WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:01.199 Psalm 72. 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:13.980 Let's pray as we come to God's Word together. 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:18.620 Lord, we indeed pray just that you would come and give your Word success. 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:23.740 Lord, that you would penetrate the depths of our hearts with the truth of your Word. 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:26.080 Lord, we want to see you afresh. 00:00:26.620 --> 00:00:27.960 We want to know you more deeply. 00:00:28.400 --> 00:00:34.219 God, we want to live as your image bearers in a more rich and profound way. 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:39.060 And Lord, we know that you have given us your Word to accomplish just that, to shape us, 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:42.719 to mold us, to change us, to reveal yourself to us. 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:46.359 Lord, it is our sufficient and sure guide. 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:52.179 So, Father, we pray that by your Spirit you would come and you would work in us through 00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:53.060 your Word this morning. 00:00:53.540 --> 00:00:54.920 For Christ's sake, amen. 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:56.920 Psalm 72. 00:00:57.060 --> 00:00:58.300 Let me read this for us. 00:00:58.300 --> 00:01:04.079 Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal Son. 00:01:05.019 --> 00:01:08.519 May he judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice. 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:13.799 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people and the hills in righteousness. 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:19.240 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:21.259 the needy and crush the oppressor. 00:01:22.619 --> 00:01:27.140 May they fear you while the sun endures and as long as the moon throughout all generations. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:33.239 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:40.239 In his days may the righteous flourish and peace abound till the moon be no more. 00:01:41.419 --> 00:01:45.060 May he have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:48.659 May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust. 00:01:49.060 --> 00:01:52.640 May the kings of Tarshish and the coastlands render him tribute. 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.280 May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. 00:01:55.659 --> 00:01:57.840 May all kings fall down before him. 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:00.200 All nations serve him. 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:04.359 For he delivers the needy when he calls. 00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:07.520 The poor and him who has no helper. 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:12.780 He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:19.039 From oppression and violence he redeems their life and precious is their blood in his sight. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:21.319 Long may he live. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:23.500 May gold of Sheba be given to him. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:28.240 May prayer be made for him continually and blessings invoked for him all the day. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.820 May there be abundance of grain in the land. 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:33.200 On the tops of the mountains may it wave. 00:02:33.460 --> 00:02:34.860 May its fruit be like Lebanon. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:40.020 And may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:43.340 May his name endure forever. 00:02:43.980 --> 00:02:47.180 His fame continue as long as the sun. 00:02:47.540 --> 00:02:49.600 May people be blessed in him. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:52.780 All nations call him blessed. 00:02:54.260 --> 00:02:57.780 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:00.480 Blessed be his glorious name forever. 00:03:00.860 --> 00:03:03.159 May the whole earth be filled with his glory. 00:03:03.780 --> 00:03:05.379 Amen and amen. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:08.180 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. 00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:15.020 Well, with that we come to the end of book two of the Psalms. 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:21.260 And we come to the end of our series that we've been doing this summer in book two of the Psalms called Thirsting for God. 00:03:21.259 --> 00:03:25.840 You'll remember that way back in the beginning of the summer, if you've been with us, we began in Psalm 42. 00:03:26.139 --> 00:03:32.179 And we heard the heart cry of the psalmist calling out, God, I'm thirsting for you. 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:33.479 I'm longing for you. 00:03:33.959 --> 00:03:37.099 And we've seen that sort of journey throughout this book of the Psalms. 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:40.560 And finally, we come here to the end, to Psalm 72. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:42.739 And what do we find? 00:03:43.739 --> 00:03:46.579 We find a psalm for the king. 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:48.319 A royal psalm. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:55.719 Psalm 72 is essentially a prayer that ancient Israel would pray for their king. 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:06.659 And my guess is that as we read this psalm today, most of us would find the idea of having a king to be a bit foreign, right? 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:08.959 I mean, do we really need a king? 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:11.019 Do we really want a king? 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:15.159 Of course, maybe we'd like one, but only to a point. 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:23.879 I mean, with, you know, little George born this summer in England, you know, those of us on the other side of the pond think, oh, you know, maybe it would be kind of fun to have a royal family. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.699 It would add a little pomp and circumstance to public life. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:31.500 It would give the entertainment magazines something to talk about with at least a shred of dignity, right? 00:04:31.719 --> 00:04:33.719 It would give us a little more national identity. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:41.720 But at the end of the day, you and I don't really want a king, do we? 00:04:43.140 --> 00:04:48.980 I mean, a figurehead is fine, great, but not a real king, not a king with real power and authority and all that. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:51.580 In fact, that whole idea just makes us a bit uncomfortable. 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:59.519 This week, our small group went to see the production of Julius Caesar at Edgerton Park. 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:05.479 And if you're familiar with that Shakespeare play, you'll remember that the whole reason, or at least one of the main reasons, 00:05:05.539 --> 00:05:12.659 why the conspirators conspire together to assassinate Caesar is because they're afraid that he'll become a tyrant. 00:05:13.979 --> 00:05:15.759 At least that's why Brutus does the deed. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:17.680 He's the one noble one among them all. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:26.340 In other words, if Caesar becomes emperor, as it looks like he will, they're afraid that they'll lose their freedom. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:29.240 So they kill him. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:38.860 And isn't that the same fear under most of our misgivings about giving someone authority in and over our lives? 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:43.379 Isn't that our misgivings about having, as we would put it, a king? 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:52.279 Don't we fear that such authority over us will destroy our freedom and our potential to genuinely flourish? 00:05:53.079 --> 00:06:01.420 But if someone has rights over me, then the only option is for me to diminish as that person increases. 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:08.460 And yet there's a deep irony in the play. 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:11.600 After Caesar is assassinated, do you remember what happens? 00:06:12.080 --> 00:06:14.580 The whole country just descends into civil war. 00:06:16.180 --> 00:06:24.139 And the play seems to imply that the generals who end up on top in the end just might be worse tyrants than Caesar ever would have been. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:29.259 And isn't there an irony in our culture too? 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:36.120 You know, as much as we believe that individual autonomy is the real key to happiness and to freedom, 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:44.419 don't we also know that our flourishing is completely bound up with the people who are in leadership over us? 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:46.839 I mean, think about it. 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:52.360 Just think of how many books are written and sold every year on management and business leadership. 00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:53.199 Right? 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.319 You go to Amazon and you look at the shelves of leadership and they just keep going. 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:58.219 It's incredible. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:05.680 John Maxwell has written like 4,000 books on leadership, like millions of pages on how to be a leader, right? 