Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.
Verse 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
Verse 3May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
Verse 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
Verse 5May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
Verse 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
Verse 7In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
Verse 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
Verse 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
Verse 12For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
Verse 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
Verse 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.
Devotion
With these words, the king was blessed for his coronation and its annual commemoration. It is good to remember to pray for those who hold the reins of power. Israel’s kings were enjoined by God’s covenant to "defend the cause of the poor, give deliverance to the needy and crush the oppressor."
Unfortunately, it was not always so. The prophet Ezekiel complained that the rulers "have not strengthened the weak, [nor] healed the sick, [nor] bound up the injured, [nor] brought back the strayed, [nor] sought the lost." With privilege and honor comes responsibility. God invests great accountability in those charged with providing for and protecting his people.
The mantle of blessing bestowed by God on the king was the basis of the prophet’s appeal when offering counsel. In a democracy where we participate in choosing those who govern, we have the privilege and responsibility to daily lift them to God in prayer, privately and publicly.
Prayer
Grant, O God, for the sake of Christ our Lord, that we might have leaders who practice justice in the land. Amen.