New Year's Day Service: SERMON: Psalm 72:10-14

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. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath 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.

God Shall Deliver The Needy

Beloved of the Lord......The older we get, as a rule, the more fearful we become of the future. We read the news….we are informed regarding the state of our nation….and for years upon years we have seen its moral decay.  We worry especially about our children and grandchildren, their salvation.  They are sheep living in the midst of wolves and this is a godless generation. The wicked live as though there is no God, no hell, no punishment, yet there is an Almighty God, and He is angry, and there is eternal punishment. "The fool hath said in his heart there is no god."  These godless idolators, are always the ones who persecute Christ.  Again and again history shows the Christians of this world are the most hated and despised of all people, though we live as sheep and are harmless as doves.  What then should we do when our enemies are so numerous and powerful?  The answer is we pray to our Almighty God for help, and above all things we trust His grace will help in time of need.  For the Lord "shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper."  Let us then not be discouraged about the future, but encouraged by Christ in our future, past, and present.  God has promised to deliver the needy believer who prays.

        This will happen because Christ is our King of Psalm 72.  He is the One who "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents" to.  According to Luther, Tarshish here means the sea in general, the Mediterranean Sea.  This is why the isles also are mentioned, those islands of the same sea.  This prophecy foretells the future adoration of Christ by such kings and people. They bring presents to Christ in true and humble worship, bowing down before Him by faith of the heart, knowing Him as their Savior and King.  As we enter this New Year, let us both remember and rejoice, Christ our King is still ruling over all kings of this earth by His omnipotent power, for "all power is given unto Me in heaven and earth."  He is high above our President and Congress and Supreme Court, as He was high above Pilate.  "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above."

        This is true also of the kings of Sheba and Seba.  Sheba was the grandson of Cush, and Seba was the son of Cush.  Cush was the grandson of Noah after the flood.  Sheba thus refers to Fertile Arabia, which today is Saudi Arabia, to the east of the Red Sea.  This is where the Queen of Sheba came from when she visited Solomon, and apparently Solomon imparted to her the wisdom of Christ, for Jesus teaches us the Queen of Sheba is in heaven.  In Matthew 12:42 Jesus said, "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here."  When you think of Sheba then, picture that area and land to the east of the Red Sea where the children of Israel wandered.  Incense, myrrh and even frankincense are found there.  As for Seba, the son of Cush, Seba is that land on the western side of the Red Sea and to the south.  Seba is essentially the land of Ethiopia.  If then we combine these kings and regions of Tarshish, Sheba and Seba, this was essentially the entire Gentile world.  That is why verse eleven says, "Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him."

        Once God has called us by the Gospel and enlightened us with His gifts, we likewise "fall down before Him" and glorify God's name.  The purpose and meaning of our life now is to glorify Him for all He has done and is still doing for our salvation.  Hence in the Church Year, the purpose of New Year's day is to remember the circumcision of Christ where His first blood for us was shed, and also the giving of His name.  Luke 2:21 says, "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS."  The name Jesus means Savior, for He has saved us from all sin.  Our blood need not be shed, because His blood was first shed.  Nor must we sacrifice our children in order to be forgiven, God gave His only-begotten Son so our own children would be forgiven.  Now do we need to buy our way into heaven with indulgences or good works, or a monastic life, gold, frankincense, or myrrh, for the Son of God is the Lamb of God, who earned heaven for us?  When that little and innocent Child Jesus was circumcised, the first drop of His holy blood was placed into the scales of God's justice against our sins.  If we were to be redeemed from Satan's dominion of sin, death and hell, it would yet take all of His blood "given and shed for you for the remission of sins" upon the cross.  Knowing this, what thanks can we render to God for all He has done?  Hebrews 13:15 thus says, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."  If we praise Him with our lips, also works and deeds of love, perhaps this year a few more lost sheep will be found in the arms of their Good Shepherd.  Jesus said, "I lay down my life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, andone shepherd."

        Yet when we witness Christ, what so often happens?  We are persecuted, mocked, and ridiculed.  Hence "He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper."  Who are these needy?  There are all broken and sorrowful sinners who cry out "God be merciful to me, a sinner."  These are the saints who need God's mercy every hour of every day.  While the word "needy" is generally despised today, we are not ashamed to be called "needy" children of God, for all that we have AND all we need comes freely from His gracious hand.  We need food and clothing, meat and drink, house and home, but far more important is we need strength to resist the devil, the world, and our own flesh.  We need God's grace to prevail against these mighty enemies, for they want to lead us into sin and temptation and other great shame and vice.  Above all they want to tear us away from the loving arms of our Good Shepherd so we despair of His free salvation and die in unbelief.

        By grace then, through faith dear believer, you must ever remember first and foremost, Jesus has already reconciled you to God the Father, and His blood continually pleads your cause and your innocence before God's holy throne.  "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all."  This means when you pray and even cry, God will surely hear you for Jesus' sake.  As God then cannot turn away the petitions of His only-begotten Son, He also cannot turn away your petitions through His Son.  In Jesus' name your petitions always reach God's holy ears.  That is why "before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

        Nevertheless, when we have the most difficult trials where the devil vexes us and whispers in our ear that he is too powerful for us and we must give in, or he terrorizes our soul so it seems all is lost, we need only answer the devil saying, "I am a Christian!  Christ died for me!  And there is nothing you can do, for Christ for me has done all!"  By these words, namely by Christ the living Word, the devil must flee and vanish before that holy name of Christ!  James 4 therefore says, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." Faith itself is not double-minded, but single-minded.  It meditates upon Christ, rejoicing in Christ, knowing it's justification is sure in Christ, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand."  Knowing Christ, our conscience also is cleansed by the same blood of Christ.  That is why Hebrews 10:22 says, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

        Besides the name JESUS, another name for God is HELPER.  He is the HELPER of the helpless.  Even if friends and family forsake us…..even if it seems as though we are the last believing soul upon the face of the earth, the Bible says, "Behold God is mine helper, the Lord is with them that uphold my soul."  More often than not, God uses fellow believers who are near to strengthen and uphold our soul by the Word of God.  But even if there are no helpers near, God still will help.  His Spirit not only lives in our hearts, but His Spirit speaks in our hearts words of grace to comfort us, so our memory recalls or brings to mind, "God so loved the world" and "Christ died for all" and "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us."  We often feel alone, but we are never alone for God has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."  Surely He will do as He promised, for "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."

        That is why "He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence."  Woe then to those enemies which vex you and make your life difficult!  God will not permit them to vex you forever.  Unless they repent and believe in Christ, consider their horrible damnation, and all Christ did to give the salvation!  Therefore as long as you live, regarding them, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father."  In the midst of your spiritual struggles then now with your enemies, remember also how precious you are in God's sight.  Jesus shed His first and last blood for you, therefore "precious shall [your] blood be in His sight."  You are His purchased and precious possession, near and dear to His heart for "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."  Also "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."  Therefore we pray "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings."  Knowing He will preserve us both in the calm and every storm of life, we can be confident knowing He will hear and gracious answer our ever prayer.  Though we are indeed poor and needy, we are those poor and needy Christ came to save, precious in His sight.  Let us therefore humbly bow before Him, serve and obey Him, sing His praises, and present our bodies a living sacrifice.  As every year before us, this is another year of grace, and we are closer to heaven.  "Blessed be His glorious name forever, and let the whole earth be filled with His glory."  God will deliver us.  Amen.