Heaven: A Better King (Psalm 72)

This sermon was preached to Grace Church Guildford on 7 May 2023. The audio recording of the sermon can be found below along with the transcript.

The year was 1727, and Great Britain was preparing for the coronation of a new king. George I, had died earlier that year, and so they were getting ready for the coronation of his son, George II. Those organising the occasion, wanted it to be as grand and glorious as possible. And so, they commissioned the composition of a new coronation anthem. The song needed to capture all the splendour and solemnity of the occasion. And thankfully, there was a composer fit for such a task, for the famous George Handel agreed to take the job on. The anthem Handel composed, was the same anthem that we all heard yesterday. Did you notice it when watching the coronation? Handel’s piece was played as his Majesty was anointed with oil, and reached its crescendo when the choir in Westminster Abbey burst into its chorus, singing “Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anointed Solomon king. And all the people rejoiced and said: God save the King! Long live the King!” That’s the piece, those are the words, Handel composed almost 300 years ago for George II, and that same anthem has had an important role in the coronation of monarchs ever since. In fact, it is such a powerful melody, it was copied in 1992 for the UFEA Champion’s League anthem. And so, if you didn’t hear it yesterday, you can hear it at the start of each Champion’s League football match. I’m not sure how Handel would feel about that, but nevertheless that is what has happened.

The anthem itself is based on the biblical event recorded for us in 1 Kings 1, where King David declared that his son Solomon would be crowned king after him. And so, as Handel records, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon King, and in 1 Kings 1:39 we are told all the people rejoiced and shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” We don’t know many other details about what happened at Solomon’s coronation. However, we do have a copy of a coronation anthem composed for the occasion. For just as Handel composed a piece for the coronation of George II in 1727, a piece was also prepared for the coronation of Solomon, and it is this psalm, Psalm 72, that we read earlier together. You can see from the inscription before 72:1, that it is a psalm, or song, “Of Solomon.” And that could well mean that it was written by Solomon himself for another occasion. However, it more likely means it was written of Solomon, that is about him. Psalm 72 was probably composed by Solomon’s father, King David, for in 72:20, we are told this piece brought his prayers to an end, and so seems to be the final work David composed.

The piece is largely a prayer for Solomon as he ascends the throne. We know it is a prayer, for 72:1 it is addressed to God: [READ]. And throughout the psalm requests are made for this new king. For example, in 72:2-4, David writes: [READ]. Just as John Peet earlier led us in a prayer for our new king, here David is praying for Solomon, as Israel’s new king. And yet, as we go through it, we shall see that this psalm is more than a prayer, for it is actually also a prophecy. This is clear, for in it David not only make requests, but he also gives predictions. He not only asks for what may happen, but asserts what will happen. For example, in 72:12-14 we read: [READ]. Similarly, in 72:17 we read: [READ]. This psalm is not only a prayer, it is also a prophecy.

Further, it is not only a prayer and prophecy about Solomon, but it is also a prayer and prophecy about Jesus. As we go through, we shall see many of these requests and predictions that David makes cannot come to completion in his earthly successor, Solomon. While Solomon’s kingdom was vast, it never stretched to the ends of the earth (72:8). Though many kings came to honour Solomon, not all nations and kings bowed the knee (72:11). Similarly, while Solomon lived a long life, his reign and rule hardly continued as long as the sun (72:17). O yes, this psalm tells us much about Solomon, and yet it ultimately speaks of the one who is greater than Solomon, which as we heard recently in Matthew 12:42, is Jesus Christ himself. And it makes sense David would speak about Jesus as he prays for his future successor. For in 2 Samuel 7, God had promised David that not only would an earthly son like Solomon sit on his throne, but an eternal son would one day be crowned king and reign forever. And so, David prepared a coronation anthem, yes for his earthly son, Solomon, but ultimately for his eternal son, Jesus.

Given Psalm 72 is a coronation anthem, then it is obviously fitting that we might consider it this weekend together. And yet, I have actually chosen this text for another reason, for this morning we are concluding our sermon series on Heaven. For the last three weeks, we have been considering the question, “What will Heaven be like?” And so far we have heard two answers. First, from Isaiah 65, Jamie showed us that (1) Heaven will be a better place. Secondly, last week in Revelation 21, we saw that (2) Heaven will have a better people. And so, this week, we finish our series by considering Psalm 72, where we will learn that (3) Heaven will have a better king.