00:07:06.599 --> 00:07:14.259 And I think that's because it seems that we know that the well-being of a company depends on the right functioning of its leadership. 00:07:14.899 --> 00:07:17.719 If the leadership is bad, the company is not going to succeed. 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:22.960 And I think even more than that, we even harbor hopes that if we get the right leadership in place, 00:07:23.080 --> 00:07:26.360 it won't just grow a company, but it could even heal a company. 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:32.380 Take the recent events at the Washington Post, for example. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:37.100 Everybody knows that the newspaper industry is in trouble, right? 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:44.480 But when Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post early last month, some people were thinking, 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:47.620 oh my goodness, maybe he'll just pull it off. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:54.020 Maybe if the guy behind Amazon, the sort of genius behind sort of the digital age in some ways, 00:07:54.400 --> 00:07:56.700 at least in making money in the digital age, 00:07:56.699 --> 00:08:01.939 if he can get behind the Washington Post, no matter how broken the newspaper industry might be, 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:05.599 maybe it just stands a chance of survival. 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:08.819 Maybe even it could flourish. 00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:15.279 And we know this principle is true not just in the corporate world, right? 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.539 Think about other areas too. 00:08:17.419 --> 00:08:20.199 You know, when parents function like they should, 00:08:21.219 --> 00:08:24.339 doesn't it bring wholeness and healing to a family? 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:29.199 Or when local government officials function like they should, 00:08:30.599 --> 00:08:35.059 doesn't it bring forth the possibility of healing in a neighborhood or in a city? 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:39.779 It seems there's an undeniable connection between the proper functioning, 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:44.759 the rightness, the righteousness, if you will, of the leadership of a body 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:47.899 and the peace and the wholeness of that body. 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:55.679 So when we come to Psalm 72, and especially these first four verses of this Psalm, 00:08:55.759 --> 00:09:00.000 and as we listen in of this prayer, into this prayer of ancient Israel for their king, 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:01.779 we realize that on the one hand, 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:06.519 what they're doing is completely in line with what we know and practice every day. 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:10.720 That good leaders, righteous leaders bring wholeness and healing and flourishing to their people, 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:13.500 so they're praying for their king to be just that. 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:21.860 But on the other hand, as we listen a bit more closely, 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:29.399 we realize that this psalm is doing something completely radical with that idea. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:35.360 You see, when Israel took up this prayer for its king, 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:41.340 they weren't just praying for the peace and prosperity of their own little tribe 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:43.500 in their own little corner of the world. 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:50.240 You see, they were praying for a king who would be so completely fit for the task, 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:53.680 so completely and genuinely righteous, 00:09:54.340 --> 00:10:00.300 that he would ultimately heal not just Israel, but the whole world. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:06.120 Under the headship of this king, the needy would be provided for, 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:09.899 the oppressed would be delivered, the nations would be united, 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:13.100 and the creation itself would be renewed. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.120 Look at verse 3. 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:19.179 Even the mountains and the hills are brought into prosperity. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:23.120 Literally, the word there is peace, shalom, wholeness, 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:26.419 because of the righteousness of this king. 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:32.960 And of course, their kings never lived up to it, right? 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.700 Throughout the history of ancient Israel, most of their kings were weak or downright bad, 00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:42.180 and even the good kings couldn't finally prevent the downward spiral into captivity. 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:47.080 And it seemed that the truly righteous king would never come, 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:49.720 and that might would continue to make right, 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:51.860 and the brokenness of the world would remain. 00:10:51.860 --> 00:11:00.300 And yet, can't you imagine the faithful in Israel, 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:04.779 through all those hard and disappointing generations, 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:10.060 singing this song that God had given them, 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:16.740 hoping and longing and yearning for the day 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:21.399 when God would send them a true king, 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:24.980 to bring justice at last, 00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:31.320 and to bring healing and wholeness to the world at last. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:36.680 And isn't that deep down what we're longing for, too? 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:43.199 Just this week, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, right? 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:46.479 The 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s great, 00:11:46.739 --> 00:11:48.099 I Have a Dream speech, 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:52.419 which stands not just as one of the examples of great American oratory, 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:56.839 but one of the most moving and stirring visions of justice 00:11:56.839 --> 00:12:00.219 probably ever penned in our generation, our time. 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:06.720 And what's so moving and stirring about that moment and about that speech 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:09.779 is because it connects with something deep within all of us 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:12.920 that longs for what's broken and wrong in the world 00:12:12.920 --> 00:12:16.120 to finally be fixed and to be put right. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:21.379 That someone, somehow, some way, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:26.980 would come and be able to heal what divides us 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:28.139 and to right what is wrong. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:37.940 And of course, the truly shocking thing 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:40.279 is that when God's true king finally came 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:44.180 to inaugurate God's kingdom of righteousness and peace, 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:49.000 it wasn't like anything anyone had expected. 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:52.980 He lived in obscurity for 30 years, 00:12:53.420 --> 00:12:55.139 and when his public ministry started, 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:58.440 he chose humble, common men and women to be his closest followers. 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:01.940 And then he started eating with tax collectors and sinners. 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:04.320 And he never rose an army, 00:13:04.880 --> 00:13:07.400 and he didn't try to overthrow the Roman oppressors. 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:10.920 And in fact, he was rejected by the Jewish authorities 00:13:10.920 --> 00:13:13.600 and crucified by the Romans outside of Jerusalem 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.620 and buried in a borrowed tomb. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:20.240 And that would have been the end of the story. 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:25.960 No one would have worshipped a crucified would-be Messiah, 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:31.740 except that three days later, God raised him from the dead. 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:35.860 And in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:40.519 God's new creation kingdom of righteousness and peace 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:42.819 was unleashed into the world. 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:47.980 The prayer of Psalm 72 finally found its traction 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:50.559 as God came in Christ. 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:54.840 And after being raised, Jesus appeared to his disciples, 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.819 instructed them for 40 days, 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:58.980 and commissioned them to go to the nations, 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.960 proclaiming the forgiveness of sins in his name. 00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:03.579 And then he ascended to the Father 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:06.579 and sat down in majesty at the right hand of God 00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:10.900 as king over all and poured out his Holy Spirit upon his church, 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:13.580 empowering them to take the good news 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:17.300 of the gospel of his reign to the very ends of the earth. 00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:22.160 You see, friends, in Jesus, God's king has finally come, 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:26.160 that truly righteous one who can cause not just a family 00:14:26.160 --> 00:14:28.879 and not just a city or not just a nation, 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:33.100 but even the whole world to flourish under his kingship. 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:39.779 And that means that when we read Psalm 72 today, 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:43.860 we're not just reading something that's merely a future hope, 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:47.800 but something that is a present work in progress. 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:52.200 The truly righteous and rightful king 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:54.500 now sits at the head of the universe, 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:58.759 and we're shown here what sort of kingdom he's bringing about. 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:04.159 In particular, I think we're shown three things about this kingdom, 00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:07.340 three things that Israel prayed for and longed for, 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:09.200 which are now coming to pass in Christ. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:11.639 So let's look at these three things briefly together. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.100 First, in verses 5 through 7, 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:17.980 we see that Jesus' kingdom is an endless kingdom. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.840 In verse 5, we're told that the fear of this king, 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:23.799 the reverence in all of him, 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:27.959 will be without end as long as time goes on, 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:30.679 as long as sun and moon continue their cycles, 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:33.599 as long as one generation follows another. 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:36.979 In verse 7, we're told that in his days, 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:39.919 the righteous will flourish and peace will abound 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.199 till moon be no more. 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:47.779 Which is a fancy way of saying forever and ever, right? 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:52.139 His kingdom is endless. 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.360 And that means that, you know, 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:56.100 if his kingdom is truly endless, 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:02.399 then it means that it will last when all else fades. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.659 Think about it. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.779 Throughout the course of human history, 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:11.340 countless kingdoms have come and gone. 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.580 And those who have lived merely for the glory 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:17.740 of those earthly kingdoms, 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.700 sadly have largely lived their lives in vain. 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:25.199 How about you, friend? 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:27.899 What are you living for? 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:31.960 And are you living for what really is going to last? 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:35.699 Because that which is done for Christ 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:38.679 and for his kingdom is not in vain. 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.860 And that means as we approach our work 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:44.539 for God's glory and for the love of our neighbors, 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.500 it's not in vain. 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:48.039 And as we seek to bear one another's burdens 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.419 in the community of faith, 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:52.279 though it's hard and though it takes a lot of us, 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.639 it's not in vain. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:57.299 And as we seek to extend the love of Christ 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:59.879 to those who don't believe in word and in deed, 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:02.500 it's not in vain. 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:07.180 When we do anything for his kingdom's sake, 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:11.500 it will last because his kingdom will have no end. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:15.960 You know, sometimes people think 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:18.799 that if you come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.380 and if you become a Christian, 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.700 then you start to lose any motivation 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:25.180 that you might have to work for change 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.359 in the world here and now. 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.539 Have you run into that kind of thinking 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:31.640 that religion is merely an opiate for the masses, 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:33.380 that you sort of believe in pie in the sky 00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:34.480 and you lose any motivation 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:38.099 to sort of actually work and work for change? 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:40.399 But you know, in the Christian worldview, 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:42.679 God's eventually going to renew the world, 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.619 not throw it away. 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.079 And the resurrection of Jesus 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.000 and the establishment of his kingdom 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.599 in the resurrection of Christ 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.419 is a great sign of that fact. 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:54.259 In fact, if you think about it, 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.699 nearly every other worldview 00:17:55.699 --> 00:17:58.179 gives you very little motivation 00:17:58.179 --> 00:18:00.379 to do the hard, long work 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:02.099 towards changing how things run 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.399 in the world as it is. 00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:06.480 I mean, if in a handful of decades, 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.740 you're just going to turn to dust. 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:11.539 And if in a few hundred millennia, 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:13.559 the earth's just going to freeze 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:16.500 or be incinerated when the sun expands, 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:20.039 what is the point of sacrificially 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:22.620 giving your time and your energy 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:24.480 and your money and your work 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.860 to make it a better place? 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.400 You'll give to a point. 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.720 But sacrificially? 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:33.539 I mean, under that worldview, 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.579 isn't it all just ultimately in vain? 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:41.539 But not if what we're told here 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:43.980 about the kingdom of Christ is true. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:48.480 If his kingdom will last forever, 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:51.720 then our longing for justice 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.420 actually makes sense. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:56.259 It actually connects up 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:58.980 with something that is right and real. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:03.680 If it's an endless kingdom 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.779 and working for it can't be in vain 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:08.200 and the sacrifices that we make for it 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:10.519 will be worth it all in the end. 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:12.160 Of course, we don't know ultimately 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.860 how all our labors are going to actually 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:15.740 come together in Christ's kingdom 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.519 when it's completed. 