Psalm 72 “The King and His Kingdom”

I hope that you have enjoyed as much as I have the chance to contemplate the Psalms a bit this summer.

I know we're finished with them for now in the two-year reading plan, but we will be back soon in that plan.

Just keep reading and get back to the Psalms a lot.

In the meantime, I trust you are all meditating on Psalm 119 and making it all the way through that over these weeks.

At least some of you.

We have looked in our sermons at several different types of Psalms.

Lament, wisdom, praise, and so on.

But this morning, we're going to look at a royal psalm, Psalm 72.

There are several of these psalms that talk a lot about a king.

This one starts, give the king your justice, O God.

But when we pray or sing them, it can be a little bit hard to know who we're talking about.

Is it the king of Israel, like David or Solomon or someone?

Is that who it is?

Is it the president of the United States?

Hint, no.

Is it Jesus the king?

So, before we read Psalm 72, I want to give us just a brief background on king and kingdom in the Bible's story

that I hope will help us know a little bit more where to apply what we're reading and singing and praying in psalms like this.

The Bible begins with God himself as the one true king, the sovereign over all the earth, right?

The whole creation is his and is thus his kingdom.

And he chooses to rule his kingdom through vice regents, people who are his image bearers.

All of them, by the way, not just kings.

They are to rule the way the one true king would, in his image,

so that this whole kingdom will flourish as he designed it.

But as we struggle to do this, as we often seek to build our own kingdoms rather than his,

God to help enters into this special relationship with one nation, Israel, as their king.

And he gives his people the role of showing all the nations the beauty of living with Yahweh as your king

and enjoying the goodness and the shalom of his kingdom.

When they demand and God gives them a human king,

when Israel has these human kings over them,

the king's job is to follow Yahweh,

to lead the people in following Yahweh.

When the king is faithful to God and his covenant and follows his laws,

the people tend to be as well.

When, as is more often the case, the king wanders from God,

the people wander even more.

God's kingdom is disturbed by wars in place of peace.

The land is misused.

His laws are disregarded.

And so God's people are to pray for David and Solomon and others

that they would be good kings leading them after Yahweh

so they would enjoy the good blessings of the true king.

That's part of this.

But as those human kings fail over and over and over to do that,

God keeps promising his people that the king,

the anointed one, Messiah,

David's son who will reign over God's people forever

and bring with him the promised kingdom.

He's coming.

And there will be a kingdom that they've never known like this before.

It will be a blessing forever and to all nations.

Not just Israel is going to know this king.

In a new and great way, that kingdom's going to spread.

Jesus comes and he does finally bring that kingdom in word and in deed

and in so many ways in his life we see that here.

And then Jesus commissions his followers.

This risen king says this needs to continue.

I am sending those who follow me out on a mission

to take the good news that there's a risen and a reigning king to all the nations

that all the earth may know the true king once again.

And that's what we're a part of now.

The church of Jesus Christ is praying and longing

and working for King Jesus' name to be made great.

For his kingdom to come more and more on earth as it is in heaven.

That's what we pray for, right?

One day, the story promises King Jesus will return to reign forever

and to make the kingdom of this world the kingdom of our God and of his Christ.

And we look forward to that.

So, as you listen to Psalm 72, you think of the king over God's people,

David or Solomon at the time.

Often, think more appropriately or fully of King Jesus.

And because of that, because much of this points to him and his kingdom,

we also think now of his church and her leaders.

What should we long for and love?

That's what we'll see this morning.

Psalm 72.

Written, depending on how you understand the top line in the last verse,

by David or Solomon.

About Solomon or Solomon's son,

it really doesn't make much difference.

There's certainly plenty here about Jesus and for us.

Let's listen to God's word together.

Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to the royal son.

May he judge your people with righteousness

and your poor with justice.

Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people

and the hills in righteousness.

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people.

Give deliverance to the children of the needy

and crush the oppressor.

May they fear you while the sun endures.

And as long as the moon throughout all generations,

may he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth.

In his days, may the righteous flourish

and peace abound till the moon be no more.

