Kingdom living

Slices

Prepare

Take a deep breath. Enjoy a few moments of peace as you reflect on a kingdom where God rules.

Bible passage

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice, O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,
    your afflicted ones with justice.

May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people
    and save the children of the needy;
    may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba
    present him with gifts.
11 May all kings bow down to him
    and all nations 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 to him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.
16 May corn abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
    and thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure for ever;
    may it continue as long as the sun.

Then 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 marvellous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name for ever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

wl

Explore

O for a world where there is justice, righteousness, peace and prosperity! Here in this royal psalm the writer prays for such a world. First, the prayer is for King David and his dynasty, then it points to the Messiah, Jesus. And, beyond the nation of Israel (v 17), it reaches out to all peoples – to the whole earth (v 19), including you and me. 

As we read, we see a distinct bias (as in Matthew 5:3–10) to the poor (vs 3,4,12– 14). God the King himself will care for the oppressed and needy. The psalmist then lifts his eyes from his local world and time and sees wise men from the east coming to worship Jesus (v 10), and then to ‘all nations’ (v 17) who will bless his name. The psalmist’s prayer recalls the beginnings of Israelite history when God promised Abraham that ‘all peoples … will be blessed through you’ (Genesis 12:3) – stretching to a time in the future when all will praise the Lord God. 

A world where God’s rule is acknowledged is safe and peaceful. Nature flourishes; people flourish. Just imagine that special, sweet smell of rain falling gently on newly mown grass (v 6) – and relax

Author
'Tricia Williams

Respond

Let’s join in with the psalmist’s prayer for our King’s work, praying that ‘the whole earth be filled with his glory’ (v 19). ‘Praise be to the Lord God’ (v 18)!

Bible in a year

Read the Bible in a year: Genesis 37,38; Psalm 9

Pray for Scripture Union

Give thanks to God that he doesn’t just call those with a Christian upbringing to become co-heirs of his kingdom – his call is for everyone, everywhere!