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.319 I ran across this illustration 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.599 a little bit ago 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.400 and I thought it was helpful. 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:22.180 It's sort of like the construction 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.299 of an ancient cathedral 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:25.380 are sort of labors for Christ's kingdom. 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:28.000 You know, when an ancient cathedral was built 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.900 there were hundreds, 00:19:29.020 --> 00:19:30.560 just scads of workers 00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:31.780 who worked on these things. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:34.680 And some of them never even saw one another 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:36.240 as they went about cutting stone, 00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:37.940 as they went about carving statues, 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.680 as they went about preparing timber 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.320 for the beams, 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:42.540 as they went about doing all the sort of work 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:44.160 that went into building this cathedral. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.000 And many of them were not even sure 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.340 how their particular job, 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.520 how their particular piece 00:19:48.520 --> 00:19:49.940 was even going to fit into 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.300 the overarching scheme. 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.160 And many of them died 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:54.600 before the thing was even completed. 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.340 But you see, friends, 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:01.980 the architect knows exactly 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.860 how it's all going to fit together. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:06.200 And when it does, 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.660 it's going to be glorious. 00:20:12.340 --> 00:20:16.620 And each part will find its place. 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:20.220 You see, our labor for the kingdom of Christ 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.720 is much like that. 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:25.559 We may not be sure how it will all fit in 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.900 and all fit together when Christ returns, 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.900 how our faithful mothering 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:31.819 day in and day out 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.860 is going to fit in, 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:35.519 or how our private prayers 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.019 morning to morning 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.620 are going to come together 00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:40.120 in the glory of His kingdom, 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:42.500 or how our consistent witness 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.559 to our neighbors 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.279 is going to find its place. 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:48.519 But friends, 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.899 when it comes together 00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:53.480 in the glory of His kingdom, 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:56.119 it will be glorious. 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.319 And another thing, you see, 00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.819 if His kingdom is endless, 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.740 as we see here, 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.579 then we can be sure 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:05.720 that nothing is going to turn it back 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:08.099 and nothing is going to stop its growth. 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:11.139 It will go on and on. 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:13.320 In verse 6, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.340 we're told that the king 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.980 will be like continual, 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:18.680 refreshing showers upon the earth, 00:21:19.280 --> 00:21:20.380 bringing new life 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:22.360 to the dry and cracked land 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:23.840 and bringing new creation 00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:25.600 to dry and bitter hearts. 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.900 Isn't that a beautiful image? 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:30.480 Like rain on the mown grass. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.960 That's what His kingship is like. 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:39.720 Even when the meadow is cut down low 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.640 in the heat of the summer, 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:44.839 He comes like a rain 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:47.180 to soften the soil 00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:49.180 and to keep the roots 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.539 from withering away. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.860 He will make sure 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:56.259 that His kingdom endures. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:59.220 So you don't need to be worrisome 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.360 and you don't need to be anxious 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.259 when you feel like 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:04.919 you're not sufficient for the task, 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.899 when you feel like 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:08.859 you've really blown it this time, 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:11.039 when you can't possibly see 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:13.500 how good could come out of the situation. 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:16.779 Friends, His kingdom goes forth 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.279 and it is endless 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.539 and nothing will turn it back. 00:22:22.959 --> 00:22:24.399 So that's the first thing we see 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.039 in this psalm, 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.459 that the kingdom of Christ 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.099 will be endless, 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.759 that it's for all times. 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:31.559 But next the psalm turns 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.599 and shows us that 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.740 the kingdom of Christ 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.019 will be a boundless kingdom, 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:36.400 not just an endless kingdom, 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.720 but a boundless kingdom. 00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:38.640 In verses 8 through 11, 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.640 we see that His kingdom 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:41.539 is for all nations, 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.000 that it will extend 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.960 to the ends of the earth. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.700 And that was always God's plan 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.660 from the beginning, you know. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:52.019 The prophets all foresaw a time 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.420 when the Gentiles 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.799 would come streaming in 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:57.440 and worship the one true God. 00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.279 So it comes as no surprise 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.159 that after the resurrection, 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.019 Jesus commissions the church 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.940 to make disciples of all nations 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.200 and to be His witnesses, 00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:07.240 not just in Jerusalem 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:09.000 and Judea and Samaria, 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.339 but to the ends of the earth. 00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.659 And what this means 00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:16.599 is that Jesus is the rightful king 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:18.200 over every nation 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.740 and over every person. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:22.099 And everyone is called 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:24.180 to submit to Him as Lord, 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:27.120 regardless of nationality, 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.940 ethnicity, language, or culture. 