Ground Rules (5)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (3)

May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! Psalm 72:8

A Kingdom vision

Psalm 72 is a psalm of David (cf. v. 20). He wrote it as a kind of dedication or memorial to his son, Solomon, expressing in this psalm his vision for the Kingdom God had entrusted to him and his offspring forever (cf. 2 Sam. 7). As such, Psalm 72 looks through the Kingdom of David and Solomon to the unfolding of the greater Kingdom of God on earth, as it is in heaven. David’s prayer for Solomon the king is, at the same time, a prayer for the Kingdom of God and the rule of King Jesus on earth (see especially vv. 17-19).

Ground Rules (4)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (3)

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD! Psalm 113:4-9

Firm, but loving

From what we’ve seen thus far, it might seem that our God is a fairly stern and unbending master. He has determined the course of all things, set His King on the throne, issued His Law, and He will brook no opposition to His plan. He has all power and authority, and He is not shy about thwarting those who resist His purposes and plan.

Ground Rules (3)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (3)

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions… Psalm 45:6, 7

Not the way it’s supposed to be

In his book, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, Neil Plantiga explains that the world has been knocked off course and is in desperate need of correction. It has not careened outside the framework of the divine decree. Nor is it beyond the reach of His covenant and redemption. But it has gone seriously awry and is “not the way it’s supposed to be.”

Ground Rules (2)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (3)

He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham… Psalm 105:7-9

An eternal covenant

The book of Psalms is rich in teaching about the promises God has made to those who trust in Him. Many of the Psalms remind us that Israel was not always faithful in seeking those promises (cf. Pss. 78, 106). But even those Psalms, and others, point to the faithfulness of God in carrying out His decree according to the Word He spoke to Abraham long ago.

Ground Rules (1)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (3)

Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Psalm 148:5, 6

We are considering the teaching of the book of Psalms concerning the rule of King Jesus. As we saw in the first installment in this series, Jesus is exalted in power and glory at the right hand of God. From there, as we saw in the second part of our series, He rules all creation and all nations for the purpose of advancing His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The Psalms are rich with teaching to elaborate and clarify this idea, and in this third part of our study we want to consider more carefully just how Jesus rules “on the ground” in all the affairs of creation and history.

The Design of the Kingdom (7)
The Rule of Christ in the Book of Psalms (2)

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! Psalm 68:1

The King in history

I get the impression that some people believe that Jesus is Lord of all creation and King of nations, but somehow He is not active in history except in the hearts of those who know Him.

This is not the teaching of Scripture, and it is not the teaching of the book of Psalms. According to the Psalms, Jesus rules the nations, as we have seen, and He is active throughout the course of history to extend His Kingdom and enrich His economy of justice and love.