Psalm 72 shows us this last one, by demonstrating that Jesus is a better king than any other monarch in history, including King Solomon, and of course King Charles as well. As we prayed earlier in our service, we really do desire His Majesty King Charles III to have a long and happy reign over us. As Christians in the UK, we are commanded to gladly submit ourselves to his sovereign authority. And yet as Christians, we also know no earthly king, no matter how good or great or glorious they may be, no earthly king will ever surpass the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And Psalm 72 explains why this is the case, for in it David weaves together 5 different ways Jesus is a better king. As a weaver twists together 5 strands of string, in Psalm 72 weaves together 5 different ways that Jesus is a better king. Jesus is a (1) Just King; (2) Merciful King; (3) Prosperous King; (4) Universal King; (5) an Eternal King.

1.     JESUS IS A JUST KING (72:1-2)

We see this mainly in 72:1-2, where we read: [READ]. The first thing David asks for this future king, is that he might be given God’s justice, that is the ability to render right judgment as he rules over his people. That is the first thing David asks for, and if we follow the story of Solomon in 1 Kings, we see that this is the first thing that he asks for as well. Shortly after his coronation in 1 Kings 1, God appears to Solomon in 1 Kings 3 and tells him that he will give him whatever he wants. What is it that Solomon requests? Well, in 1 Kings 3:11 we are told he asks, “for discernment in administering justice.” If he is to be a great ruler, Solomon knows that he needs wisdom, to be able to distinguish between right and wrong, to administer justice for his people.

I’m sure you can relate to this if you have ever occupied any kind leadership role, whether in school or at home, in work or the community. Leadership is rarely straightforward. There are countless choices and difficult decisions to make. Whether you are a parent trying to figure out which of your children to believe, or a manager arbitrating between two colleagues, it can often be difficult to discern what the right thing to do is, what justice looks like in a particular situation. That is true for all leaders, but it is especially true for kings. As Shakespeare summed up so well in his play Henry IV, ‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown.’ For a king not only looks after a family or a workplace, but rules over the affairs of an entire nation. He is the final point of appeal, the last hope of receiving justice for millions of people. And so, David knows that such a king needs God’s help to fulfil this task, to be able rule with justice. [...]

If you read on in 1 Kings 3, you will see God answered David’s prayer, responded to Solomon’s request, by giving Solomon great wisdom that allowed him to discern between right and wrong. Indeed, Solomon was so wise in his judgments, that many kings from other nations came to him to settle disputes and answer questions. And yet, as just and wise as Solomon was, he was far from perfect. For later in his life, he made mistakes and misjudgements that had terrible consequences for his people. Solomon may have been a just king, but he was not perfect. And yet in Jesus Christ, we find a far better king. For he always knows what is right and always does it perfectly. In John 5:22, we are told that the Father has entrusted all judgement to the Son, that Jesus Christ is the one who will judge not just one nation of the earth, but all the nations of the earth. As Jesus himself explains in Matthew 25, when he returns in glory, he will sit on his glorious throne, and as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, he will do justice, hand down his judgements. Every person that has ever lived will be called to stand before his court, and they will receive the just reward for what they have done. For Jesus is a Just King, and so he will judge us all with justice.

This should be a wonderful comfort to us when we are wronged in this life. Friend, when your reputation is ruined at work, or when you are treated unfairly, suffer at the hands of others, you can know one day justice will be done. Even if no earthly court can hear your case, you can be sure this heavenly court will take it up. For there is no crime that will ever be committed that Jesus will not prosecute and punish with perfect justice. It is a great comfort to know on that last day, Jesus will right all the wrongs, and vindicate all the victims, that there have ever been in this world. [...].

And yet, this truth not only comforts us, but it also confronts us. O yes, it is encouraging to read how Jesus brings justice to those who are afflicted (72:2) and crushes the oppressor (72:4). And yet, deep down we all know that each of us actually belongs to both of those categories. That we have not only been afflicted by others, but we ourselves have oppressed others. We have all not only been wronged, but we have all done wrong. And so, the fact that Jesus is a just king, is at the same time both wonderful news, and terrible news. For after we have watched all those who have wronged us stand before his heavenly court and get what they deserve, it will be our name that is called and our turn to answer for all the mistakes we have made, get what we deserve for all the wrong things we have done. Friend, just as Jesus will judge others, he will also judge you. For Jesus is a just king.

