Honoring Jesus

READ PSALM 72

Psalm 72:1-2 (ESV)

Give the King Your Justice

1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!

² May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!

The King of Israel was given a heavenly duty to honor the throne by understanding their authority was given by God. The rule and reign of the earthly king was ordained by God and his role was to serve as God's earthly representative. He was to be upright, good, just, and humble. Both the rich and poor, strong and weak, were to be treated equally according to the law, which was established long before kings became a "thing" in Israel.

Deuteronomy 1:17 (ESV) 17 You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.

Unfortunately, most of the kings failed at this, and the reason is because their pride led them to believe they were higher than God. Psalm 72 serves as a reminder that there is a King who is worthy of praise and He is above all other kings. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. His name is Jesus.

Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the Royal Son!

The Jews of the Old Testament regarded Psalm 72, which focuses on the line of King David, as a prophetic look ahead to the reign of the Messiah. New Testament believers saw Jesus' resurrection as the fulfillment of the Psalm. When Jesus took His rightful place on the throne and sat at the right hand of God the Father, righteousness was in the hands of the Royal Son. He became the judge who will judge all others with righteousness.

What does that mean for those who believe in Jesus?

1 John 3:2 (ESV)

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

This verse means that through honoring Jesus we become children of God. When Jesus returns and brings "perfection" with Him, we will be made perfect because He is perfect!

In the meanwhile, Psalm 72 paints the picture of what we should strive to be...which is Like Christ! No matter what position you are in; high or low, rich or poor, strong or weak, your pursuit is to Be Like Christ. In Him we live, and move, and have our being.

Honoring Jesus is the goal. You won't be perfect at it in this world, but the more you strive to be like Christ, the more you will make it 'on earth as it is in heaven.' And that's where Psalm 72 wants it to end.

Psalm 72:19 (ESV)

19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN. If you would like to support this website and make it possible for this page to stay active and these devotions to reach a wider audience, CLICK HERE

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