Praying for the King
Notes
Transcript
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Announcements
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Introduction
Introduction
My family is pretty politically charged. At some point, at a Klahsen dinner, there will be a conversation about politics.
I’ll admit, often, it turns into complaining.
But you know what something I don’t do often enough, is pray.
As we read this psalm, what kind of king does this psalm ask God for?
READ
PRAY
A Prayer for Righteousness and Prosperity Vs. 1-7
A Prayer for Righteousness and Prosperity Vs. 1-7
Vs. 1 A request to God Give the king your justice Give what is needed to the king so that he may rule justly.
[Give] imperative. It means that God is the ultimate source of the king’s ability to rule well. It’s God’s justice and righteousness that the psalmist is asking for.
What is the result of a king who takes God’s righteousness to heart?
Vs. 2-4 Hope for a just rule The result would be a continued evidence of just rule over his people. Most verbs are talking about an [Imperfect tense] anticipation of what is going to happen [jussives] or talking about the desires of the person praying. In the NIV this is seen when he uses “will” absolute assurance and “may” still hopeful, but less affirmations of desire. When you look at this, there’s a prophetic reading that points to something greater that will come. Yes, I will pray for these things, but I am also looking to the future with anticipation when this will be done perfectly.
Point: God is the source of right rule, and if the kings would allow themselves to be so empowered will rule so that the defenceless are protected, the oppressor crushed, and the whole land experiences šalom (“prosperity”) and ṣedaqah (“righteousness”).
Vs. 3 Prosperity The outcome of this is prosperity. It’s the world šalom it usually has the nuance of “wholeness, completeness”. It’s a type of restoration of relational wholeness and balance that God intended in creation.
Vs. 5- 7 Desire for a reign that endures Longevity and endurance is the foundation of prosperity and blessings. The arid environment would have crops and would visibly show the blessing of God.
Transition: As the king would rest in the justice of God, it would show in his reign, but it would also be shown in the prosperity as God blesses the King as he rules God’s people in a way that points to the character of God. These are not just effects that are limited to just Israel, but the whole world.
A Prayer for a Worldwide Reign Vs. 8-14
A Prayer for a Worldwide Reign Vs. 8-14
The king is to establish the intended creation order through the whole earth.
Vs. 8-11 Asking that his kingdom would be worldwide. The effects of a right rule aren’t just limited to the borders of Israel, but are like ripple effects that go throughout the world.
It’s a rule that would be under the rule of God.
These are hope that were never fulfilled even in the golden age of the monarch, but hopes that bring our eyes to what’s ahead.
These are hopes that will be fulfilled in the Messiah who will usher in the kingdom of God.
Vs. 12-14 Hope for compassionate justice Even with all of the hopes of what is happening, the king still has a responsibility right here at this time. He is not just a ruler, but a defender of the poor and needy.
“ki” [For] connects that the reign over the whole world and the submission of the nations comes from his practice of delivering “the needy when he calls.”
This isn’t the sort of compassion that is a legalistic administration of law, but it flows from a true sense of compassion that mirrors the compassion of God. (vs. 4)
Illustration: We see that in the world wars as governments who sought to be just intervened in countries that were abusing their powers.
Transition: If the kings would allow themselves to be so empowered by God to rule in such a way, not only is the outcome a worldwide reign, but a long reign.
A Prayer for a Long Reign Vs. 15 - 20
A Prayer for a Long Reign Vs. 15 - 20
Vs. 15-17 Desire for a prosperous kingdom The hope and confident expectation, of the song writer and the people is that the long reign of right rule will being in a golden age that looks like the golden age of Solomons rule.
Vs. 17 Even Solomon in all the magnificence of his reign, didn’t compare to the king of Psalm 72.
Vs. 18-20 God is the source of a right rule and blesses the king. The outpouring of the blessing that God has given is this doxology. God has blessed so the king blesses him.
Transition: God is the source of right rule, and if the kings would allow themselves to be so empowered will rule so that the defenceless are protected, the oppressor crushed, and the whole land experiences šalom (“prosperity”) and ṣedaqah (“righteousness”).
What Does this Mean for Us?
What Does this Mean for Us?
Two things come out of this.
Pray for our leaders.
Pray for our leaders.
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
We spend a lot of time complaining. We complain about our political leaders, we spend time complaining about church leaders, we complain. Something I’ve noticed, is that we have a very hard time complaining when we are on our knees.