2.     JESUS IS A MERCIFUL KING (72:12-14)

We see this most plainly in 72:12-14, where we read: [READ]. I’m not sure if you noticed it yesterday, but just before King Charles was crowned, he was handed two golden sceptres, two rods symbolising aspects of his rule. In the right hand he grasped what is known as the rod of justice, which represents what we have just seen, that a king must rule justly, right wrongs and punish those who do them. And yet, in his left hand, the King held what is known as the rod of mercy, for the best kinds of kings not only punish wrongdoers, but also show them mercy. If this is true of the best earthly kings, how much more true must this be of Jesus, the far better heavenly king. For we see here in 72:13 that Jesus takes pity on the weak and needy, and saves them from death. And the wonderful thing we learn in the rest of the Bible, is this not only applies to those who have been wronged, but also to those that have done wrong as well. O yes, Jesus crushes oppressors, but he also delivers them. He is not only fair, he is also forgiving. He not only brings justice, he gives grace. Like King Charles, Jesus simultaneously has two sceptres, both the rod of justice and mercy in his hands. Jesus is not only a just king, but he is also a merciful king.

How? Have you ever wondered that? How is it possible for Jesus to do these two things? Be both just and merciful? Fair and forgiving? How is it not a contradiction for Jesus to hold these two sceptres? For one demands that this king punish the sin, and yet the other cries out for him to have mercy on the sinner. How can Jesus do both these things? Well, this morning we are considering the final coronation of our heavenly king, that moment at the end of time, when he returns in glory and is finally acknowledged as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And yet, the Bible tells us that long before that glorious day, there was another moment in history, another day when men bowed the knee to Jesus. Not to honour him, but to mock him. On that day, there was a crown placed on Jesus’ head, and yet it was not made with glistening gold, but was composed of cruel thorns. O yes, they placed a purple robe on his shoulders, but then they stripped him naked, shamed him before the crowd. They placed a staff of authority in his hand, but then Matthew 27 tells us that they took that staff and beat him on the head with it again and again. On that day, this heavenly king was not anointed with oil, but spat upon by soldiers and led away to be crucified on a cross.

O friends, do you see what a contrast those events of the first Good Friday are, to what we watched yesterday. We watched King Charles rightly honoured by his people. After being crowned and robed, anointed with oil and given sceptres of state, King Charles was carried through the streets in a golden carriage as the crowds around him cried, “Long live the king.” And yet Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was crowned with thorns, stripped naked, beaten with his own sceptre, anointed with spit. And then he too was paraded through the streets of Jerusalem, not in a golden carriage, but carrying his own cross. Not to the cries of “Long live the King”, but to shouts of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” And when Jesus reached the end of his journey, he didn’t stand on a balcony before his people, but was nailed to and lifted up on a cross to die in pain and agony.

And yet the Bible teaches us those horrific events, are the very reason why Jesus can now rule with both justice and mercy. Can be both fair and forgiving, hold both the rod of justice and of mercy in his hands. For on the cross, he suffered as a sacrifice, stood in as a substitute, paid the punishment his people deserved. And as he rose from the dead he declared he had paid it in full. So that all who turn from their sin and trust in him, who confess they have not only been wronged, but have done wrong, well they can be fairly forgiven, justly justified. In 72:14, we read that this king will rescue the needy, for “precious is their blood in his sight.” And at the cross we see that happen, we see that this King so valued the blood of his people, that he shed his own precious blood to save them. Jesus can hold both the rod of justice and of mercy in his hands, because those same hands were pierced with nails. Oh yes, Jesus as our judge must hand down a sentence on our sin, but then Jesus as our Saviour goes and serves that sentence on our behalf.

If you are a Christian this morning, does it not cause you to rejoice to think that you have a king like this? Christian, you not only have a king who is seated in glory, glory the kings of this earth can’t even begin to replicate, glory that will make all the splendour we saw yesterday look like children playing dress up. But you have a king who loved you so much, he suffered on the cross to save you, served your sentence so he can show you mercy. Jesus is a better king, not only because he is a just king, but also because he is a merciful king.

