A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 23: Royal Verses - Psalms

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS

Old Testament SummaryThe Patriarchal AgesThe JudgesThe Reign of Royalty The Prophetic Era

OT WALKTHRU- THE REIGN OF ROYALTY

1. From Sovereign God to Earthly Kings2. David leverages the win-win3. The falls and recoveries of David4. Royal Verses – Psalms5. Royal Wisdom – Proverbs, Ecclesiastes6. A Royal Love Story – Song of Solomon7. Division and Downfall of Israelf

THE PSALMS

Psalm 1 and 2 provide an essence of the entire book – representing: the righteous (saved) and wicked

(unsaved) – Psalm 1 The battle of the world rulers (leaders

in all fields) against Christ

THE PSALMS

The book represents the struggle between these categories of people, the war against God. The eventual victory of Christ

It can be seen from two perspectives – from the author’s perspective and from the inspired perspective – ie. From the eyes of Christ when he was a man.

THE ROYAL VERSES - PSALMS

1 Blessed is the one    who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take    or sit in the company of mockers,2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,    and who meditates on his law day and night.3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,    which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither—    whatever they do prospers.

PSALM 1 – THE TREE

THE ROYAL VERSES – PSALM 1

4 Not so the wicked!    They are like chaff    that the wind blows away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

THE ROYAL VERSES – PSALM 1

4 Not so the wicked!    They are like chaff    that the wind blows away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

PSALM 1 – THE WICKED (UNSAVED)

THE ROYAL VERSES – PSALM 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]

    and the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth rise up    and the rulers band together    against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,3 “Let us break their chains    and throw off their shackles.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;    the Lord scoffs at them.5 He rebukes them in his anger    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,6 “I have installed my king    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:

THE ROYAL VERSES – PSALM 2

He said to me, “You are my son;    today I have become your father.8 Ask me,    and I will make the nations your inheritance,    the ends of the earth your possession.9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;    be warned, you rulers of the earth.11 Serve the LORD with fear    and celebrate his rule with trembling.12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry    and your way will lead to your destruction,for his wrath can flare up in a moment.    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

PSALM 2

DISCUSSION

Brainstorm sit, walk, stand in Ps 1:1. Study and contrast characteristics

between the wicked and the righteous. What are the shackles thrown away by

leaders of the world in Ps. 2? In what ways does this rebellion occur?

What warnings are given.

A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 24: Royal Wisdom - Proverbs

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS

Old Testament SummaryThe Patriarchal AgesThe JudgesThe Reign of Royalty The Prophetic Era

OT WALKTHRU- THE REIGN OF ROYALTY

1. From Sovereign God to Earthly Kings2. David leverages the win-win3. The falls and recoveries of David4. Royal Verses – Psalms5. Royal Wisdom – Proverbs, Ecclesiastes6. A Royal Love Story – Song of Solomon7. Division and Downfall of Israel

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

The life of King Solomon The learnings of King Solomon

KING SOLOMON’S WRITINGS

King Solomon’s request for Wisdom The call of Lady Wisdom Wisdom turns to folly From other women to other gods Wisdom is meaningless True meaning in lifeNote: While King Solomon was the main author, there were other writers too!

WHEN WERE THE PROVERBS WRITTEN? Cohen writes, A Rabbinic teaching

asserts that the Israelite king wrote Song of Songs in his youth, Proverbs in middle age, and Ecclesiastes towards the end of his life (Midrash Shir ha-Shirim, i. I, § 10) (A. Cohen, Proverbs: Hebrew Text & English Translation with an Introduction and Commentary, xii).

PROVERBS - OVERVIEW

1-9: for youth 10-24: general 25-31: For leaders

THE CALL OF LADY WISDOM The fear of the LORD is the beginning

of knowledge,but fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7

A woman named folly

Lady Wisdom

Wickedness

KING SOLOMON CHOOSES WISDOM

7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. – 1 Kings 3

OTHER PATHS BECKON

King Solomon did meander from the path of wisdom into indulgence and shares bitter lessons learned.

FROM OTHER WOMAN TO OTHER GODS

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done. 1 Kings 11

FROM OTHER WOMEN TO OTHER GODS As Solomon grew old, his wives turned

his heart after other gods 1 Kings 11:4

A woman named folly(Prov 9)

Lady Wisdom (prov 1)

Wickedness

WHEN WISDOM TURNS TO FOLLY

16 I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;    the more knowledge, the more grief. – Ecc 1

WISDOM FROM BEYOND

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Prov 9:10

THE FINAL VERDICT

13 Now all has been heard;    here is the conclusion of the matter:Fear God and keep his commandments,    for this is the duty of all mankind.14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,    including every hidden thing,    whether it is good or evil. – Ecc 12

DISCUSSION

What does Tolstoy’s statement and King Solomon’s statement that everything is meaningless mean?

What does it imply? How do we bring meaning to a

meaningless existence?