May he have dominion from sea to sea,

from the river to the ends of the earth.

May desert tribes bow down before him

and his enemies lick the dust.

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

render him tribute.

May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.

May all kings fall down before him.

All nations serve him.

For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper.

He has pity on the weak and the needy

and saves the lives of the needy.

From oppression and violence,

he redeems their life

and precious is their blood in his sight.

Long may he live.

May gold of Sheba be given to him.

May prayer be made for him continually

and blessings invoked for him all the day.

May there be abundance of grain in the land.

On the tops of the mountains may it wave.

May its fruit be like Lebanon

and may people blossom in the cities

like the grass of the field.

May his name endure forever.

His fame continue as long as the sun.

May people be blessed in him.

All nations call him blessed.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be his glorious name forever.

May the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and amen.

The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

Pray with me.

God, we're grateful for your king.

We rejoice that the Lord is king.

We pray that you would give us hearts

that do delight in that more and more.

That love your kingdom.

That seek its advancement.

Teach us, Father,

as we read your word,

as we study it together this morning.

Shape us by your spirit.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen.

If you could design the place you would live,

your own little kingdom,

what would it be like?

What words would you use

to characterize your dream kingdom?

Prosperity?

Equality?

Peace?

Beauty?

Growth?

Joy?

Joy?

Probably many of those things.

We actually get to enjoy

many of the very things

we would dream of

in the kingdom of our Messiah King,

don't we?

Maybe we don't get low humidity

in 70 degree days,

which may be at the top of your list right now.

Maybe we don't get,

I'm in charge of everything

and it's all about me

and I get to do whatever I want.

That is often on the top

of our selfish lists

for our kingdom.

But think about singing Psalm 72.

Maybe this is happening already

in your hearts as we read it.

Doesn't it draw our hearts

to hope in the true King?

And doesn't it inspire our hearts

to embody the values

of His kingdom now?

Don't we want to live like this?

We get to look forward

to this wonderful existence

and we get to reflect the image

of the King even now.

That is the function of Hymn 72

that God gives to His people

and several others like it.

They help us to long for

and hope in

and delight to serve

a King

and a kingdom

that are first just.

In the first four verses,

it's justice and righteousness

and righteousness and justice.

Over and over,

they characterize God's King.

But not just any kind of

generic fairness.

justice?

No, it's God's justice, isn't it?

In other words,

we're reminded that the King himself

is dependent on God,

a representative of God,

an image bearer

who is to rule

as God would rule.

And so,

he must exercise

God's justice

for God's people.

They must know God's laws

and be led after His ways

that reflect His glorious

kingdom design

where everyone,

the haves and the have-nots here,

are protected

and pointed to the glory

of God's kingdom.

Do you remember

how Solomon asked for this?

It was overwhelming

to be the leader

of God's people,

wasn't it?

Solomon said,

I need God's wisdom

to govern God's people.

He received it,

didn't he?

To their great blessing.

Until he got caught up

in his own ideas.

But certainly,

we long to see

God's kingdom come here,

now.

Certainly,

the church of Jesus Christ

must work

to root out injustice,

to combat racism,

to declare the truth,

to speak up for the voiceless,

to rescue the abused,

to right wrongs

like Jesus,

just like our King.

We can't wait

for the kingdom

where he sets everything right.

Do you feel that?

I mean,

we literally can't wait.

We are compelled

to see justice,

to see relationships

and neighborhoods

and churches

and cities

known for things being done

right.

Secondly,

the kingdom and king

that we are delighted

to serve

are everlasting.

Now,

Solomon had a good long reign

at 40 years.

That was a long time,

especially if you live

in America.

But this psalm cries out

for more than 40 years,

doesn't it?

When we start in these

middle verses

to realize

even the best human king

is going to be a shadow

of the promised king

will reign

on David's throne

forever,

we're promised.

It's a kingdom,

verse 7,

where peace abounds.

Shalom is everywhere,

flourishing

as it was always

meant to be for you,

for the grass,

for the whole creation

to the point

that you don't want it

to end

ever.

As long as the sun

and moon exist,

this is the way

it should be.

