World Peace At Last

by Reid, A. | Category: More Meditations In The Psalms | Dec 1992

Since the dawn of human history when the first man born of woman rose up and slew his brother (Gen. 4:1-15), the record of human civilization is one of the continual clash of rival aspirations; of individuals, races, nations and political ideologies. The ebb and flow of such conflicts leaves behind a host of innocent victims.

The God of heaven is not ignorant of or indifferent to this situation. The time is fast drawing near when God will intervene directly in human affairs, put right all injustices and usher in a golden age of world peace.

One would image that such an idea would be whole-heartedly embraced by mankind; alas the contrary is true. The nations of the world today, in general, reject any thought of restraint or order being imposed upon them by God. What is true of the nations today was true also of the nations in David's day, as he wrote in the second Psalm (vv. 1-3). But such an opposition is foolish and futile in the extreme, for the purposes of God are fixed and determined, His purpose being that His chosen King will reign from Zion (Ps. 2:4-6). In David the psalmist's day, he was the chosen king, but through David's words the Holy Spirit was looking forward to One greater than David who was yet to come (see Luke 1:32,33).

Psalm 2 was written as a royal decree, verses 7-9 being the heart of its declaration. This is God's decree concerning His beloved Son who will

rule in power throughout the world (Ps. 2:8,9.47:2,3.72:8,11); this decree having gone forth, it will never be rescinded. Those nations who think they can oppose God's will with their own plans and purposes, are on a collision course with God's appointed King, and before the golden age of peace can be brought in it is necessary that there be a:

Prelude to Peace:

Given that the nations and their rulers have set themselves against the Lord and His anointed (Ps. 2:2), it is necessary that the power and pride of the nations be broken and they become subservient to Christ before the era of peace can begin. These momentous events are foreseen in the Psalms, for example Psalms 2, 45 and 110.

The nations and their leaders in their self-will and opposition are described as the King's enemies (Ps. 45:5; 110:1,2), but they are enemies who will not prosper and whose power will be broken out of hand (Ps. 2:9; 45:5). The King in Psalm 45 is exhorted to gird on His sword and enter into contention with the rebels, the result of which will be their utter defeat (Ps. 45:3,4). These are the days of battle when Christ will subdue those who have gathered to destroy Israel and oppose Messiah's rule (Ps. 46:6; 110:5,6. Cf. Is. 63:1-6; Rev. 16:12-16; 19:11-16).

The Aftermath of Armageddon:

As a result of their defeat at the last great battle of the age, there will be a reversal of attitude among the nations of the world. Instead of opposition and hatred, the kings and great ones of the earth will bow before the exalted Christ, kissing His feet and presenting their gifts (Ps. 2:12.22:27,28 & 72:911). Their demeanour will then be that of reverent worshippers blessing His name and calling Him happy (Ps. 47:1,8,9; 72:17). In their subjection to Christ, the nations will discover a joy and fulfilment not experienced before (Ps. 2:11,12), as at last they learn to be still in their spirits and renounce their former turbulent natures (Ps. 46:10 see also RVM.). The most welcome corollary of this new-found spirit among the nations will be world-wide cessation from war and armed conflict and the doing away with weapons of war and mass destruction (Ps. 46:9 cf. Is. 2:4; Mic. 4:3).

The Changed Environment of Earth:

As well as this change of heart among the nations there will be physical changes throughout the earth at the onset of the reign of peace. Upheavals of great magnitude seem to be anticipated (Ps. 46:1-3), perhaps connected with the coming of the Son of Man and the manifestation of His judgement upon the nations at that time (see also Rev. 6:14; 16:20). The environs of Jerusalem and the land of Israel will be changed, as the city which today ~as no river flowing through it will be nurtured by one issuing forth from the 'louse of God in those days (Ps. 46:4 cf. Is. 33:21; Ez. 47:1-12).

The earth once cursed because of the entrance of sin into the world and Duly grudgingly giving of her fruits (Gen. 3:17-19) will then yield bountiful harvests, so that want and starvation will not be known among the nations (Ps. 72:16).

Jerusalem and Israel:

We have noted the change of attitude to Christ that will be displayed by the nations in a coming day, but no less remarkable and perhaps more so, will be the changed attitude of the Jewish people to the once despised Jesus of Nazareth. The people that once denied His claim to Kingship and rejected His rule (John 19:15), will then have looked on Him whom they pierced (John 19:37; Rev. 1:7) and praise and glorify Him, standing in awe of His person (Ps. 22:23). Repentant Israel will be given a place at the head of the nations and receive their inheritance from the Lord (Ps. 47:3,4). Zion, the city of Jerusalem, will become the dwelling place of Messiah (Ps. 46:4,5) and the administrative centre from which His rule will go forth (Ps. 110:2). As the favoured people of the Lord the Jew will be held in high esteem among the peoples of the nations (Zech. 8:22,23).

The Administration of Peace:

An administration or government takes its character from the one who is its bead, so the character of Christ's reign of peace will be derived from the character of the Lord Himself. The Psalms leave us with a very cleat picture of the glories and virtues of Christ that will be displayed to all in the coming kingdom.

Psalm 45:2 witnesses to the words of grace that the subject nations will bear from the lips of the living, Messiah. Just as those who in a former day in Nazareth, "wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of His mouth" (Luke 4:22), so the peoples will wonder as the Prince of Peace speaks peace to the nations (Zech. 9:10). The personal prestige of the King derive from His traits of meekness and righteousness (Ps. 45:4,7); and His love of what is true and right will manifest itself in the equity and justice that will be the hallmarks of His reign (Ps. 45:6; 72:2). Using a figure of speech to illustrate the effect of this marvellous and beneficial rule, the psalmist says:

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 till the moon be no more (Ps. 72:6,7).

The Effect of Peace:

God says of the Lord Jesus in

Psalm 110 verse 4: "Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek". The writer to the Hebrews, commenting on Melchizedek says:

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him... being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is, king of peace (7:1,2).

The person of Melchizedek combines the offices of king and priest, and his ministry was one of sustaining and refreshing to the pilgrim Abraham (see Gen. 14:17-20). In the coming kingdom of peace, the Lord Jesus, Priest after the order of Melchizedek, King of righteousness and King of peace, will pour forth His ministry of blessing and refreshing on the oppressed and needy.

The poor, meek, oppressed and needy of the earth will rejoice in the days of the King-Priest's reign, for the cries of the needy and afflicted will be heard and the meek satisfied (Ps. 22:24,26), the poor and oppressed will receive justice, pity, salvation, and deliverance from oppression both physical and financial (Ps. 72:4, 1214). These are the times when the poor in spirit, the meek and persecuted will indeed be blessed, for they shall inherit the earth and theirs will be the kingdom of heaven (Mat. 5:3,5,10). When the Lord Jesus sits as king and priest upon His throne then, truly the work and effect of righteousness will he experienced; peace, quietness and confidence for ever (Zech. 6:13 & Is. 33:17).

Reid, A. | Dec 1992
More Meditations In The Psalms