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.720 And of course, 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.620 as we ponder that fact 00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.640 at first glance, 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.759 it sounds a bit scary, doesn't it? 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.819 Well, isn't that 00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.819 the sort of tyrannous rule 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.579 that we were worried about 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.480 in the first place? 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:47.720 This is why we assassinated Caesar, 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.380 and now you're saying 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:50.240 that Jesus is going to rule over everyone 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.620 without remainder? 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.160 But friends, look again. 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:59.080 Look again at why 00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:01.500 the nations are shown 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:03.340 as willingly submitting 00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:04.540 to this king. 00:24:05.760 --> 00:24:07.360 In verses 12 through 14, 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:09.140 we're told that the nations come 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:12.000 for He delivers the needy. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:14.200 When the needy calls, 00:24:14.780 --> 00:24:16.320 the poor in Him has no helper. 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:21.340 Yes, this is a righteous king 00:24:21.340 --> 00:24:23.760 who brings healing to the world, 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.400 and it will be without end. 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:29.000 But this is also 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.640 a massively compassionate king, 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:35.400 a king of mercy and love. 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:38.740 You see, the boundless nature 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.640 of His kingdom 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:42.940 is undergirded by the boundless nature 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.000 of His compassion. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:47.500 He has rightful authority 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.859 over everyone, yes, 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.400 but you see, 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.440 His authority 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:52.980 is ultimately for everyone 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:55.819 to deliver, 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.200 to save, 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.079 to redeem, 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.420 to liberate. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.240 This was one of the things 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.240 that Jesus' disciples 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.700 during His earthly ministry 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:04.819 had such a hard time grasping. 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.059 While they were on their way 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:08.359 to Jerusalem for the last time, 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:10.079 do you remember James and John 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.079 approaching Jesus 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.460 and saying, 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.160 Jesus, when you enter 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:12.720 into your kingdom, 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.100 let one of us sit 00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.960 at your right hand 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.740 and one of us sit 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.620 at your left hand. 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.220 We want to be close 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.400 to the center of power 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.799 once you kind of come in 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.059 and do whatever you're going to do. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.079 And we know it's probably 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.740 going to look like 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:25.039 a massive military coup. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.460 But they didn't realize 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.539 that Jesus wasn't going 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.420 to Jerusalem 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:33.160 to stage a coup, 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:35.400 but to go to the cross. 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:37.960 And as the disciples 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.440 start bickering with one another 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.740 and getting into an argument 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.900 and getting indignant 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.759 at James and John 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.519 for getting to the, 00:25:44.300 --> 00:25:45.759 getting to Jesus first 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.600 and asking for something 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.259 they were kind of wanting 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.280 probably to ask Jesus, 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:51.380 what does Jesus say? 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:52.980 He says, 00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:53.900 that's how the Gentiles 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.980 lorded over their subjects. 00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:55.340 But you see, 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.620 the Son of Man has come 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:58.019 not to be served, 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.140 but to serve 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.940 and to give His life 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:03.180 as a ransom for many. 00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:05.880 Friends, 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:08.519 the present reign of Jesus 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:10.960 is a reign of grace. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.420 He's come for the weak 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.960 who know they can't 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.800 rescue themselves. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.620 And He's come for the poor 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:23.360 who admit that they're out 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:25.019 and that they're sinners. 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.060 And He's come for the helpless 00:26:28.060 --> 00:26:29.540 who've laid down their attempts 00:26:29.540 --> 00:26:31.420 at trying to earn God's approval. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.740 And He's come for the oppressed 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:35.500 who know the weight 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.059 and gravity 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.140 of their lost condition 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.920 before God. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.660 And through the cross, 00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:44.839 He redeems their life. 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:47.759 He pays the cost 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:49.099 to free them 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.660 from their debt 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.000 and from their oppression 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.720 and from their tyranny 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:55.200 of sin 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.500 and death 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:58.900 and separation from God. 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:02.440 And why does He do this? 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.960 He does it because 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.680 He loves them. 00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.700 Their blood is precious 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:10.160 in His sight. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.080 He's not the sort of king 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:13.300 who views His subjects 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:14.460 as just so many 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:16.080 expendable pawns 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:17.660 in a game of conquest 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.180 as stepping stones 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:21.180 to His own greater glory 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.480 at their expense. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.640 No, friends, 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.400 you are precious 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.580 in His sight 00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:27.280 and at His own expense. 