Today is Saturday, December 10th, the 14th day of advent. Every Saturday, we focus on a passage from the book of Psalms that points to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Today’s passage is Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19. This is a passage that was written by David for Solomon, his son, the next in line to the throne of Israel. The psalm, which we will read in a moment, focuses on what kind of kingdom the King would bring to the people of Israel. While the psalm is about Solomon’s kingdom, it is also about a different kingdom and a different king - the king and kingdom that would come from the line of David, the shoot of Jesse, the Messiah. And this kingdom, unlike Solomon’s, which ended in disarray, would last forever.
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
This passage describes the kingdom that the Messiah would bring to the world. The first seven verses of this advent reading give us many promises about what Jesus’ kingdom will be like.
Firstly, Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness. “May he judge your people with righteousness...”. Jesus will judge the world with equity and justice. He will right every wrong, he will wipe every tear away from our eyes, he will make all things new, and injustice will no longer reign. Jesus also makes the unrighteous to be righteous in God’s eyes, through his loving sacrifice for the sins of the world. In Jesus’ kingdom, justice rolls like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Secondly, Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of peace. “Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people”. Prosperity can also be translated as peace. Christ said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” He brings peace between God and man, that man may know the loving and gracious God who created them. He brings peace between man and fellow man, that conflict may cease and peaceable relationships may grow. He brings peace in man’s own soul, that in the most difficult and trying circumstance, we can know a peace that passes all understanding.
Thirdly, Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of protection. “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy...”. He cares for the weak, and has a heart for the poor. “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” He sees those who are weak and lowly and is gentle with them and says that he will defend their cause. He will do this and He calls his children to do this, too.
Fourthly, Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of victory “May he... crush the oppressor.” Christ came to bring people from death to life, from darkness to life, from the reign of the enemy to the reign of the God of love. Through his death on the cross and his resurrection, Jesus defeated the enemy and the sting of death. The people of Christ now live in eternal victory.
Fifthly and finally, Jesus’ Kingdom is a kingdom of flourishing in grace. “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!” In Jesus’ kingdom, the righteous are strengthened, fed, loved, and comforted. In his kingdom, the Holy Spirit will come like rain onto our souls, softening the hard soil, quenching our thirst, and feeding us, making us fruitful.
There is only one response to the promise of this glorious kingdom that we now live in, and that is to praise and bless the name of the Lord. “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!” To bless is to make reverent and holy, and so we lift up the name of Jesus in reverence and awe, for he alone does wondrous things. May his glory and magnificence cover the earth, that all may know him and live in his kingdom.

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