For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
Handful of plenty
Previously in our simple study of the handfuls we have noticed...
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In Leviticus chapter 2 the handful of the priest in worship and appreciation
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In Leviticus chapter 6 the hands full of the priest of the sweet incense; hands full in prayer and acceptance
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In Ruth chapter 2 hands full of purpose in the field (i.e. the word of God) hands full of provision which sustained Ruth & Naomi
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In 1 Kings chapter 17 a handful of meal in a barrel as a handful of priority; God first in our lives
Finally in Psalm 72 we have, in verse 16, an handful of corn...upon the top of the mountains; we could say a handful of plenty. Psalm 72 is referred to as a Messianic psalm of which there are 16; where normally a Messianic psalm is identified by its quotation in the new testament. There are three exceptions to this (Psalm 24, Psalm 72 and Psalm 89) but a consideration of these make it clear that they anticipate Messiah and His Messianic reign.
Psalm 72 is the last psalm of the second section of five. This sections (the Exodus section) had begun in Psalm 42 where we have a people longing for God and His presence in deliverance. So Exodus has, at the beginning, a people in captivity and longing to see God's power and presence in their deliverance. At the end of the book of Exodus we have the completed tabernacle and God's glory filling the place. In Psalm 72, at the end of that section in David's doxology in verse 19 he declares and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. Then, in verse 20, we read The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended and he could ask for nothing more.
The psalm tells us in verse 20 that it'a prayer of David which was possibly put to song by Solomon. In the first seven verses we read about the righteousness of the king and of his kingdom. even today's kingdoms and countries often take their character from their kings and rulers. How wonderful to think that such a day lies ahead for the nation of Israel and for this earth during the righteous reign of their King; our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
In Jeremiah chapter 23, verse 54 the prophet writes Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. He is the one which the Psalmist speaks about in Psalm 45 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thous lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Isaiah reminds us in chapter 32 Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement. In Isaiah chapter 11 with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and in verse 5 he states righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
That righteousness and theirs (Israel's) and our righteousness all, of course, come from from the death of the only wholly righteous man ever to be; our Lord Jesus Christ. What great blessings in Heaven and earth have been accomplished through His death and resurrection. How comforting to know that we depend not on our own righteousness but His; as Paul would write in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 God...hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
In the next section of the psalm (verse 8 to 14) Mr Flannigan titles it The prosperity and perpetuity of the kingdom. Verse 8 opens with his universal dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Look at the acknowledgement he will have; kings...shall bring presents...and...shall offer gifts and kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him and daily shall he be praised. Then the handful of corn upon the mountains and notice the plural; this will not be an isolated incident but the normal in that great millennial day. God;s creation which was cursed by the fall now released and the corn waving in its abundance upon the mountains, certainly a handful of plenty. Paul in Romans chapter 8 verse 22 speaks of the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Paul says it shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Again look at the cause and let us wonder and worship; having made peace by the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. In Acts 3:21 we read Whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things. This is to restore back again the heavens, the earth, the nation and the people of God. Isaiah writes about that day in chapter 11 in relation to the animal kingdom. In verse 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Read on in verses 8 to 10 the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Read also Isaiah chapter 65, verses 17 to 25.
So in that day of the handful of corn upon the mountains we shall also see what Isaiah prophesied in chapter 35 where the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Read on in the chapter and feel your heart rate increase as you think of that day of his glory. It's in that day (Isaiah 44) that the heavens will sing and the lowers parts of the earth shall shout and the mountains, forests and every tree will break forth into singing. The sea will roar (it's approval) and the fields will rejoice. In the closing verses we read in verse 17 that his name shall endure for ever and in verse 19 blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. David concludes with a double "Amen", or "So be it".
May God use His word to thrill our souls as we consider the great day of glory for our Lord Jesus Christ; the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Every blessing,
David Lind