Todays readings.. Exodus 17&18, Psalm 72, Mark 5

Today, we read the inspiring vision of the future contained in Psalm 72. Now, David’s primary vision in writing it, was for his son Solomon’s’ reign.  It starts, “Give the king your justice, O God.”  We can read this Psalm – and see both a short range and a long range, even eternal application in it – to when human justice – or rather, injustice, will be a thing of the past, it will fade from the memory of those privileged to live under this kings’ justice and take part in administering it.

This Psalm is a wonderful vision of the reign of Christ. As king he will “have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!” [v.8]  “May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” [v.11] He will have “pity on the weak and the needy” [v.13], which our world struggles, most ineffectually, to do today.

We will read words which fascinate us – of God’s vision for the future – tomorrow  – in Exodus 19.  This was God’s initial vision for Israel’s role, Moses told them; “if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests…” [v.5,6]  Natural Israel failed, but Peter wrote, describing the future of spiritual Israel, our future if we are faithful members!  “You … are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood … a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” [1 Pet. 2 v.5,9]  Do we feel the building up process going on now?  We should!  Can we visualise proclaiming “the excellencies” of our king!?

Back in Psalm 72, let us spiritually marvel at David’s prayer and vision about the climax of the kingdom, “May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! …. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” [v.17,19] Surely this was God’s vision of the ultimate future at the beginning of his creation, may we seek to share his vision – can we begin to imagine the whole earth … filled with his glory? May we pray every day – ever more earnestly – that, by his grace, we will be there and take an eternal part in it.