1) As long as the sun and moon endure. Psalm 72:5
Psalm 72:5 They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
David, the beloved king of Israel, in his final words described a future age of peace, where there would be justice and a righteous ruler. He knew that it would not occur in his lifetime, he would be resurrected to see its glory. Psalm 72:1 speaks of the king's son. Jesus Christ (Yeshua Anointed) was from the kingly line and was a direct descendent of King David of Israelsee here. David says this son will bring a time of peace and righteous judgement.
Give the king thy judgements, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgement. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. (Psalm 72: 1-4)
This king will have great power over all the earth. That there will be peace is again emphasised and all the kings of the earth are subject to him. His rule extends from “sea to sea” and to the “ends of the earth” and “all nations shall serve him.”
They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.(Psalm 72: 5- 11)
The King will attend to the needs of the people, who will be protected from violence and their daily needs provided, so that there will be no hunger or poverty.
For he shall deliver the needy when he cries; the poor also, and him that has no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. (Psalm 72: 12- 15)
The earth will provide an abundance of food.
There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. (Psalm 72: 16- 17)
King David acknowledges that it is the Creator, Yahweh, alone who can bring peace through his beloved son and it is to Him that all praise and thanks are due. The Psalm concludes with David's final prayer which is that “the whole earth be filled with his glory.” An earth at peace without violence, wars, hunger, pollution and immorality is beyond this world's capabilities and can only be achieved by God's intervention in the affairs of men and the return of Jesus Christ His son to establish a righteous rule in the earth.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.(Psalm 72: 18- 20)
For more The good news of the kingdom of God
For the book An Enduring Earth"
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)
This may be one of the most misunderstood passages of the Bible. Paul is notorious for long sentences of connected thoughts, and this is part of a complex wide ranging thought which lasts 2 chapters, and includes what seems opposite advice:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Cor. 5:11-13)
As I was thinking to write this article, having just read Psalm 46 as I do each year on that day, on January 25th a Bible was found untouched after a tornado hit Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
We have been given many time periods to prophetic events in the Bible. Many people think it too hard, and do not make an effort to understand them. However, if they were not to be understood, why were they given? And the Bible says the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).
In the light of the findings of science, how literally do we take what the scriptures say about the power of the God of the Bible, Yahweh Elohim (literally He who will become Mighty Ones)? Science at its best is a measurement of observable and repeatable phenomenon wrapped up in explanations which abound in analogy. There is no doubt in the benefit of investigating phenomena of the natural world. The surprising thing is that the more we investigate natural phenomena, the more it fits the explanations recorded over 2000 years ago.
The God of Israel is approachable and reasonable. He often speaks directly to his people. The following will seek to understand a passage where he speaks via the prophet Amos which has a few variant translations.
