Behold the King: The King’s Earthly Kingdom
(Psalm 72)
1. Sally is flying out to meet her boyfriend. She falls asleep on the plane and dreams about this gorgeous diamond ring he'll give her. When she opens her eyes, she spots an even bigger diamond on the finger of Mrs. Goldstein, a matron sitting next to her. This is the mother of all diamonds, it is enormous, flawless, glittering...
'My, that's some diamond you've got there', Sally says. 'I've never seen anything like it.'
Mrs. Goldstein sighs. 'I know, my child. This is no ordinary diamond. It's the famous Goldstein diamond. But it comes with a terrible curse.'
'It does?' Sally moves to the edge of the seat. 'So what's the curse?'
Mrs. Goldstein sighs again. 'Mister Goldstein.' [source: haruth.com]
2. The old saying is you have to take the good with the bad.
3. That applies to our system of logic and thinking. As westerners, Americans are very highly influenced by the type of logical thinking developed by the Greek philosophers. We have also picked up ideas like democracy, being highly individualistic — and a host of other values and attributes, some of which do not contradict the Bible, but do not find their source in the Bible.
4. So when we think the ideal government, few of us would start with the idea of a monarchy. But the Bible leaves us awaiting a monarchy, the Kingdom of God coming to earth with Jesus Christ as the King.
5. Indeed, Peter preached to the Jewish people that if they would repent of rejecting Jesus as their Messiah and King, that He would soon return to earth to set up His kingdom, as promised in the Old Testament:
Acts 3:19-22, “ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
6. Although written in the language of hyperbole (exaggeration) as a blessing to the king of Israel, this Psalm finds a more literal fulfillment in the Messiah — and was so understood by many of the Jewish rabbis in Jesus’ day.
Main Idea: When Jesus returns and actually reigns on earth, this is what His reign will be like. The Jewish people largely understood this, what they didn’t understand was that their Messianic King would come twice, first as sacrifice for sin, then as the King of the earth.
I. The PERFECTLY Righteous King (1-4, 12-14,16)
No Jewish king — not David, Solomon, Hezekiah or Josiah fit this idealistic description. This is the Messiah. The targum (paraphrase) inserts “Messiah.”
A. He judges with RIGHTEOUS (1-2, 12-14)
The history of the judges and how the king assumed that role.
Leviticus 19:15, ““You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”
B. His righteous judgments promote PROSPERITY (3, 16)
C. He DEFENDS the abused and powerless (4, 12-14)
In Zambia, Venus, mother of two young children. Husband dies, but leaves her with house and farm. Neighbor Brutus throws them out, seizes all, and leaves them in poverty. No police. No rights no law enforcement. [quoted by Lois Tverberg, Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus]
Application: Although we should try to influence our society to be righteous, prosperous, and fair to all, we must understand that no solution can be complete.
II. He Brings PEACE through His Strength (5-7, 15)
A. The double meaning of the word “FEAR” (5a, 15)
1) REVERENCE, or formal worship (volitional)
2) TREMBLING (emotional)
For example, if you fear God, you are not going to use His Name in vain. If you do, you are neither reverencing Him nor fearing his judgment.
a) Subservient nations will pay TRIBUTE to show their fear (15)
b) Subservient nations would PRAY for the dominating nation’s leader (15)
• Where is your allegiance?
• How badly do you fear displeasing God?
• How is your language?
• Do you prioritize the kingdom of God? Daily and weekly.
B. His reign continues as long as the sun and MOON (5b-6)
C. Peace (Shalom) will ABOUND (7)
1. Lack of STRIFE (you can not talk to spouse and have no strife)
2. A sense of HARMONY (you must talk/work with spouse)
3. CONTENTMENT (you must talk/work/accept spouse)
Same is true in our relationship with God. One thing not to fight Him, another to be in harmony with Him, yet another to find contentment and accept His ways.
Application: How content are you? We have a tense world, but we can escape to the oasis of God’s peace to get a break. How much do we value harmony? How much do we abhor strife?
III. He Rules Over the ENTIRE Earth (8-11, 15)
A. All the land promised ABRAHAM (main domain)
• Difficult to navigate issues involving the modern state of Israel. Most of us instinctively sense we should support that nation, and I am among them. But, at the same time, we must realize that all these promises are for believing Israel.
B. All the EARTH (satellite nations)
Psalm 66:3, enemies will “feign obedience, cringe.”
• Not all those who inhabit the earth during the Millennium will trust Jesus
• There is something satisfying knowing that every knee will bow
• As our society turns from rewarding Christian behavior to punishing it, we will find this truth more precious: Jesus wins in the end.
C. Previewed when the MAGI presented gifts to the baby Jesus
• Isaiah 60:5-7
D. We BLESS God’s Name for what He will do! (18-19)
Application: This serves as an ending to this section of Psalms, but reminds us: It is about God! God allows Satan and sinful men to do their thing within boundaries, but that time will one day end. And we will reign with Him!
