Psalm 72 Sermon Canada Day Weekend
Notes
Transcript
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Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
You may not know all of their names … BUt some are recognizable.
Archibald, Sir Adams George (Nova Scotia)
Brown, George (Ontario)
Campbell, Sir Alexander (Ontario)
Carter, Sir F. B. T. (Newfoundland)
Cartier, Sir George-Étienne (Quebec)
Chandler, Edward Barron (New Brunswick)
Chapais, Jean-Charles (Quebec)
Cockburn, James (Ontario)
Coles, George (Prince Edward Island)
Dickey, Robert Barry (Nova Scotia)
Fisher, Charles (New Brunswick)
Galt, Sir Alexander Tilloch (Quebec)
Gray, John Hamilton (New Brunswick)
Gray, John Hamilton (Prince Edward Island)
Haviland, Thomas Heath (Prince Edward Island)
Henry, William Alexander (Nova Scotia)
Howland, William Pierce (Ontario)
Johnson, John Mercer (New Brunswick)
Langevin, Sir Hector-Louis (Quebec)
Macdonald, Andrew Archibald (Prince Edward Island)
Macdonald, Sir John A. (Ontario)
McCully, Jonathan (Nova Scotia)
McDougall, William (Manitoba)
McGee, Thomas D'Arcy (Quebec)
Mitchell, Peter (New Brunswick)
Mowat, Sir Oliver (Ontario)
Palmer, Edward (Prince Edward Island)
Pope, William Henry (Prince Edward Island)
Ritchie, John William (Nova Scotia)
Shea, Sir Ambrose (Newfoundland)
Steeves, William Henry (New Brunswick)
Taché, Sir Étienne-Paschal (Quebec)
Tilley, Sir Samuel Leonard (New Brunswick)
Tupper, Sir Charles (Nova Scotia)
Whelan, Edward (Prince Edward Island)
Wilmot, Robert Duncan (New Brunswick)
We could commemorate many God-fearing founders in Canadian history, but one
hero who is oft forgotten is Samuel Leonard Tilley, a Christian and one of the fathers of
Confederation. History testifies that every morning Tilley would rise, pray, and read his
Bible. As the 33 fathers of Confederation discussed what to name this new “united
Canada”, that morning Tilly read verse 8 and adamantly presented the inspired
“Dominion of Canada.” (According to Tilley’s son … he was responsible for the term Dominion to describe Canada
John A. MacDonald’s (Canada’s first PM) proposal was for “Kingdom of Canada” - Many felt that would have been too provocative to the US.
The other fathers agreed and to this day these words hang near the Confederation Chamber in the Province House:
the Confederation Chamber in the Province House: “In the hearts of the delegates who
“In the hearts of the delegates who assembled in this room on September 1st, 1864, was born the Dominion of Canada. Providence being their guide, they builded better than they knew.” (1)
assembled in this room on September 1st, 1864, was born the Dominion of Canada.
st
, 1864, was born the Dominion of Canada.
Providence being their guide, they builded better than they knew.” (1)
Tilley became Sir. John A MacDonald’s minister of customs in Canada’s first Government.
He also served MacDonald as Minister of Finance
Tilley was also Lieutenant Governor of NB
Leonard Tilley died in 1869 (Died after accidentally cutting his foot at his summer home in Rothesay NB and Contracting Blood poisoning - He is Buried in a Rural cemetery in St. John NB) and one of his last wishes was that a tombstone be erected to his memory with this simple inscription:
his memory with this simple inscription: “His trust was in Jesus.” In our Canadian context
“His trust was in Jesus.”
In our Canadian context today, it’s as though Tilley himself continually cries out from the grave: “Christians! Know, remember, and teach others that our spiritual heritage is Jesus Christ!”
today, it’s as though Tilley himself continually cries out from the grave: “Christians! Know,
remember, and teach others that our spiritual heritage is Jesus Christ!”
Though it’s only been a couple generations since Tilley, suffice to say that Canada
continues to grow less and less God-fearing with each generation. Research shows: “With
Christianity in decline after having once been central and integral to Canadian culture and
daily life, Canada has become a post-Christian, secular state. The majority of Canadians
consider religion to be unimportant in their daily lives, but still believe in God.” (2)
V:1 = Prayer on which whole psalm is based ... highlights the chief function of the king ... administering justice ... His chief attribute = Righteousness
All Govt to govern justly -
They are functioning as God's Viceregent - Governing with HIS justice and endowed with HIS righteousness. (This is their governing Platform)
Psalm has some future looking aspects - While praying for the King
*
emphasizes the righteousness, blessing, endlessness, and worldwide extent of the Davidic kingdom. The words of seem to have prompted the psalmist, for pictured the righteous king as both the sun and rain on his subjects. While they flourished, so did the boundlessness of the realm. The concluding royal blessing of verses brings to mind the theology of Genesis and the blessings of Moses in and .
Kaiser, W. C., Jr. (2008). The promise-plan of God: a biblical theology of the Old and New Testaments (p. 128). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
This Earthly King is the Shadow of the Heavenly Messianic King:
* His duty is to the poor (afflicted ones) - v:2
* He is to defend them - v:4 - from those who would exploit and oppress them
* This kind of righteous reign will be blessed with prosperity - v:3 - Prosperity = Shalom - Peace/Wholeness
* This righteous King will see to it that the poor and needy have their fair share of this prosperity
CP - ; 61:1-2
* This ministry image is characteristic of Messianic Ministry
Quoted in
Christ is Not a Social Reformer
* Biblical Concept of Righteousness
* Right Relationship with God (As Gift)
* Overflow = social implications toward others - Treat justly and and live life faithfully.
* This will lead to societies that prosper.