Oh,

in fact,

it is so delightful,

this kingdom,

that you want

your kids

and your grandkids

and their kids

and their grandkids

to enjoy it

with you.

I want you to think

this morning,

if you could show

your grandkids

one place,

if you could give them

one delight,

if you could share

a passion

for one joy

with them,

what would it be?

May it not be

Bryant Denny

or Jordan Hare.

May it not be

a life marked

by abundant possessions

in a free country.

May it not be

a week at the beach

each summer.

No, no, no.

Far beyond that.

May it be

the wonder

and the joy

of King Jesus

and unending

relationship

with Him

and His eternal

kingdom.

Would that be

the one thing

that is most glorious

that we'd want to see

generation

after generation

share?

Similarly,

this kingdom

that we long for

is universal.

Not only is it

unbounded by time,

it also knows

no geographical

limits.

and we do see

expansion of Israel

under King Solomon.

Royalty from

many nations

including Sheba,

it's named here,

bringing tribute

to Him.

It's always exciting

when the nations

come to see

Yahweh's greatness.

But the earth

is much,

much bigger

than even Solomon

knew, right?

The design of God

for all the nations

to know Him

as King

cries for a Messiah

throughout the prophets

like Zechariah

Zechariah 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9

where this

from sea to sea

from the river

to the ends

of the earth

is repeated again

after Solomon

when Zechariah says

your king is coming.

The king that's

going to do this

is still to come.

In fact,

he's coming

on a donkey

to bring peace.

Where?

To all the nations.

Isn't the global reach

of King Jesus today

incredible?

From that

ragtag bunch

of disciples

in the Middle East

over 2 billion

Christians

worldwide.

Two-thirds of those

in the global

South Brazil

and Nigeria

and the Philippines

with some of the

largest groups

of Christians

in the world.

But,

but there are

more people

that we long

to see

bow the knee

to King Jesus.

Yes?

And so we go

to work with

international refugees

in D.C.

as we heard

earlier in this service.

And so we

gather after this service

to pray for our

neighbors in Huntsville

to know King Jesus.

And so we partner

with missionaries

and church plants

around the world

going to France

or to India

to share the joy

of Jesus

to learn from them

how he's at work

there because

oh there's so many

places we don't see

and the joy

of King Jesus

is not just for me.

It's not just for us.

We want everyone

everywhere

to taste

the goodness

of his kingdom.

Right?

Jesus shall reign

where'er the sun

does its successive

journeys run.

his kingdom

stretch

from shore

to shore

till moon

shall wax

and wane

no more.

That's a big kingdom.

Usually

such a kingdom

would be established

by conquest

and power.

Wouldn't it?

That's how it happens.

Amass a lot of wealth

build up a great army

conquer the less

powerful people

around you

one after the other

knock them out.

actually

God's kingdom

works an entirely

different way.

The foundation

of his universal

kingdom

is mercy

and compassion

rescuing

the weak

and needy

not trampling

across them.

I bet you've heard

it said

that God helps

those who

help themselves.

Please know

that's not in the Bible.

what is

in the Bible

is that

King Jesus

helps

those

who

cannot

help

themselves

and aren't

finding help

from any others.

Verse 12

he delivers

the needy

the poor

and him

who has

no helper

with pity

he saves

them

and from

oppression

he redeems

them

because of

his great

love and

mercy.

That's what this

king is like.

Charles Spurgeon

says of

helpless people

and their

King Jesus

here

let them

look

to him

for he is

looking

for them.

Let them

look

to him

for he

is looking

for them.

What a

magnificent

king.

Solomon

starts off

pretty well

with this

but

wealth

and fame

seem to

attract

his heart

and distract

it

from the

needy.

That doesn't

happen

with our

promised

king.

This

mercy

flows

out

of

the

life

of

Jesus

constantly

over

and over

healing

the

sick

welcoming

the

outcast

caring

for the

widows

showing

the heart

of God

that we

so need

to know

is there

at God's

core

loving us

Jesus

is putting

it on

display.

Do you

remember

this blind

man outside

Jericho?