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.660 He lifts you up. 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:33.040 And He does whatever it takes 00:27:33.040 --> 00:27:33.620 to redeem 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.780 and to deliver 00:27:34.780 --> 00:27:35.800 and to save. 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.700 Do you see now 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.540 why people 00:27:37.540 --> 00:27:38.840 from all nations 00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:40.800 come streaming in 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:41.600 to worship 00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:43.300 and to serve this king? 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.440 It's because 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.340 no other kingdom 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:47.360 works like this. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.840 Every other kingdom 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.880 assigns you 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.840 your place 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:53.100 and your value 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.780 based on 00:27:53.780 --> 00:27:55.080 your performance 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:59.159 or your usefulness 00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.839 to those 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.279 who happen 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.279 to be in charge. 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.740 And when you've 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.439 outlived 00:28:03.439 --> 00:28:04.699 your usefulness 00:28:04.699 --> 00:28:06.000 and when your performance 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.000 falls below 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.919 the par, 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:09.099 you're forgotten 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.480 or you're replaced. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.879 And many of us 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:15.899 still treat Christianity 00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.759 as if it's all about 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.899 our moral performance. 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:20.059 That if I live 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.939 a good life, 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.339 then God will accept 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:23.119 me into His kingdom. 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.539 But isn't that 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.379 just the opposite 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:27.859 of what we're seeing here? 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.619 That this kingdom 00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.500 is not based 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.359 on your performance 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.579 but on His performance. 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.720 Friends, 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.740 here's what we bring 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.619 to the kingdom. 00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:39.019 We bring our weakness 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:41.259 and we bring our poverty 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.200 and our need 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.660 and our sin. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.180 And what does He bring? 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.500 He brings His righteousness 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:51.559 and He brings His compassion 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:53.579 and He brings His love 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:55.940 and He brings His spirit 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:58.440 and He redeems us 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.879 and He clothes us 00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:01.480 and He brings us in 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.819 and He grants us 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.839 a place of dignity 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.900 not because of what 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.680 we've done 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.599 but because of what 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.399 He's done for us. 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.539 And He finds you 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:16.299 precious in His sight 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.859 before you could do 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:20.019 anything good at all. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.299 And this is why 00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:23.879 His kingdom 00:29:23.879 --> 00:29:26.019 has no bounds. 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:29.459 Because the only requirement 00:29:29.459 --> 00:29:30.519 for entry 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:32.099 is admitting your need 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.519 and accepting what He's done 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.240 on your behalf. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:38.519 There's no cultural requirement. 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:40.579 There's no ethnic requirement. 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.740 There's no moral requirement. 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:46.079 There's no educational requirement. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.079 Simply the humility 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.839 to come 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.900 in repentance 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:53.180 and belief. 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.339 Friends, 00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.519 isn't that a wonderful thing? 00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:01.019 Show me a kingdom 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.480 that operates 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.299 on these principles. 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.559 And friends, 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.180 as you think about 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.620 entry into this kingdom, 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.259 let me ask you this morning, 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.240 is it true for you? 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.180 Have you called out 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:16.460 to Christ in that way? 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.740 In your need 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:20.079 and in your weakness 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.640 to take what only 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.500 He can give 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.860 and to know the joy 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:25.420 and the freedom 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.200 that comes 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:28.779 in receiving His redemption 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.660 and His forgiveness? 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:31.279 We often think 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.740 that admitting 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.400 our weakness 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.279 and our need 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.380 is a sign of failure. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.880 That if we actually 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.860 were to open up 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.660 and to admit 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.900 that we're broken, 00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:43.720 that our hopes 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.620 of being loved 00:30:44.620 --> 00:30:45.360 and accepted 00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.279 and of flourishing 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:47.160 would just go right 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.700 out the window. 00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:50.600 And yet, 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.220 in the moment 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.620 when you call out to Him 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:53.900 in your weakness 00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.860 and need, 00:30:55.080 --> 00:30:55.980 He comes 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.019 and He clothes you 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.860 with His righteousness, 00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.939 and His peace, 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.819 not to shame you 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.679 but to receive you 00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.579 and to restore you. 