Dreaming of A Perfect King

The old Christmas Carol, I Heard the Bells, expresses longing for a better world:

“And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong, and mocks the song,
of peace on earth, good will to men.’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
the Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
with peace on earth, good-will to men.’”

Royal Psalm 72 expresses a similar longing. It is David’s dying prayer for his son, Solomon. David is thinking of the Covenant God made to save his broken world through an anointed king in his line. David knows he hasn’t been that king; his own sins and failures haunt him. But he prays that Solomon will be that perfect king who brings God’s righteous rule on earth as it is in heaven. It’s a beautiful dream that is still in the hearts of God’s people as the New Testament starts.

It begins with a dream for a godly king: “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son (1)!” It all flows from this prayer! David doesn’t ask for a big army or riches for Solomon. Make him righteous and just! Not sinful or self-serving, corrupt or compromising. God, make him just like you: loving what’s right, true, and good. If God shapes his heart, he can put right everything in this sin-sick world.

The defining mark of this King? He gives justice to the poor, needy, oppressed people of God. These folks love God, but since they have no resources, connections, or power, the world despises, cheats, abuses, and ignores them. God’s King will give them justice. He will enforce God’s righteous standard in a wicked world. He will defend their cause and crush their wicked abusers. He will build a world like v3 describes: “The mountains bear prosperity for the people and the hills in righteousness.” Prosperity is the Hebrew word shalom: peace, well-being, wholeness, life as God intended. Under this perfect King, all people will fear God, instead of living like there isn’t one. That’s why his arrival is “like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!” He brings life, renewal, and healing. People flourish and peace abounds! David prays that Solomon will be this King for Israel. Is he?

Solomon is great in many ways, but ultimately he’s not righteous like God. He adds to the brokenness and oppression in Israel. Not until Christmas does the Psalm 72 King come, to turn this world right-side up with God’s righteousness! Mary sings about it in her song of praise, and Zechariah directly quotes Psalm 72 in his song. We see the reversal beginning to happen as the angels sing “Shalom on earth” to poor shepherds who attend the King’s birth. Jesus’ ministry demonstrates God’s righteous reign breaking into the world: healing the sick, feeding the hungry, casting out Satan, teaching sinners to live God’s way. At the cross, he puts us right with God, by dying under our curse. Our world today is still broken, just like that old carol sang about. But we can live under Jesus’ righteous rule now, until he comes to make all things new.

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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church