He's been

there blind

he hears

that Jesus

is coming

and he

calls out

in a loud

voice

Jesus

son of

David

have

mercy

on me.

See

he knows

he read

Psalm 72

maybe

he knows

that the

promised

king

on

David's

throne

will be

full

of mercy

for people

like him

the thing is

people around

him that day

don't really

think so.

Hush

right?

Jesus

is important

don't distract

him

everyone

says

except

one person

Jesus

Jesus

stops

Jesus

speaks

with him

Jesus

heals

him

Jesus

with a

heart

for the

ones

that no

one else

will listen

to

that

is my

king

he came

for the

sick

he hung

with the

outsiders

he came

to call

sinners

he refuses

to break

a bruised

reed

or to

snuff

out

a

smoldering

wick

he sees

them

and he

loves

them

and he

strengthens

them

praise

God

Jesus

helps

those

of us

who

cannot

help

ourselves

amen

now you

just have

fun with

all the

ways we

should be

giving

our

neighbors

a taste

of this

kingdom

on earth

rushing

to the

homes

of widows

with trees

falling

through their

roof

as some

of you

did

this

week

crying

with

grieving

bringing

tangible

comfort

in the

hardest

moments

of

people's

lives

walking

with

neighbors

in faith

and finances

as we

learn to

steward

God's

resources

to bring

hope

to break

cycles

of generational

poverty

in our

city

the list

could go

on all

day

but I

want to

ask

why

why

care

for the

poor

and needy

is social

justice

like that

the gospel

is a

cup of

cold

water

the

good

news

don't

they

just

need

to

know

Jesus

that's

what

you're

thinking

right

listen

y'all

we

care

for the

poor

and needy

because

we sing

this

psalm

we

read

it

and we

meditate

on it

and we

sing

it

and what

happens

in our

hearts

is that

there's

nothing

in this

world

that we

delight

in

more than

King

Jesus

and his

reign

over every

inch

of his

creation

over every

corner

of our

lives

so we

want

to live

in it

and with

him

give others

a taste

of this

merciful

king

the gospel

is not

less

than a

cup of

cold

water

it

it is

actually

the

good

news

that

the

true

king

will

see

that

the

thirsty

has

a cup

of

cold

water

and

eternal

living

water

from which

he will

never

thirst

again

that

is how

good

King

Jesus

is

social

justice

care

for the

needy

deeds

of mercy

mark

his

kingdom

because

this

merciful

king

is a

need

meeting

king

physical

and

spiritual

temporal

and

eternal

we all

look

to him

because

he is

looking

for us

amen

that's

what we

long for

and how

we love

to live

finally

in case

you're not

catching on

this king

and his

kingdom

are

blessed

watch how

much blessing

there is

at the end

not only

is the king

himself

to be

blessed

pray for

long life

and blessing

to him

but all

of the people

of the kingdom

are blessed

through him

when this

king

and this

kingdom

are worshipped

and they're

lived out

in our lives

blessing

is just

flowing

everywhere

that's what

should be

happening

all around

us

even the

promises

all the way

back to

Abraham

are being

fulfilled

here

the great

name

that God

will give

his people

all the

nations

blessed

through the

blessing

of God's

people

God himself

being with

his people

through

this

king

isn't it

interesting

that the

king

will be

blessed

and then

in that

closing

blessing

it is

Yahweh

the God

of Israel

who is

the

blessed

one

and it

is

his

name

that is

blessed

forever

as

his

glory

fills

the earth

see

this

blessed

king

seems

to share

the very

glory

glory

of

Yahweh

that

fills

the earth

as always

it was

meant to

and as

the true

king

always

was to

see

accomplished

this

indeed

is

our

goal

isn't

it

that

as

we

taste

the

grace

of

this

king

as

we

are

overwhelmed

with

his

glory

and

his

worth

we

increasingly

delight

in

his

rule

and

reign

his

just

and

merciful

kingdom

becomes

so

glorious

to us

that we

want it

to come

here

and

everywhere

now

so that

we can

already

begin

enjoying

it

and never

ever

have to

stop

all day

every day

we want

to live

in this

kingdom

while we

