Psalm 72:6
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Psalm 72
Psalm 72 is about the coming King from David’s seed who will reign. The first four verses proclaimed that this king would rule with righteousness, perfect justice and in defense of the afflicted. The next three verses explain that his reign will literally last forever.
Jesus’ reign will “endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations” (vs. 5). In other words, Jesus will reign longer than the sun and moon will exist. The apostle John tells us he heard the voices in heaven say, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15). Every day we wake up to the sun or go to bed with the moon, Jesus still reigns.
His reign will be like “rain falling on a mown field” when the “righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more” (vs 6-7). Jesus will make his people righteous just as he is righteous. His reign brings blessings on his people as John also recorded one of the elders of the throne tell him, “he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev 7:17).
The next section of Psalm 72 proclaims the extent of Christ’s reign to which there is no end. Jesus will “rule from sea to sea” (vs 8). This verse is a clue to us that this psalm is not about Solomon or any other earthly king. Solomon’s territory was limited by borders. Jesus’ kingdom has no borders. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave his disciples a command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19) because all the nations are in his kingdom.
Everyone will “bow before him and his enemies lick the dust” (vs 9). Paul elaborates on this point in his letter to the Corinthians: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:25-26). Everyone will bow to Jesus whether voluntarily or by force – even death itself.
All kings will pay tribute to Jesus and “present him gifts” (vs 10). This is a dual prophecy speaking about the end of time but also speaking about Jesus’ birth. This prophecy was partially fulfilled by the Magi bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matt 2:11). The rest of the prophecy will be fulfilled as recorded by John in Revelation speaking of Jesus’ kingdom: “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it… The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it” (Rev 21:24,26).
This section of Psalm 72 reminds me that Jesus’ second coming will either be a day of rejoicing or a day of destruction depending on where we stand with him. For those who have not already bowed down to him, Jesus will be coming to put them under his feet and they will lick the dust. For those who have already made Jesus their Lord, Jesus will be coming to make them flourish like rain falling on a mown field. The good news for you no matter which camp you are in today, there is still time to decide which side you will find yourself on that day.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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