Pick a psalm from the ‘royal psalms’ category. The ‘royal psalms’ are: 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 132, and 144:1-11.
What is the role of the king in the so-called Royal Psalms, and why is it important? How can we learn about the significance of kings during this time from these psalms?
How does the portrayal of the king in Psalms relate to the way kingship is portrayed in the writings of the prophets? Do the psalms appear to be biased for or against the kings and the notion of kingship?
What is the importance of the royal psalms for Jewish and Christian messianic expectation?
Applying the Text:
The royal psalms reveal a belief that the king was divine. Do you see any relationship between worldly powers and divinity today? Why or why not?
What role is there for these royal psalms, if any, in a modern world where most monarchies no longer exist? Can we understand the word ‘king’ differently in our current contexts?
What metaphor, besides kingship, could illustrate God in the context of modern democracy (e.g. the president, the voting process, the people)?