer to enter the kingdom by bowing to him and repentance and faith.

The gospel is for king and rulers - powerful and wealthy - as well as for the poor and the needy.

People from all nations and parts of the world come to serve him and bring him gifts and tribute - in form of worship and adoration and praises.

Illustrated and prefigured when the wise men brought presents to the Lord Jesus - from the peoples of the East - they came to worship and bring the “riches” of the nations to him

Not all will bow to Jesus willingly.

So, his universal reign = 2 ways - by bringing people into the kingdom AND by bringing unrepentant enemies into subjection

Ultimately -

In the end, all things - all of heaven and earth - will be made subservient to the Lord Jesus Christ and serve to bring eternal glory to him.

III.

A saving reign.

Solomon