Prayer, Praise and Promises 7/1

Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference: Psalm 72:1-11

Greater Than Solomon

Read Psalm 72:1-11

Psalm 72 was written for Solomon, probably when he became king. But looking beyond this psalm, we will see someone who is greater than Solomon--Jesus Christ. Notice what the writer says, "Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king's Son" (v. 1). In fact, he mentions righteousness several times in this psalm. "He will judge Your people with righteousness" (v. 2). "The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness" (v. 3). "In His days the righteous shall flourish" (v. 7). Jesus is to us the righteousness of God. The psalmist wants Solomon to be a righteous man, to have the kind of integrity and honesty that it takes to exercise kingly judgment. Jesus Christ has never made a mistake. He is our righteousness, and He does what is righteous.

Next, the writer talks about peace. "The mountains will bring peace to the people" (v. 3). "In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more" (v. 7). We can have righteousness without peace. We can turn soldiers loose and let them execute people who are breaking the law. But we can't have peace without righteousness. We must first have righteousness with God before we can have peace with Him.

The righteousness and peace of our Lord are emphasized in the Book of Hebrews, in the person of Melchizedek. Jesus is the King of righteousness and peace. He also brings refreshment. "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth" (v. 6). We have days when our hearts are dry like a desert. But the Lord showers blessings upon us and produces fruitfulness in us, and all of this leads to victory. "All kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him" (v. 11). We worship and obey Him who is infinitely greater than Solomon.

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One day Christ will establish His kingdom on the earth. Through His righteous rule He will bring peace. Today, He establishes His kingdom in the hearts and lives of believers. Because of His righteousness, you may have the peace of God in your heart. Do you have this peace?

Psalm 72:1-11 (New International Version)

Of Solomon.

¹ Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.

² He will ^a]">[a] 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 ^b]">[b] 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 ^c]">[c] to the ends of the earth. ^d]">[d]

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.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 72:2 Or May he; similarly in verses 3-11 and 17
2. Psalm 72:5 Septuagint; Hebrew You will be feared
3. Psalm 72:8 That is, the Euphrates
4. Psalm 72:8 Or the end of the land