A Prayer for the King

Scripture — Psalm 72:1-3, 18-19 (NRSV)

Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness. . . .
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen.

Devotion

In the New Testament letter known as 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul encourages us to pray for government authorities: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim 2:1-2). Though we should be praying for “everyone,” we ought to be sure to pray for those in authority over us.

How should we pray for them? And for what? Should we simply express our particular political preferences? Surely it’s appropriate to tell the Lord whatever is on our hearts. But does Scripture give us additional guidance for how to pray for “kings and all who are in high positions”?

Yes, in fact; we find a moving and wise example of prayer for government officials in Psalm 72. Well, actually, that prayer is for one particular official, namely the king of Israel (and his son, the next king, 72:1). For what does the psalm writer pray? The main themes of this prayer appear in the first three verses:

Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness (72:1-3).

Justice and righteousness figure prominently in this prayer, as does peace, though it’s hidden in this translation. Verse 3 reads more literally, “Let the mountains bring peace [shalom] to the people” (CEB). The Hebrew word shalom, often translated as “peace,” can also be translated as “prosperity.” Shalom is not only the absence of conflict, but also the experience of life as it was meant to be. Theologian Cornelius Plantinga captures the sense of biblical shalom in this definition:
The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight — a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be (p. 10).

As we reflect on the exemplary prayer from Psalm 72, we are struck by its consistent concern for the poor and vulnerable. In praying for the king, the psalmist asks specifically, “Let the king bring justice to people who are poor” (72:4). A few verses later, after praying that the king be exalted over the rulers of other nations, the writer supplies a striking reason for this blessing: “For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.” (72:12-13). According to Psalm 72, the king is worthy of blessing and honor because of the way he treats the poor and needy.

The last verses of Psalm 72 offer a surprising twist. After 17 verses focusing on the human king, all of a sudden God takes center stage:
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen (72:18-19).

As we read this closing benediction, we wonder: Wait a minute! Didn’t we just hear about the great things done by the human king? Now we celebrate the fact that the Lord “alone does wondrous things”? How do we make sense of this unexpected change in emphasis?

First, we should note that no matter how great our human works might seem, by comparison, God “alone does wondrous things.” So, we might praise the goodness of a human ruler while recognizing that God’s goodness is infinitely superior. When we get this concept confused, we have a mess on our hands.

Second, it’s also important to remember that God often does wondrous things through people who are instruments of God’s justice, righteousness, and peace. So, from one perspective, the human king of Psalm 72 “delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper” (72:12). But from a wider perspective, we understand that the king is acting as an agent of God. The closing verses remind us of God’s glorious sovereignty, which can be seen in the faithful and just actions of God’s people.

In the season of Advent, we are especially aware of our need and longing for shalom, for biblical peace, for “the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight.” We are reminded of the millions of people in our world who are poor and needy, and who need to experience divine justice. And, yes, inspired by Psalm 72, we pray for our leaders, for national, state, and local leaders, that they would embrace and reflect the values and commitments of the king in Psalm 72. Of course, these values and commitments are not just those of the human king, but also those of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Advent, we long for the day when the true King will bring “endless peace,” establishing and upholding his kingdom “with justice and righteousness” (Isa 9:7). Come, Lord Jesus!

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Praying for Our Leaders.