The Billboard That Sells Nothing
What Psalms 72 Teaches Us About a King and His Reflection
“May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.”
— Psalm 72:4
A Billboard That Sells Nothing
Many of us in the world are walking ads — billboards displaying things people chase, for better or worse.
But what if we stripped ourselves of the world’s messaging?
What if, instead of reflecting culture, we let people gaze into something more profound — the presence of Christ formed in us?
I saw a picture of this yesterday that answered for me this morning.
It was a billboard that sells nothing.
Made of thousands of steel rods, Non-Sign II rises into the sky like a flock of birds. It doesn’t block the view — it frames it. After nine months of construction, it stands not to sell something, but to invite reflection.
It is a structure designed to get out of the way and help people see.
That image fired me up inside. What if we were like this structure?
Psalm 72 inspired this.
A Psalm for a King — and a Cry for Justice
Psalm 72 is a powerful Psalm that speaks of a King who brings peace, righteousness, justice, and healing.
Israel, the original audience, would have been highly encouraged by this. Holding onto its every word, they would see that the vision expands. The reach grows. Then, suddenly, you’re reading about a King who:
reigns from sea to sea,
crushes oppression,
is worshiped by all nations,
and whose name endures forever.
That’s not just Solomon.
That’s Jesus.
It’s like the Holy Spirit wrote this Psalm with a steel frame, pointing forward, building something bigger — not just for Israel, but for the world.
The Reign of Christ
Every line of this Psalm echoes with the future reign of the Messiah:
He judges with righteousness (v2)
He rescues the oppressed and defends the poor (v4, 12–14)
He brings abundance, peace, and flourishing (v3, 7, 16)
He is worshiped by all nations (v11)
His name endures forever (v17)
This is the already-and-not-yet Kingdom of God — the reign of the King who came, who lived among us, who laid down His life, and who will return in fullness.
But it’s not just about His reign.
When I read this Psalm, I was challenged to reflect on His reign in me.
The Mirror in the Psalm
If we belong to Jesus — if His Spirit lives in us — then we are meant to mirror His rule.
His justice becomes our pursuit.
His compassion becomes our calling.
His peace becomes our posture.
Psalm 72 becomes a mirror:
Do I defend the poor?
Do I bring peace into conflict?
Do I lift up the brokenhearted or walk past them?
Do others see Christ’s rule in me?
For Israel, this Psalm brought great hope.
For us, it brings great responsibility. Like Uncle Ben said in Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.” So here is our challenge.
Never Finished Challenge: A Call to the Church
Psalm 72 is deeply encouraging — but it should also be deeply unsettling.
I read it with a bit of a “yikes” face. It doesn’t just describe who our King is — it describes what His Kingdom looks like. And if Jesus is truly Lord, then our lives must reflect His reign in how we lead, love, parent, serve, and speak.
So here’s your challenge:
Read Psalm 72 again, slowly.
This time, don’t just picture Jesus.
Picture your life under His reign.
Picture your life as a reflection of His heart.
What would need to change?
What already looks like Him?
Where is He inviting you to be His mirror?
Gentle Caveat: Performance vs. Presence
This isn’t a challenge to strive harder.
No amount of performance gets you closer to God.
Instead, it’s relationship that transforms you.
Love for God awakens the Kingdom within you — not in full, but in real and growing ways. And as you walk with Him in trust, He forms you from the inside out every day.
What Does Today Say About God?
Eternal.
I think about the three homes I grew up in… the multiple father figures… and I feel both sad and grateful.
Sad that I never got the chance to really know my earthly dad before his sudden death last year.
Grateful that the God of the universe, the King of kings, the Eternal Lord, never stops revealing Himself to me… never stops redeeming what I longed for… never stops fathering me.
What a Friend.
What a Father.
What a King.
Thank you, Jesus.