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:09.179 And that leads us 00:31:09.179 --> 00:31:10.019 to our last point, 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.219 that Jesus' kingdom 00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:12.659 is not just 00:31:12.659 --> 00:31:13.500 an endless kingdom 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.379 and it's not just 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.399 a boundless kingdom 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.219 but finally 00:31:16.219 --> 00:31:17.399 it's a blessed kingdom. 00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.699 Verses 15 through 17, 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:21.279 look at all the images 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.719 in this passage 00:31:22.719 --> 00:31:23.119 that are just 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.240 overflowing 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.399 with joy. 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:27.300 The people come 00:31:27.300 --> 00:31:28.259 and they gladly 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.300 bestow their gifts 00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:30.019 on their King 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.040 and their prayers 00:31:31.040 --> 00:31:32.240 and their blessings 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.120 and they're finding 00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:34.300 their joy in Him. 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:36.220 And the King 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.700 bestows His gifts 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.820 upon His people. 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.340 He lavishes them 00:31:41.340 --> 00:31:42.840 and loves them. 00:31:43.540 --> 00:31:44.540 And we see something here 00:31:44.540 --> 00:31:45.220 that's shocking. 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:45.820 We see here 00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:47.340 that like an upward spiral 00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.820 in His kingdom, 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.700 His greater fame 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:52.800 means our greater flourishing. 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:54.339 that these two things 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.639 are not in competition. 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.720 That as He is exalted 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.940 and loved 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.440 and as we find 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.680 our joy in Him, 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.819 that we find 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.480 our own hearts 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.480 being lifted up 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:08.019 and our own blessing 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.599 increasing. 00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.299 Look at the images 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:10.899 that we're given. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.559 The fields 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.559 and even the mountains 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.200 are covered in grain 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.859 and the cities 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:16.759 are flourishing 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.440 with people 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:19.339 who are as glad 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.379 and as beautiful 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:21.560 and free 00:32:21.560 --> 00:32:22.560 as the grass 00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:23.180 of the fields. 00:32:25.780 --> 00:32:26.260 Friends, 00:32:26.280 --> 00:32:27.140 this is what the gospel 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:28.440 can do. 00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:29.500 Don't you see? 00:32:30.760 --> 00:32:32.160 It can create a people 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.100 and it is creating 00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.600 a people 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.800 who will blossom 00:32:34.800 --> 00:32:36.080 in the cities 00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:37.240 like the grass 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.320 of the fields. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.160 Christian, 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.060 do you realize 00:32:42.060 --> 00:32:43.000 what you've been 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.140 entered into, 00:32:44.260 --> 00:32:44.960 what you've become 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.880 a part of 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.720 in Christ 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.780 as He's brought you 00:32:47.780 --> 00:32:49.080 into His kingdom? 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:51.339 You've been ushered 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:53.240 into the great plan 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:53.919 of God 00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:54.899 to reclaim 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.740 His creation 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.740 and to share 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.379 His joy. 00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.919 It's sad 00:33:01.919 --> 00:33:02.460 that many people 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.279 view Christianity 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.579 as a dull 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:06.399 and lifeless thing 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.539 when in fact 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.099 at the heart 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:08.859 of Christianity 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:10.819 is nothing but joy 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.839 and newness 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.500 of life. 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.559 Not the cheap 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.399 sort of happiness 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:19.240 that comes and goes 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.440 but the very 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.259 blessing 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.500 of God. 00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:24.880 Verse 17 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.160 ends, 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.780 may people 00:33:25.780 --> 00:33:26.640 be blessed 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.620 in Him 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.940 and all nations 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:29.800 call Him 00:33:29.800 --> 00:33:30.700 blessed. 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.320 You know, 00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:33.720 this verse 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.380 connects up 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.800 with one of the 00:33:34.800 --> 00:33:35.440 most important 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:35.960 promises 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.360 in the Old Testament. 00:33:38.540 --> 00:33:38.820 Remember, 00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.259 when God 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.200 called Abraham, 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.740 He promised him 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.920 that Abraham 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:44.019 himself would be 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.440 blessed, 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.680 but in and through 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.120 him, 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:46.559 in and through 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.379 his offspring, 00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:48.839 all the nations 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.659 of the earth 00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:50.619 would be blessed 00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.159 as well. 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.399 That is, 00:33:53.439 --> 00:33:54.119 this curse 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:55.039 of sin 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.919 would be lifted 00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:56.959 and the favor 00:33:56.959 --> 00:33:57.959 of God 00:33:57.959 --> 00:33:58.919 would be granted. 00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:01.479 And what this 00:34:01.479 --> 00:34:02.239 psalm is saying 00:34:02.239 --> 00:34:03.419 is that this promise 00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:04.619 of divine approval 00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:05.659 and acceptance 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.399 that our hearts 00:34:06.399 --> 00:34:07.479 are longing for 00:34:07.479 --> 00:34:08.940 comes at last 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.500 through the true 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.420 offspring of Abraham 00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.380 and the true 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.239 king of Israel, 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.299 Jesus Christ. 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.400 Christ, 00:34:15.120 --> 00:34:17.539 that in Him, 00:34:17.620 --> 00:34:18.480 the truly blessed 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:18.960 one, 00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:20.680 we are truly blessed. 