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358. King Solomon? Or King Jesus

 Psalm 72
Key Verse:  “Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory.  Amen and Amen!
Psalm 72:18-19

Did David write this Psalm for his son Solomon, or for the one to come, the promised Messiah?  Way back, somewhere in the first couple of weeks of our journey, we explored this supposed mystery.

Nathan had come to David to prophesy that David’s throne would last forever through his prodigy. We talked about how it could have sounded as though Nathan were talking about Solomon, the son of David, who would reign after David “slept with his fathers.” We examined how many of the statements Nathan made couldn’t have applied to Solomon, but only Messiah. The same is true now, in this Psalm.

It would appear that this Psalm was intended to be presented at Solomon’s coronation. In the heading it is entitled: “Of Solomon.” It begins with asking God to “endow the king with justice, the royal son with your righteousness.”  (PS. 72:1)  It quickly departs from what Solomon can do, or will do, however, and turns into what only God Himself could possibly do or be.

“He will judge Your people in righteousness, Your afflicted ones with Justice. The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor.”  (Ps.72:2-4) Solomon did none of this. He was more interested in his building programs and building alliances through marriage. There is no record of the poor being defended during his reign or of the oppressor being put down. There was prosperity for the people, but that is because they were enjoying the peace that David, his Father, had established. David may have hoped that Solomon would live up to the high ideals expressed in this psalm, but the Solomon we know fell quite short of them due to his many distractions.

This Psalm makes much more sense as describing the reign of Jesus as Messiah. He cares for the afflicted. His reign will endure as long as and beyond the sun. Jesus will rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. “All kings will bow down to Him and all nations will serve Him.” (Ps. 72:11) “He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.” (Ps. 72:13)  Only Christ can save from death by the price of His blood.

As you read this Psalm again, rejoice over the King you have. He is not an oppressor or a dictator. He is fair and just. He cares for the poor and the weak. He longs for justice for the people.  “All nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed.” (Ps. 72:17)  He is a good God who lives in you.  He is a good God who longs to be your King.  

No King has done what He has done. No King has ruled as He rules and will rule forever. This is not a King to fear if you are His.  His rule is a blessing to all who choose to be a part of it. Who and what He is, is so far beyond our comprehension.  How do you take all that He has done for us, through His death and resurrection and all that He is in His “I Am,” portrait, and top it with a crown?  How can we understand all of this?  We don’t really.  Paul said that “now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face.”  (1 Cor. 13:12)  Even then, however, think about it, we will be seeing God, our creator, yet King!  We may never fully know, but we are fully known by Him.  He is our King.  He is in charge.  He knows our frame and He knows what is best.  To God be the glory for ever and ever!

“Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory.   Amen and Amen


Hymn:  "All Hail King Jesus"

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