There was an individual who had authority over me that I really struggled with. We didn’t get along at all and I disagreed with him on much of what he did. My job was to support him, but I found myself complaining. I had to repent of those things, and I started praying. I prayed much the same as this. I still continued to struggle, but my attitude began to change.
Prayer is important. And it seems the Bible makes special mention of praying for those in positions of authority. Such authorities include government officials (international, national, and local) and pastors, church elders, school boards, school principals, employers, and the like
His prayer, then, is that God would grant David’s son the ability to rule and judge in conformity to God’s own righteous character.
BI: God, grant us good government as we pray for Jesus to come.
Why do we pray for our leaders?
Why do we pray for our leaders?
We do not pray for our leaders simply because we are commanded to. Praying for them makes practical sense. Our leaders can affect the conditions we live in and have an impact on our families, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and our countries. When those in authority are obeying the will of God, it is easier to “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2). When evil men are in authority, our prayers for them are just as needed,
Illustration: William Tyndale. Leader of the protest movement in England. God used him to translate the Bible into English. God used that as more and more people were able to access and understand the Bible. The result was that he was tried and convicted as a heritic and burnt at the steak last words as he was being burned at the stake: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” I pray that we can do the same when we face persecution like that.
Also, we do not pray for our leaders merely for our own benefit. Leadership can be a tiring task. James 3:1 “1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Leaders carry a degree of responsibility to their followers. They are often the targets of criticism and the go-to people in a crisis. If they are leading well, they are living their lives in service. We pray for them because we recognize the greatness of their task and because we are grateful for their willingness to lead.
How do we Pray?
How do we Pray?
We should pray for their salvation. We don’t know if they know Jesus, so we should pray that they would. But whether or not our leaders are Christians, we should pray that God will guide them as they guide us.
We should pray that they be wise and discerning and surrounded by helpful advisers. We know that God has placed our leaders in authority over us (Romans 13:1), and we can ask Him to use them as He will.
We should also pray for their protection. How about in the Church? Pray for pastors or ministry leaders, we can pray for them to have strength in the midst of spiritual warfare and to remain encouraged in the Lord. We can pray for their families, who often feel scrutinized and bear an extra load.
BI: God, grant us good government as we pray for Jesus to come.
Briefly stated, we should mention our leaders before God in prayer and ask Him to have His way in their hearts, to support those around them, and to use their leadership to benefit their followers. This is what the Psalmist is praying for, and we should to.
If took our energies we exert on complaining and move that to praying for those God has placed over us, our attitudes will certainly change. Maybe not or opinions, but definately our hearts.
We have three areas of leadership in our lives. We have Government, Church, and Home. This should be our chief desire for anyone who exercises authority in society, the church, or the home: that he would act and decide consistently with God’s Word. In this respect, Psalm 72 sets an important example for us. Like David, we should pray for righteous civil leaders and for church leaders who are righteous in their conduct, teaching, and leadership.
Pray for Jesus to come quickly
Pray for Jesus to come quickly
BI: God, grant us good government as we pray for Jesus to come.
This prayer is only fulfilled in Jesus. The first verse of this psalm prays for justice for the king of Israel, the son of David (in this case, Solomon; see superscription). While we must pray for all rulers to be righteous, this prayer will be completely answered only in Christ, the ultimate Son of David (vv. 1–2; cf. Matt. 20:31; Mark 12:35).
By praying that the people would be “blessed in him,” the psalmist is asking to be hidden in the righteousness God provides through Israel’s king (Ps. 72:1, 17). Ultimately this prayer is answered in Christ, who was typified in the Old Testament kings before actually becoming the “righteousness of God” for everyone who receives him “through faith” (Rom. 3:21–22). Solomon also prays for earthly justice (Ps. 72:3–7, 12–14). The Old Testament believer pleaded for God to vindicate his name by effecting justice on the earth (Psalm 7; Isa. 56:1; Amos 5:24). What Solomon is imagining is a land in which people flourish economically and the needy are protected (Ps. 72:3, 4). By his word and example, Jesus announced a kingdom that brings relief, healing, and life to people physically as well as spiritually
Luke 4:18–19 “18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””
Prophetically, Solomon understood that his Greater Son’s kingdom will extend far beyond his kingdom geographically, ethnically, and chronologically (Ps. 72:8–11, 15–20; Acts 10:47). To the believer this is a comforting thought (Ps. 139:1–16). With this cosmic vision, we are strengthened to live in a kingdom that is “now but not yet”
Heb. 12:28 “28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,”
BI: So, not only do we pray that God would grant us good government, but we also pray for Jesus to come, when everything will be set right and perfect just will be done.