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Lesson 38

Psalms 108, 109, and 110

 

Psalm 108

  1. Verses 1 through _____ of Psalm 108 are taken from verses ____ through _____ of Psalm 57.

  2. 2. Verses ______ through 13 of Psalm 103 are taken from verses _____ through _____ of Psalm 60.


Psalm 109

  1. With the imprecations contained in this psalm, compare those in Psalms 7, 35, and 69.

  2. In Psalm 35:5-11, did David ask that his enemies be killed, and if so, was he right in doing so? (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15-21, Psalm 35:11; note 1 Samuel 24:9 as an example of an occasion when David's enemies were unrighteous witnesses against him.)

  3. Is the language of Psalm 109:6-19 any more severe than that of Psalm 35, and is it compatible with a man of David's character?

  4. Due to their conviction that the words of Psalm 109:6-19 could not have been David's, some have attributed then to David's enemies by adding the word, "saying" at the end of verse 5. How would this explain the transition from the plural pronouns of verses 2-5 to the singular pronouns of verses 6-19?

  5. In light of verse 20, does attributing the words of verses 6-19 to David's enemies remove the problem of putting the imprecations in David's mouth? Note the attempt by some to explain David's words by means of Luke 9:55 (KJV). (cf. II Kings 1:9-16)

  6. In verse 28, we read, "But do thou bless" Bless whom? (Compare the phrase "Let them curse..." Curse whom?

  7. From whom will God save the needy according to verse 31?

Psalm 110
  1. Try to list all of the places in the New Testament where portions of this psalm are quoted.

  2. Who says to whom, "Sit at my right hand.."? (Compare the ASV)

  3. With the exception of the 2nd and 16th psalms, all of those psalms with messianic elements which we have thus far studied have, in my estimation, been messianic only in a typical sense. That is, the intention of the writer was to describe persons and events of the Old Testament, but these persons and events foreshadowed the messianic age. Thus the meanings of these psalms were fulfilled, or completed in new Testament times. Answer the following questions and determine whether the 110 the psalm is messianic in a typical sense only, or on the other hand was intended to be messianic in the writer's mind?

    4.  
    1. Read Matthew 22:41-46 and Mark 12:35-37 and determine the answer to Jesus' question which so perplexed the Pharisees. (What does the incident recorded in these two passages tell you about the Pharisees' understanding of the subject of Psalm 110?)
       
    2. According to Jesus, whom did David, in the Spirit, call Lord?

    3. The argument of Hebrews 7:11-17 is based on Psalm 110:4. The argument demonstrates that if the priesthood was changed, there was necessarily also a change of what?

    4. Why is it assumed that the priesthood is changed in Hebrews 7:11-17?

    5. Based on the answers to the two preceding questions and assuming that David was speaking not of the Messiah, but rather of some Old Testament character who only foreshadowed the Messiah, what would one have to conclude about the status of the law of Moses during the lifetime of that character?
       
  4. In the midst of whom would the Messiah rule?

  5. What problem does this pose for the premillennialist who believes that Christ will not really begin to rule until after his second coming?

  6. To whom do the words, "The Lord will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion...", belong? (The question is not to whom do the words refer.)

  7. To whom does the word "thy" (verse 2) refer?

  8. According to verse 4, what would Jehovah not do?

  9. Does the Lord ever repent of anything, and if so, what does this mean? (cf. Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:14, 1 Samuel 15:35, etc.; however, compare Numb 23:19)

  10. Name those characteristics of Jesus' priesthood which were also characteristic of Melchizedek's priesthood and in contra-distinction to the Levitical order. (See Hebrews 7:1-3)

  11. Who will judge among the nations?