(Psalm 72:1-4)…..Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son. 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice. 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.
Man’s rule on earth has been a failure since his fall into sin. That fall is characterized by – oppression – injustice – corruption – etc. in our worldly governments. Things like – money – power – status – political correctness – etc. are the talk on earth – not righteousness – wisdom and justice. One can only imagine what is going to follow our Supreme Court’s ruling of approval on so many perversions in our culture
“The world is upside down – inside out – sideways – crazy – perverted. Bad is good – up is down – left is right – right is wrong – evil is good – insanity is sanity – abnormal is normal – circles are squares – common sense is uncommon – dissent is hate – diversity means conformity – the good guys are the bad guys – debauchery is glorified – the holy is debauched – Christians who believe that God instituted marriage between a male and a female are now labeled crazy hate-filled bigots – and so on it goes.
Read: (1 Kings 3:7-9)
The Messiah would rule in righteousness – unlike Israel’s previous kings – or even rulers of today – who act in their own selfish interests – the Lord’s reign is characterized by justice and righteousness – where peace will exist for the people
In Christ’s kingdom the primary characteristic’s are righteousness and justice. He will judge the people in righteousness – because He…….
- Loves righteousness – (Hebrews 1:8-9)
- Judges with righteousness – (Isaiah 11:3-5)
- Brings in righteousness – (Isaiah 46:12-13) – seen in (Romans 1:16-17)
He will judge the poor with justice (fairly – with integrity) – because it…….
- Is His nature – (Deuteronomy 32:1-4)
- Was promised in Christ – (Zechariah 9:9)
This is exactly what Solomon prayed for at the beginning of his reign which the Lord found pleasing. And notice – the fruit of His righteousness and justice is peace to the people – because God’s peace is….…
- Found in Jesus Christ – (Psalm 29:11) (Isaiah 9:6-7) (John 14:27)
- Israel had two great times of rain in connection to their yearly harvest – in March/April and in October/November – these two periods of rain are a type of the two comings of the Lord Jesus
- The coming of the Lord Jesus is often likened to the coming of the rains upon the earth
- Read: (Hosea 6:1-3)
- The Lord’s coming will be like rain to a terribly dry and barren world
- How long has this world been waiting for true peace?
- Read: (1 Chronicles 22:6-9)
- Peace – the name Solomon actually means ‘peaceful’ and he was given peace and rest from all his enemies on every side – Why? – Because his reign was but a small picture of that which is to come in the Messianic Kingdom
- Imagine a time when nation will not lift up sword again nation anymore
- Imagine a time when they will not even learn about war anymore – (Isaiah 2:1-4)
Charles Spurgeon wrote…….As the rain is the free gift of God to the dry ground, it comes free and cheap to poor and rich, small and great, and cost them nothing: so Christ with his blessings is God’s free gift to a dry and perishing world; for which we should be continually thankful. As nothing can stop the falling of the rain; so nothing can hinder Christ’s gracious influences, when he designs to awake, convince, or soften a hard heart. When those showers do fall on sinners, the most obstinate will must yield, and cry, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? As the rain is most necessary and suitable to the dry ground, and to the various plants it produces, and also to the different parts of every plant or tree—such as the root, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit; so Christ is absolutely necessary, and his influence most suitable to all his people’s souls, and to every faculty of them—the understanding, will, memory, and affections; and to all their different graces, faith, love, repentance, etc.; to root and establish them, strengthen and confirm them, quicken and increase them, cherish and preserve them. As the rain comes in diverse ways and manners to the earth, sometimes with cold winds and tempests, thunders and lightnings, and at other times with calmness and warmth; so Christ comes to sinners, sometimes with sharp convictions and legal terrors, and sometimes with alluring invitations and promises. O how pleasant are the effects of rain to languishing plants, to make them green and beautiful, lively and strong, fragrant and beautiful! So the effects of Christ’s influences are most desirable to drooping souls, for enlightening and enlivening them, for confirming and strengthening them, for comforting and enlarging them, for appetizing and satisfying them, transforming and beautifying them.