As you well know, we are in
a presidential election year (you did know, right?).  In these seasons, we hear so much about
motivation and perspectives.  Often
times, it seems we are hearing more about the personality and pocketbooks of
the candidates more than we hear about their stance on moral issues that affect
us most as Christians.  Even those issues
are quickly shoved under the table of conversation under the guise of “separation
of church and state.”

 

What the candidates are
hoping, however, is that we will identify with them to the point of putting
aside any other differences and joining under their banner.  Proverbs
14:34 shouldn’t be too far from our minds (and lips) during these
elections: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”  No one knew
this better than Israel in the Old Testament. 
As people fortunate enough to have written copies of the Scriptures, we
should know it too.

 

Our ongoing study in Psalms
brings us to the last psalm of the second book: Psalm 72.  Written, most likely, by Solomon shortly after
his coronation as the king of Israel, we study the first seven verses.

 

1 Endow
the king with your justice, O God,

the royal son with your
righteousness.

2 May
he judge your people in righteousness,

your afflicted ones with
justice.

3 May
the mountains bring prosperity to the people,

the hills the fruit of
righteousness.

4 May
he defend the afflicted among the people

and save the children of
the needy;

may he crush the oppressor.

5 May
he endure as long as the sun,

as long as the moon,
through all generations.

6 May
he be like rain falling on a mown field,

like showers watering the
earth.

7 In
his days may the righteous flourish

and prosperity abound till
the moon is no more.

Psalm 72:1–7

 

 

When Israel (and Judah
after the kingdom was divided) had kings like Solomon, the inspired writer of
this Psalm, they were obligated to be the Lord’s representative.  They were to lead the people according to the
Law of the Lord (read Deuteronomy
17:14-20 to see a brief description of what they were to do).  The king, as the agent of God Almighty to the
people, was to be impartial, just, and righteous.  When Solomon assumed the throne of his
father, David, he asked the Lord for wisdom. 
God gave him this request (cf. 1
Kings 3:1-15). 

 

From the heart of a
faithful and wise man, the prayer rises to heaven, “endow the king with your
justice, O God.”  “Justice!” is the cry of the oppressed and
the king of God’s people was to embody this justice based on the Law of
God.  This justice would be a blessing on
God’s people because the powerless would have representation: the king
himself.  As such, the king of the Lord’s
people prays for the ability to judge “in righteousness.” 

 

Furthermore, this righteous
justice would bring blessing to the people and would serve as a beacon to all
the nations as the poor and defenseless were cared for and dealt with
impartially.  The prayer of King Solomon
in this part of this Psalm is for the righteous to flourish in the land.  The king, then, would be a blessing to the
people and would be a blessing to God Himself. 

 

This task, however, is
larger than any human king.  Not even
King Solomon in all his wisdom accomplished this.  No son of David accomplished this, except
one.  This Son of David completely
embodied the Lord’s justice.  This King
truly brought righteousness, justice, and mercy to the people and blessed them
and God.  This “Greater Son of David” has
a rule that never ends and showers the earth with sweet forgiveness.  Who is the Son of David?  King Jesus.

Jesus Christ accomplished
what no human king ever did: true reconciliation between humanity and
holiness.  As the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:14–17:

 

“14 For he himself is our
peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the
dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh
the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself
one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in
one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to
death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who
were far away and peace to those who were near.”

 

By the cross, we are
reconciled to God.  The justice of Jesus
is perfect and absolute.  The
righteousness He brings is permanent and brings us into a relationship no mere
human ever could.  Psalm 72 is not simply
a prayer by a new human king but it is a reminder of the ideal king:  THE IDEAL KING.  And King Jesus fulfilled every verse with
perfected accuracy.  We serve a perfect,
pure, righteous, just, and impartial King of kings.

 

Verse
1

The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
And trembles at His voice

 

Verse
2

And age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the End
Beginning and the End
The Godhead three in one
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

 

Bridge
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

 

Chorus

How great is our God
Sing with me
How great is our God
And all will see how great
How great is our God

 

“How Great Is Our God”

Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves

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