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?
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
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
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
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
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
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