The Exodus Book of Psalms--Final

Psalm 72

This is the final psalm in the Exodus book, as shown by The Companion Bible and also the NASB. Psalms 59-72 all focus upon the climax of Exodus with the dedication and glorification of the tabernacle of Moses. But the tabernacle was also prophetic of a later temple built by Solomon, showing a progression in the development of the Kingdom. So it is appropriate that Psalm 72--the climax to the Exodus book--would be "A Psalm of Solomon."

This psalm prophesies of the final establishment of True Temple of God in the earth, wherein God glorifies His people as a body. In my view, this was also prophesied by Haggai in the building of the Second Temple. Haggai's prophecy (521-515 B.C.) was applicable 2,520 years later (i.e., 12 x 210 years). We saw signs of the completion of this temple on March 15, 2006, precisely 2,520 years after the Second Temple was completed. Since then we have worked on the temple "vessels" (callings) that must be put into place before the temple can be glorified.

When Moses' tabernacle was dedicated in Num. 7, it took 12 days because the prince of each tribe was given a day in which to participate in the dedication. Each prince offered the same offering:

1. a silver dish weighing 130 shekels
2. a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels
3. a golden spoon weighing 10 shekels

Total weight = 210 shekels for each tribe

Grand Total = 210 x 12 = 2,520 shekels

I believe that this prophesied of a 2,520 year time period in which God would dedicate His True Temple. In long-term prophecy, it was from March 15, 515 B.C. to March 15, 2006 A.D.

However, there may be also a short-term fulfillment of this in a 7-year period. If so, this may have begun at Tabernacles of 2009.

March 2006 to Sept. 2009 = 3-1/2 years for the "Vessels"

Sept. 2009 to 2016 = 7 years, or 2,520 days for dedicating the Temple

As I said, these are just early projections to watch. In no way am I prophesying this. But I do find it curious that this would bring us to 2016, a year that Ron has projected as being very important in recent years. Also, in Psalm 72:11 we read, "all nations shall serve Him." This phrase has a gematria of 216.

So let's get back to studying Psalm 72. Solomon prayed for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15) to rule and judge God's people. In doing this, he became a prophetic type of the overcomers who will reign with Christ, the Prince of Peace when the True Temple is glorified. Psalm 72:2 reflects this:

² May he judge Thy people with righteousness, and Thine afflicted with justice.

He also prophesies of the outpouring of the Spirit in verse 6,

⁶ May He come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.

This is to be a time of peace, as Solomon's name indicates (Shalom means "peace"). And so verse 7 reads,

⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

This is tied to the Covenant of Peace in Ezekiel 34:25, which is made with the House of Israel when their oppressive shepherds are replaced by the Order of Melchizedek, and when the Old Covenant is replaced by the New Covenant.

The Universal Kingdom of God is envisioned in all of Scripture, and this too is expressed by Solomon, where all the kings of the earth came to see and hear for themselves the glory and wisdom of God (1 Kings 4:34; 2 Chron. 9:23). So Psalm 72:8-11 says,

⁸ May he also rule from sea to sea; and from the River to the ends of the earth. . . ¹⁰ Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. ¹¹ And let all kings bow down before him, all nations serve him.

Solomon was a type of Christ in this regard, so what is written of him is actually prophetic of Christ. This worldwide recognition of His wisdom is not the result of a military campaign. There is no forced worship here. Verses 12-14 gives the underlying reason that the kings of the earth serve Him:

¹² For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. ¹³ He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. ¹⁴ He will rescue their life from oppression and violence; and their blood will be precious in his sight.

Verse 17 says, "Let all nations call him blessed," not because Christ has conquered them by the sword, but because it is self-evident that when He reveals Himself, all men will love Him and look to Him for deliverance.

We then see the doxology of the Exodus Book of Psalms in verses 18 and 19,

¹⁸ Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. ¹⁹ And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. [²⁰ Epilogue: The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.]

The glorification of Solomon's Temple (as well as Moses' Tabernacle) prophesies of the whole earth being filled with His glory. This takes us back to Numbers 14, where Israel had refused to enter the Promised Land. God suggested to Moses that he disinherit Israel and start over with Moses and his children. Moses responded that the nations would then say that God was unable to bring them into their inheritance (14:16). God's response came in verse 21,

"But indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord."

In other words, not only was God capable of bringing Israel into Canaan, but the whole earth would become the Promised Land. What God promised one man (Abraham) was fulfilled first in one nation (Israel). What God did with one nation became the pattern for what He would do with one planet. What He will do with one planet is what He will do with one universe. Is there more? We will see.

Habakkuk 2:14 refers to this and gives us an interpretation of the scope of this statement:

¹⁴ For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

How much of the sea is covered by water? The last time I checked, it was running about 100%. That is the extent to which the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth. The glory of God cannot be contained in a single location such as a man-made temple. Solomon recognized this in his prayer in 1 Kings 8:27,

²⁷ But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built!

So it is plain that the glory of God which filled that temple will ultimately fill the whole earth. This is the purpose of creation--to fill the earth with His presence and to make the earth His Temple. Because of sin, men have doubted God's ability to finish what He started. They think that men's sin has made this impossible. They believe God has a Plan to salvage what He can and burn up the vast majority of humanity.

I believe that God has a Plan of Salvation, and He is fully capable of filling the whole earth with His glory. While not all understand how He could possibly do this, God has the wisdom, love, and power to do above all that we can ask or think.