00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.320 That darkness 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.460 is lifted 00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:25.500 and hope 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.460 is restored 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.700 and sins 00:34:27.700 --> 00:34:28.780 are forgiven. 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.740 And people 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:34.000 blossom in the cities 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.400 like the grass 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.140 or the fields. 00:34:38.580 --> 00:34:39.140 Friends, 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:39.820 this is what the gospel 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.820 can do in our city 00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:42.200 as we think 00:34:42.200 --> 00:34:42.880 about being 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.300 the people of Christ 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:46.220 here in our place 00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:47.539 and in our time 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.280 and amidst 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.080 these people 00:34:49.080 --> 00:34:51.059 in this corner, 00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:52.160 in this aspect 00:34:52.160 --> 00:34:53.200 of Christ's 00:34:53.200 --> 00:34:54.400 global and universal 00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:55.240 reign. 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.500 Here it is 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.760 as His blessing 00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:59.559 goes forth 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.600 in the gospel 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.840 blossoming 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:03.200 in the cities 00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.900 like the grass 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:06.280 of the fields. 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:09.040 the gospel 00:35:09.040 --> 00:35:09.660 is taking people 00:35:09.660 --> 00:35:10.340 who are broken 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:11.920 and making them whole. 00:35:13.200 --> 00:35:14.060 And it's taking people 00:35:14.060 --> 00:35:14.780 who are weary 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.840 and searching 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:17.500 and giving them rest. 00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.360 And it's taking people 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.100 who are religious 00:35:20.100 --> 00:35:21.680 and who are proud 00:35:21.680 --> 00:35:23.000 and are making them 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:23.580 soft 00:35:23.580 --> 00:35:24.500 and humble. 00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.460 This is the vision 00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:28.920 of renewal 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.620 that comes 00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:30.060 with knowing 00:35:30.060 --> 00:35:30.640 Christ 00:35:30.640 --> 00:35:31.940 as King. 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.160 This vision 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.659 of indestructible 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:37.159 and ever-spreading 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.019 joy. 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.399 In a moment, 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:42.940 we're going to go 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.779 to the Lord's Supper 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:44.599 together 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:46.579 and we're going 00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:47.159 to celebrate 00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:47.960 our King 00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.259 at the table. 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.119 We're going to celebrate 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.679 the King 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.239 who died for us 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:53.279 so that He might 00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:54.099 grant us 00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:55.039 this joy. 00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.679 We're going to 00:35:58.679 --> 00:35:59.420 celebrate the One 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.059 whose kingdom 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:01.699 is for all time 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:03.039 and for all people 00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:04.439 and for our 00:36:04.439 --> 00:36:05.379 everlasting joy. 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.659 But before we do that, 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.299 just look at the last 00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:09.739 few verses 00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.500 of our psalm. 00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.579 These last few verses, 00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.679 most commentators say, 00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:14.179 will bring 00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.739 not just Psalm 72 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:16.259 to a close, 00:36:16.299 --> 00:36:17.819 but bring this whole book 00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:18.679 of psalms 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:19.059 to a close. 00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:20.079 All of book two 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.279 comes to its 00:36:21.279 --> 00:36:22.639 rousing conclusion 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.960 in these last few verses. 00:36:24.859 --> 00:36:25.399 And as we've been 00:36:25.399 --> 00:36:26.359 reflecting on Jesus' 00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:26.819 kingdom, 00:36:26.939 --> 00:36:27.739 isn't it a fitting way 00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:28.379 to conclude? 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:31.920 May the whole earth 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.119 be filled 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.519 with His glory. 00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:35.840 Amen 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.920 and amen. 00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:39.340 Let's pray together. 00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:50.700 God, this morning 00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:51.280 as we've 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:53.360 entered into 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.480 this ancient prayer 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:57.280 of Your people 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:58.080 for their true 00:36:58.080 --> 00:36:59.080 and righteous King, 00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:01.820 Lord, we pray 00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:02.720 that our own hearts 00:37:02.720 --> 00:37:03.460 would grow 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:05.060 with a longing 00:37:05.060 --> 00:37:08.080 to see the reign 00:37:08.080 --> 00:37:08.880 of our Lord Jesus 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.380 grow. 00:37:11.640 --> 00:37:12.880 Lord, as You show us 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.519 it is endless 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:15.519 and it is boundless 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:17.120 and it is blessed, 00:37:19.620 --> 00:37:20.519 Lord, I pray 00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:21.160 that we would be 00:37:21.160 --> 00:37:22.000 captivated 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:23.380 by the scope 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.040 and by the depth 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:26.779 of the reign 00:37:26.779 --> 00:37:27.579 of our Lord Jesus. 00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:29.920 Lord, we want to live 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.360 and we want to work 00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:34.059 and we want to rest 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:36.880 in the great 00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:38.320 and loving knowledge 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:39.699 that we have 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:40.340 such a King, 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.860 a King who is righteous 00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:46.360 and a King who is righteous 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:48.139 not just over us 00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:50.300 but even for us, 00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:53.659 that in His righteousness 00:37:53.659 --> 00:37:54.920 we are found, 00:37:55.399 --> 00:37:56.379 sinners that we are, 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.940 to be righteous, 00:37:58.759 --> 00:37:59.619 to be blessed. 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.719 Lord, we thank You 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.579 for all these things. 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.839 In Christ's name, 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:07.219 Amen.