* Provision for poor not just charity but justice
May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
Verses 6-7 develop verse 3 - recalls
* This righteous ruler is a great blessing to His people
* He is like rain ... makes grass grow
* Again ... when the grass has been mown
* Like showers that water the earth (The Land)
* the consequences of this are: The King Is Respected (v:5): and 2) His people flourish and prosper (7)
* This reflected much of King SOLOMON reign
* References to SUN ... Moon and ALL GENERATIONS - Go beyond any human king.
* This is a reference to the NOT YET reign of Christ
The Great King:
Brings social Justice to the poor
The Economy thrives b/c of good stewardship of assets
There is deep trust among the people of their leaders
This Psalm provokes us top long for a better king than even the best human government can provide
PRAYER
Grant O Lord, that the course of our nation may be peacefully ordered by your governance, that your people may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness
May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!
God made promises about the extent of the territory that Israel would possess (; )
* These words go far beyond this and make the LAND of the Righteous virtually unlimited:
> The Ends of the Earth - 8
> Distant Shores - Tarshish (Spain?) (10)
> Desert Tribes - Sheba (9, 10) - 1 Kings 10
> Even Kings from the East will bring Gifts ...
> This Kingdom is Extensive
For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.
> This section not a repetition of 2-4 ... but a development of vv:8-11
> vv:2-4 - Refers to Israel's King and Government
vv:12-14 - refers to a time beyond this ... Goes to the Future reign of Christ
Note this section ...
The races and Nations have always been at war with each other
Now they offer themselves in service (10-11)
Not b/c they are conquered …
But rather b.c they have been attracted like a magnet to the perfect justice and compassion of this king (12-14)
No earthly King has ever been like this
The healing of racial strife and elimination of injustice are the marks of God’s kingdom
When Jesus was born gifts were offered from afar … from Gentile peoples
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
One of the marks of Christ’s church is the unification of the races
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
AND the needy helped -
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
This Kingdom … ruled by the KING is Here
Prayer:
Lord empower your church to win the world by not just proclaiming your word but also by embodying it.
Make our church a place where we see the races and classes reconciled in ways that are in no other place on the face of the earth
Long may he live;
may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
> A King like this will be loved by Hhis people
> They will wish him long life ... bring him gifts ... pray for him and bless him.
> They will want to see the fruit of his righteous government flourish - v:6
> His name will go down in history
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!
The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
> the Chief fruit of Christ's reign is that it restores sinners to the worship of God.
> His wondrous things - will outstrip all the deeds of every king of Israel and Judah put together
> The spread of the knowledge of Christ the King will cause the whole earth to be filled with the glory of God ...
For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts Psalm 72 Part 1: The Kingdom of Christ
Psalm 72 Part 1
Meter: L. M.
The kingdom of Christ.
Great God, whose universal sway
The known and unknown worlds obey,
Now give the kingdom to thy Son,
Extend his power, exalt his throne.
Thy sceptre well becomes his hands,
All heav’n submits to his commands;
His justice shall avenge the poor,
And pride and rage prevail no more.
With power be vindicates the just,
And treads th’ oppressor in the dust;
His worship and his fear shall last,
Till hours, and years, and time be past.
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall he send his influence down;
His grace on fainting souls distils,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.
The heathen lands that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive at his first dawning light,
And deserts blossom at the sight.
The saints shall flourish in his days,
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise
Peace, like a river from his throne,
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
Psalm 72 Part 2
Meter: L. M.
Christ’s kingdom among the Gentiles.
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
[Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at his feet.
There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barb’rous nations at his word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.]
For him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown his head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his name.
Blessings abound where’er he reigns,
The pris’ner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.
[Where he displays his healing power
Death and the curse are known no more;
In him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the long Amen.]
This King’s reign is endless (5) and boundless (8)
This is no mere earthly king the Psalmist is declaring
The image of a full harvest on the tops of hills and mountains where soil cannot support such growth (16) indicates a supernaturally renewed world.
This King is Jesus
WE were created to need to obey him in submission … like grass needs the rain (6)
Christ will eventually heal and unite everything
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
All the Old legends of a great king returning to put all things right find their fulfillment in HIM
Prayer
Lord we live in a culture that demands I keep all authority for myself
Today I surrender Lordship of my life to you.
I desire to willingly obey in submission and praise you for who you are
Whether i understand it or not!
Amen
- John Cabot planted a Cross on Newfoundland’s shores in 1497 claiming it “For God and for England.”
- In 1533, Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. To commemorate the founding of this city, Cartier wrote in his diary, “We all kneeled down in the company of the Indians and with our hands raised toward heaven yielded our thanks to God.”
- This year, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, we also celebrate the 409th anniversary of Québec City (founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain who came to share God’s love with the First Nations peoples).
Faytene Grasseschi (Kryskow) in her book “Stand on Guard: A Prophetic Call and Research on the Righteous Foundations of Canada” writes:
QUOTE: “Every generation and every nation has had righteous radicals for God. These were mighty men and women who laid down their lives to see righteousness established in their generation, and, in their nation. Canada is no different. Our history is full of heroes of the faith who forged rough terrain, persevered long voyages, endured brutal persecution and overcame intense spiritual warfare for the sake of the Kingdom of God in this land. These ones sacrificed to see the gospel of Jesus Christ advanced and His name honoured at various stages of the nation’s growth… It’s (time) to (reclaim) the righteous foundations laid by generations past.” (Faytene Kryskow, Stand on Guard).
God is looking for a generation who will rise up and reclaim the righteous foundations in our nation of Canada.
May He Have Dominion in our Nation
May He Have Dominion in our Church
May He have Dominion in MY Submission and Praise
“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth…Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” (,).