wait

for the

return

of the

king

who

for

certain

is the

highlight

of that

kingdom

God

how

could I

live

so

much

for my

own

kingdom

forgive

me

God

how

could I

be

so

slow

to

share

with

others

about

this

glorious

king

please

forgive

me

I

hope

you're

seeing

the

uniqueness

of the

king

that this

psalm

ultimately

points

to

he is

indeed

a king

unlike

any

other

isn't

he

most

kings

demand

that their

subjects

give their

lives

to protect

the king

the king

of

psalm

72

gives

his life

to protect

his subjects

what does

verse 14

say

precious

is their

blood

the blood

of the

poor

and needy

is what's

being talked

about here

precious

is their

blood

in his

sight

the king

of kings

so values

their blood

that he insists

on shedding

his own

to save

theirs

the king

to whom

all other

kings bow

stoops

at the cost

of his own

life

to lift

the undeserving

to life

unparalleled

and

unending

this table

reminds us

of that

gracious

and

glorious

reality

it was

you see

because of the

fact that

we refused

to serve

his kingdom

it was

because of the

fact that

we wanted to

build our

own kingdoms

that we

deserved

to die

our lives

were forfeit

we were

condemned

to die

for our

rebellion

against the

king

until he

loved us

so much

that he

sent his

son

that he

laid down

his own

life

shed his

own

blood

so that

ours

would no

longer

be demanded

of us

oh

worship

the

king

all

glorious

above

gratefully

sing

his

power

and his

love

he has

come

and given

himself

for you

come drawn

by his

love

so great

that he

made a

way

for you

to be

with him

forever

listen to

the words

of our

king

as he

prepared

to give

his

life

for you

that night

that Jesus

was betrayed

he took

bread

and he

broke it

and he

gave it

to his

disciples

as I

ministering

in his

name

give this

bread

to you

he said

take

eat

this is

my

body

given

for you

do this

in remembrance

of me

and in the

same way

after supper

he took

the cup

saying

this cup

is the

new

covenant

in my

blood

shed

for many

for the

forgiveness

of sins

drink

from it

all of you

for as

often as

you eat

this bread

and you

drink

this cup

you proclaim

the Lord's

death

until he

comes

you proclaim

that he

died

so that

you would

not

eternally

die

but live

this is

the table

of the

Lord

it is set

by

King

Jesus

your

invitation

secured

to you

by his

Holy

Spirit

it is

not

the table

of

Southwood

or the

Presbyterian

church

so if you

are his

by faith

in his

death

now

bowing

to him

as your

king

in your

life

if you've

publicly

declared

your allegiance

to King

Jesus

by being

baptized

into his

family

then come

and eat

and be

strengthened

receive

forgiveness

have your

hope set

on the

true king

again

today

if that's

not where

you are

today

perhaps

you have

never

bowed

the knee

to King

Jesus

perhaps

you have

but you

realize

sitting here

right now

that there's

an area

of your

life

where

you're

insisting

on being

your own

king

you're not

willing to

bow the

knee there

to King

Jesus

you're

unwilling

to repent

and turn

to him

for his

forgiveness

and be

guided

in his

ways

then

I invite

you not

to this

table

there's

no shame

in acknowledging

that that's

where you

are

but come

being there

to King

Jesus

don't miss

him

come and

talk with

him

you can

pray to him

right where

you are

you can

come up

here and

tell us

to pray

with you

we'd love

to help

you

talk

with him

but come

to King

Jesus

the one

who doesn't

demand

that you

give your

life

for him

but gives

his life

for you

let me pray

and we'll

come to this

table together

Jesus we

thank you

for the life

you lived

the death

you died

and the life

you live

again

as our

king forever

would you

take

very

ordinary

elements

and would

you use

them

to give

strength

to our

hearts

joy

to our

lives

hope

in our

darkest

moments

because our

king is

with us

and he

reigns

forever

work in us

we pray

as we meet

and eat

with you

in Jesus

name

amen

for more

information

visit us

online

at

southwood.org