3.     JESUS IS A PROSPEROUS KING (72:6-7)

We see this mainly in 72:6-7, where we read: [READ] Here David prays for this future king not only to act justly, and show mercy, but also to bring blessing. This king not only saves his people, he blesses his people. He doesn’t just procure peace for them, but he also produces prosperity. That is the word David uses there in 72:7: [READ]. That term ‘prosperity’ is the Hebrew word ‘shalom’, it speaks of what one writer calls “harmonious wholeness”, a kind of “full flourishing”. It is a life in which everything goes well. We all have those days where nothing goes as it should do, where all our plans are disrupted and we are left disappointed. However, here we see that this king will secure a very different reality for his people, for under his rule there will be no frustration, only flourishing. No grumbling, only gladness. Here we see a good king is much like a good gardener. When you visit someone’s home, and you step out into the garden, you instantly know whether they are a good gardener or not. Even if it is tidy and well kept, there is a difference between someone who remembers to mow the grass, and a gardener who cultivates the plants under their care. You know when you step into the garden of a good gardener, because all their flowers are in bloom, the beds have burst into colour, the greenhouse overflows with fruit. It is easy to know when a garden is flourishing under the care of its gardener, for all their plants are happy and thriving. And David asks for it to be the same for those under the care of this king, that his people would prosper, would thrive and flourish.

It is this same horticultural imagery that David uses to express this reality in the psalm. In 72:6, he says: [READ]. It seems this idea was often on David’s mind in his final few days on earth, for he returns to it in his last words in 2 Samuel 23. There too, David explains a good king is like the sun rising in the morning, causing grass to grow up from the earth. Or like rain falling on dry ground, giving it just what it needs, what it has been longing for, so it can flourish and prosper after a period of drought. That is what David desired his son Solomon to be like, and in many ways he fulfilled this expectation, for under Solomon’s reign the nation of Israel experienced a period of prosperity that it never seen before or since. Solomon built new cities and great structures, amassed wealth and precious stones. And yet, by the time you arrive at the end of his reign, though he brought much prosperity, his people complained that he had made their lives hard, their yoke heavy. Rather than being a blessing on his people, Solomon had burdened them. O yes, his garden looked beautiful, but he had worked his labourers into the ground. Instead of being like a rain shower for his people, Solomon had turned out to be more like a drought. He used his people up, drained them dry, rather than causing them to flourish.

Solomon’s negative example here is a warning for all of us who occupy leadership positions, whether it is in our workplaces, in our families or here at Grace Church. This is one of the reasons that we as a congregation aim to be a ‘people-orientated church’. We want to build people up, not burn them out. To cause people to prosper and flourish spiritually, rather than simply use people to fill up our rotas and run our programmes and projects. Oh yes, Solomon produced much prosperity, achieved many projects, and yet the one part of his kingdom that didn’t prosper, was his people. Let us pray that is never true of those under our authority, whether it is in our workplaces, our homes, or among us here at Grace Church. Let us all strive to be leaders who cause those under our care to flourish, rather than simply whither away. To grow strong, rather than simply be worn out.

All of this stands in stark contrast to the far better rule of Jesus Christ. For as prosperous as Solomon’s reign was, it is nothing to what we will experience in the kingdom of our Saviour. As great as the cities Solomon built were, they can hardly be compared to that great city, the New Jerusalem, that we thought about last week! Jesus produces much prosperity, far more prosperity than Solomon, for he abounds with blessings, brings about the best in and for his people, and yet those who serve Jesus, find his yoke easy and his burden light. That will certainly be true in Heaven, where we will serve and work for our king without growing weary or tired. And yet, Christian we even begin to taste such a truth now. For we do not have a hard taskmaster, who demands that we make bricks without straw. Rather, we have a king who equips us to do everything that he calls us to do, who gives us all the strength that we need to serve him in all the ways that he wants. As Issacs Watts put it in his paraphrase of Psalm 72, “Blessings abound where'er he reigns: the prisoners leap to lose their chains, the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.”

