Psalm 72:19
Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Psalm 72
Wrapping up Psalm 72 today, David closes his psalm by detailing the blessings that will flow from Jesus’ reign as king. This psalm began with a prayer to God before describing the details of Jesus’ reign. Now David concludes his psalm with a prayer of blessing. “Long may he live!” (vs. 15) is David’s cry to God that he desires the king’s reign to last forever.
“May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long” (vs 15). David knows the king will need his peoples’ prayers. However I find it interesting that we have no record of Jesus ever asked for prayer for himself. He instructed his disciples to pray for themselves and each other, but never for himself. I think that’s interesting but I don’t think it’s necessarily a lesson.
While Jesus doesn’t need our prayers to accomplish God’s will, it is good for us pray blessings on him. We read about a chorus of prayers at the throne in heaven, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev 5:12).
David prayed for blessings of abundant grain and flourishing crops. King Solomon would deliver this and more during his reign. During Solomon’s reign, “Judah and Israel lived in security, each man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon” (1 King 4:25). It was a time of unprecedented prosperity.
Jesus reign will be even more prosperous for his people both spiritually and physically. Paul tells us, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:3). We have every spiritually blessing at our disposal because Jesus reigns.
Jesus’ kingdom will also have eternal prosperity. Revelation chapter 22 speaks of the future dwelling place of God’s people. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse” (Rev 22:1-3).
“Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed” (vs 17). This is a prophecy that is being fulfilled right before our very eyes. Jesus told his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19). This will be accomplished before Jesus returns. People from every nation will be saved by the blood of Jesus because “with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
Lastly, the praises of Jesus will be sung by all nations on earth and all creatures in heaven (vs 19). “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Rev 5:13).
Jesus will reign forever. There is no stopping it. He’s coming back to earth one more time to usher in the new heaven and earth. His reign will be a blessing to everyone who calls him Lord but it will be a special blessing to all who are weak and needy. His kingdom will be greater than anything we can imagine. Maranatha!
Christ in the Old Testament 
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