Jan. 10, 2019
Prayers for a King- Psalm 72
Reading the Psalms, with heavy emphasis on a king, challenges me with context. Meaning, I have never lived under a king but only known a president or governor. Living and growing up in the U.S., where our national identity rejected a king as to not resemble England, gives a different vantage point. Never-the-less, there are vital leadership principles for those who wear a mantle of great responsibility for a nation of people.
Psalm 72 is a prayer for a future, national leader and King for Israel.
What are the elements of the prayer?
1. “Give the leader your justice”- A sound leader understands the source of his or her authority. Justice is doing things right and the measuring rod is the justice God established. It is fairness and impartiality to all people. Rendering justice equitably is not conditional upon gender, nationality, or economic status, for God created all people and loves and values them equally.
2. How he/she leads with righteousness- Justice and righteousness are tied together. They must go together! A moral code of decency, fairness, and treating people with dignity and respect is a high form of righteousness. It means taking a high ground to look out for the well being of others and to ensure a balanced and level playing field. God was always looking for fairness and was especially mindful of those taken advantage of and exploited.
3. Judge and discern well the people with righteousness and justice- The first two parts of the Psalm point to God’s standard and this standard is prayed for as the leader leads. S/He must embody these godly principles of justice and righteousness.
4. Let this result in prosperity for the people and the creation- When justice and righteousness abound for all, then all will experience prosperity. All people will live sustainably. Furthermore, is the natural earth flourishing as well? The creative order, air, water, plants, and animals, should benefit from the prosperity when justice and righteousness are wielded well.
5. Defends the cause of the needy- special actions and care are given to those on the lower ends of the economic spectrum. Children, our senior citizens, the sick, those with disabilities, or those who cannot get sustainable wages are the objects of the leader’s care and defense. Does s/he take great strides to ensure they are cared for through the leadership and governmental system?
6. Crushes those who oppress people- When is war appropriate? When it is to crush the oppressor. Our national interest is to destroy that which oppresses others. Today’s leader in a global society might be challenged to think of our overall human standards and not only focused upon a nationalistic mindset. The oppressor might not be a person or nation state. A bad system or set of practices that exploits or abuses others might be what needs crushing.
7. Fears God (respect and followership)- this high level of justice and righteousness which manifests in the care and concern of the needy finds its source in followership with God. The leader must continually seek God, the Creator, and the source of our highest ideals.
The rest of the Psalm identifies these other portions as it reinforces that of which it has prayed. The by-product of justice, righteousness, and care for the needy and oppressed is a nation that flourishes and experiences great peace. Other nations will have a respect that encourages a modeling. This is different from fear or disdain. Finally, the care of the poor and the needy is a continuous element of the kingship and leadership. By leading this way, their name will be remembered and God will be honored.
Psalm 72 points us to Jesus. It identifies the responsibilities of a good king, a good leader, and ultimately points to how Jesus, the man who follows God completely, will lead. Recall that Jesus showed us how to be in perfect relationship to the Father and did not use his divinity as this form of power. This means we can emulate Jesus through the power of the Spirit given to us all.
How are we defining effective leadership today? What are our expectations of kings, presidents, and prime ministers? What about pastors, teachers, and business leaders? Do we also lead in this way in our own sphere of influence?
May we judge rightly and seek the good of those least among us so!