4.     JESUS IS A UNIVERSAL KING (72:8-11)

This is what David prays for in 72:8-11, where we read: [READ]. One of the most interesting aspects of yesterday was the vast number of representatives from different nations who attended the coronation, particularly those from the Commonwealth. At different points in the day, we saw the flags or names of all 56 Commonwealth countries displayed, demonstrating the global reach of King Charles’ reign. And yet, as impressive as the Commonwealth is, it can hardly be compared to what the British Empire was at its peak. Around 100 years ago, our monarch ruled not only one quarter of the world’s population, but also one quarter of the world’s landmass. Isn’t that astounding? In 1913, around 1 in 4 people on this planet, called our King their King. And in 1920, 1 in 4 inches of land on this earth belonged to his Majesty. Our country once sat at the centre of the largest empire in the history of the world. An empire that is unlikely to ever be surpassed in size. That is until the coming of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. For we read here in 72:8, that he will rule from sea to sea. That Jesus will reign to the very ends of the earth. Jesus will not merely own 1 in 4 inches of land on this earth, as the British Empire did at its peak, for he will own every square inch of it. Jesus will not merely rule over 1 in 4 people on this planet, as our monarch did in 1920, but he will rule over every single one of them. Oh yes, David’s son Solomon ruled over the largest kingdom Israel ever had, and yet it is nothing compared to the kingdom that will belong to Jesus. For as we saw yesterday, through that golden orb King Charles held in his hand, it is the cross of Jesus Christ that will conquer this whole world.

If you are here this morning and you are not a Christian, do you see what this means for you? It means that at the coronation of Jesus Christ, all nations must bow before him, all people must submit to him, including you. We see this so clearly in 72:9-11, where tribes from desert lands and the enemies of this king all bow before him. Where kings from far away countries come to bring tribute. And where, in 72:11, we are told that “all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.” Jesus will rule over all the nations of this earth, and so every single person that has ever lived will have to submit to him as their sovereign. You see, while there were many representatives from the Commonwealth there yesterday, there were also many guests from countries that have no connection with our king. The King and Queen of Spain, Sweden and Jordan all attended. And while they obviously looked on with interest, they didn’t need to vow their allegiance to the new King. They were only there to be spectators. The same is true for foreign politicians who were present, it would have been inappropriate for President Macron of France or Jill Biden of America, to bow in allegiance to King Charles. Again, they were only there as spectators. However, do you see that there will be no spectators at the coronation of Jesus Christ, there will only be subjects. For all must bow down to him, all must serve him. And that includes you if you are not a Christian this morning. One day you will bow the knee to Jesus, have to honour him as your Lord. For he will conquer every square inch of this world, there will be no patch of earth even in the fearfulness corners of this planet on which you will be able to escape his rightful reign. And so, this morning can I urge you not to wait until that last day to acknowledge him as your Lord. Don’t leave it until then. One day you will come before this King, don’t do so as his enemy. Accept his offer of forgiveness now, serve him as your lord before it is too late. For unless you turn from your sin and trust in Jesus, accept the offer of that rod of mercy today, you may find yourself judged with that rod of justice tomorrow. [...]

5.     JESUS IS AN ETERNAL KING (72:5, 17a)

Finally as we close, we see Jesus’ reign not only extends across territories, but also across time. For over and over we are told that this king will be an eternal king. We see this in 72:5, where we read: [READ]. Or in 72:17, we read: [READ]. Yesterday we watched a truly historic occasion. We will not witness an event like that again...until the next coronation. You see, for as much as we pray and say, “Long live the King”, we know many of us, indeed most of us, will watch Prince William go through the same ceremony, and indeed some of us may even see Prince George crowned king after him. Regardless how happy and glorious King Charles’ reign is, no matter how long he may rule over us, it will one day come to an end, just like his mother’s did before him. Even the greatest kings and queens of this earth cannot reign forever. And yet, Jesus is an entirely different kind of king. God promised in 2 Samuel 7 that he would establish the throne of David’s son forever, that the kingdom of Christ would never come to an end. Here we see that Jesus’ reign of justice, mercy and prosperity, will not only stretch to the ends of the earth, but will last until the end of eternity.

That is what heaven will be. It will be a better people living in a better place under a better king. It will be us citizens of the kingdom of Heaven enjoying the King of Heaven for all eternity. Entering into his reign of justice and mercy and prosperity that covers this whole world and continues for ever and ever. What a wonderful hope we have of Heaven. A hope that should shape the whole trajectory of our lives.

Much has been made over the last few months of the whole of King Charles’ life being one that looked forward to and anticipated his coronation. The whole of his life was spent looking forward to that day. And it was wonderful to see yesterday how, having spent all those years waiting, he has now entered into his reign. And Christian, the same is true of everyone of us […]. Come Lord Jesus! Come and be crowned king, come and enter into your eternal rule and reign forever. Why don’t we pray for that now together.