Psalm 72

0 Of Solomon.
1  Give the king your justice, O God,
  and your righteousness to a king’s son.
2  May he judge your people with righteousness,
  and your poor with justice.
3  May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
  and the hills, in righteousness.
4  May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
  give deliverance to the needy,
  and crush the oppressor.
5  May he live while the sun endures,
  and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6  May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
  like showers that water the earth.
7  In his days may righteousness flourish
  and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
8  May he have dominion from sea to sea,
  and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9  May his foes bow down before him,
  and his enemies lick the dust.
10  May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
  render him tribute,
 may the kings of Sheba and Seba
  bring gifts.
11  May all kings fall down before him,
  all nations give him service.
12  For he delivers the needy when they call,
  the poor and those who have no helper.
13  He has pity on the weak and the needy,
  and saves the lives of the needy.
14  From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
  and precious is their blood in his sight.
15  Long may he live!
  May gold of Sheba be given to him.
 May prayer be made for him continually,
  and blessings invoked for him all day long.
16  May there be abundance of grain in the land;
  may it wave on the tops of the mountains;
  may its fruit be like Lebanon;
 and may people blossom in the cities
  like the grass of the field.
17  May his name endure forever,
  his fame continue as long as the sun.
 May all nations be blessed in him;
  may they pronounce him happy.
18  Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
  who alone does wondrous things.
19  Blessed be his glorious name forever;
  may his glory fill the whole earth.
   Amen and Amen.
20  The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 72:1)

King of kings and Lord of lords, I'm reminded today to pray for our national leaders, for the President and his administration, for the Congress and the courts. Given them Your justice and righteousness, O God. Given them hunger for Your ways. Help them see where partisan or even national agendas need to be refined or rejected in light of Your sovereign will.

Postscript

The words "justice" and "righteousness," or their derivatives, appear often throughout this psalm. "Justice" (Hebrew mishpat) has to do, most narrowly, with legal matters. "Righteousness" (Heberw tzedeq) is a broader term that refers to right relationships among people and within society in general. In biblical usage, justice and righteousness overlap, and are often closely related. God is the One who determines what true justice and righteousness are.

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved