Introduction

On the whole, the Arab Nations, nearly all of whom have embraced Islam—founded by Mohammed— stand firm in their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God. But they are no less loved by God. In fact, He loves them so much that it is expected He will move among them by His Spirit and bring on them a spiritual thirst that will draw many of them to repentance and faith.

The Word of Psalm 16 went with the Lord Jesus into the tomb and proved itself more powerful than death itself. Well, there’s a Word in Psalm 72 that is reaching for the Muslim world held in its tomb of spiritual death. The powerful Word—a Covenant Word—in this Psalm will draw the descendents of Hagar into the love and grace of a life with Christ Jesus. This book is a call to make intercession for them, that they who “dwell in the wilderness”(Psalms 72:9) may be moved upon to consider that the Lord Jesus is indeed God’s Son and, furthermore, that He is appointed to rule “all nations,” even theirs.

Psalms 72 lays down both precept and principle regarding the Arab people who, like Israel, are the offspring of Abraham—Israel through Sarah, the Arabs through Hagar. This Psalm is about the spreading of Christ’s Kingdom throughout all nations. It’s an amplification of the Covenant Promise God made to His Messiah that we find in Psalm 2. With open hearts, we can see in Psalm 72 how particularly it enfolds the descendents of Hagar.

Before we look into the particulars of Hagar’s lineage through Ishmael, see these words: “He (God’s begotten Son of Psalms 2:7) shalI have dominion also from sea to sea, and, from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness (the nomadic tribes of the desert, the Bedouins of the Arab world) shall bow before Him and His enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba (representing the European, Asiatic and Arabian peoples) 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 (their lives are precious to Him)”—Psalms 72:8-14.

What a tenderness the Lord has toward those caught in “deceit and violence”and whose blood has run on the ground because of their oppressor’s sword!

Herein is a principle of spiritual truth that can come over on us who know the Lord and who pray.