Prayers for the King

June 25

(Psalms 72:1-20 NIV) "Of Solomon. Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. {2} He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. {3} The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. {4} He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. {5} He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. {6} He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. {7} In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. {8} He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. {9} The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. {10} The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. {11} All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. {12} For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. {13} He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. {14} He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. {15} Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long. {16} Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field. {17} May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. {18} Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. {19} Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. {20} This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse."

The prayers for the king in this Psalm are like statements of faith regarding our Lord and King. He is the royal Son who will judge the Earth and see that justice is done. His righteousness is the model for all humanity to emulate. He cares for the needy and comforts the afflicted. His compassion is as vast as the oceans. He is marvelous in His love toward us. He is like the gentle rain that falls to water the fields. He blesses the land and it produces abundantly. All nations and all people owe their existence to Him. He rules over them all. His time has no end. He outlasts the sun, the moon, and the stars. He will endure forever. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. So we pray to Him. We put our trust in Him. We bring the finest of offerings to Him. We lay our very lives before Him. We praise His name and serve Him with gladness, and the Earth is filled with His glory. Amen! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day