THE NAME

 

March 11, 2024

Psalm 72: 12-19


For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.
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 the day!
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

THE NAME

Psalm 72 is a Psalm of King Solomon. In the history of Israel this Psalm found its place as a prayer used at the inauguration of the kings of Israel. This prayer was a recognition and acceptance of the king, and also expressed a set of expectations and standards for their leader. You see because the King was God’s anointed, the king was then viewed as the instrument through which blessings came to the people from God and this ruler was expected to uphold God’s standards of justice and righteousness.

The people of God in the Old Testament looked to the king for compassion and deliverance especially for the weak. This was a hope rooted in God’s own character, after all the King was anointed by the Creator. God as revealed in the Bible is a rescuer and helper to the helpless, so the king should be too. Prayers like Psalm 72 were founded on the expectant hope, that the king would fulfill his commitment to the weak, by upholding God’s standards of Justice.

That’s not the way we think of political leaders today, is it? Today many have lost faith in our leaders and distrust them all, while others spend their lives and money promoting this name or that name as the one who will finally save us. In truth, no king or leader has ever been able to fulfill these divine standards. That should not leave us feeling hopeless, however. As followers of Jesus, we can know that God has given us the One in whose name the needy, poor, and helpless will truly find deliverance. Here is for me the overwhelming message for us today. In Jesus, we have a king who is not only concerned with our needs and suffering, but compassionately identifies with them by his own path of suffering. Prayers for the flourishing of his name and reign will mean peace and blessing for all. Listen to the end of Psalm 72, 

May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!


Let Us Pray

God, we praise you that your Son is the king we all want and need; that his compassion far outweighs anything we have ever seen. Help us to trust you as our righteous king. In Jesus Name, Amen.