Alina Kanaski, Middler MDiv student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 72

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.
20The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.

Devotional

This king is perfect: righteous, just, long-lived, well-loved, and with a huge kingdom. He provides peace to his kingdom, protection and justice for his people, and prosperity for all. He thinks of the poor and the oppressed and offers them his help. He is such an incredible king that the psalmist prays that he will live “as long as the moon, throughout all generations.”

This psalm was probably written to celebrate the coronation of Israel’s kings and sung at each coronation. No king could live up to its impossibly high standards, though, at least until Jesus was born. Now, thanks to Him, we can look forward to the fulfillment of these words: of a future kingdom full of justice, righteousness, and prosperity for all. We can look forward to that beautiful kingdom through Jesus, the true perfect king!

Praise be to God!

Prayer

Thank You, God, for Your Son, the perfect king. Help us to prepare for His coming this Christmas and His final coming. Amen.

Alina Kanaski, Middler MDiv student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 72

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.
20The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.

Devotional

This king is perfect: righteous, just, long-lived, well-loved, and with a huge kingdom. He provides peace to his kingdom, protection and justice for his people, and prosperity for all. He thinks of the poor and the oppressed and offers them his help. He is such an incredible king that the psalmist prays that he will live “as long as the moon, throughout all generations.”

This psalm was probably written to celebrate the coronation of Israel’s kings and sung at each coronation. No king could live up to its impossibly high standards, though, at least until Jesus was born. Now, thanks to Him, we can look forward to the fulfillment of these words: of a future kingdom full of justice, righteousness, and prosperity for all. We can look forward to that beautiful kingdom through Jesus, the true perfect king!

Praise be to God!

Prayer

Thank You, God, for Your Son, the perfect king. Help us to prepare for His coming this Christmas and His final coming. Amen.