Text: Psalm 72
Introduction
I feel a little guilty sometimes. I just don’t use the Psalms all that often in worship. The Introits are usually Psalms…but chopped up ones that use selected verses to support the later texts of the day. Rarely do we touch anything like a full Psalm. So for our Advent midweeks I’ve picked a couple of full Psalms to read and meditate on.
Text
The one this week is Psalm 72. If we believe the inscriptions – those parts often at the start of every Psalm – this is one written by Solomon. And it makes sense as some type of installation or coronation prayer. And that might explain the last verse – 20 – when it says the prayers of David are ended. Some priest or scribe at sometime collected what we know as the book of the Psalms. Much like we publish hymnbooks. But you can imagine a prior collection of just the Psalms of David – probably including those lost to us – that ended with a Psalm of his son Solomon.
It almost feels like a litany. May…May…Let…May. Repeated request of God for various blessing on the King. And our editors I think give us a good clue. The first four verses are requests for the justice of his reign. And for the King of Israel justice also mean righteousness. And what does that mean? Let prosperity come from the mountains and the hills. The mines and the grazing spaces of the herds of Israel. Let the prosperity comes of honest work, and not oppression. “May he defend the cause of the poor, give deliverance to the children of the need, and crush the oppressor.” The opposite of most pagan rule, in which the rulers did the oppression. And the prosperity was not for the people, but for those who might rig the economy.
And the right response to such just and righteous rule is verses 5 to 7. A proper fear of the Lord’s anointed. And may the righteousness of the King lead the to the flouring of righteousness and peace among the people. And may they want such reign forever – “till the moon be no more.”
And no King or people is ever content with their current domain. Even the US would like Greenland. Verses 8-11. “May he have dominion from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.” Desert tribes – that would be Arabia – to Tarshish – that would be Spain – to Sheba – deep into Africa. Oh heck. “May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him.”
And sure you could just chalk this all up as coronation hyperbole, but this is beyond that. All kings die and all houses eventually disappear. Whoever compiled the Psalms had to know that the coronation this was for – Solomon – that Kingdom didn’t make it to the next generation whole. 10 of the 12 tribes split. And if Solomon at one time might have reigned from the river – Euphrates – to the Edge of Egypt, and received the Queen of Sheba, that was it’s extent. What would a king of Judah – that dramatically reduced Kingdom – think upon hearing this? I would think this is not my kingdom and never will be.
And maybe more of that if he heard verse 12 to 14. “He delivers the needy…has pity on the weak…redeems their life and precious is their blood in his sight.” Does that sound like any earthly ruler? Does that sound like any kingdom of this world?
Conclusion
Maybe it is Solomon’s prayer. Maybe young Solomon – full of wisdom – could ask for such a kingdom. But that wisdom and desire wouldn’t make it to the end of his Kingdom. Solomon of 700 wives and 300 concubines. Fully invested in the world. Solomon in all his glory, and completely unable to prevent the fracture of Israel.
But one greater than Solomon came. And his Kingdom is not of this world. Although it does have citizens from the River to the ends of the earth. And in that Kingdom the good news is preached to the poor. One greater than Solomon is here and his reign abounds producing grain 30, 60, 100 fold, and the fruit of good works. “May there be an abundance of grain…may its fruit be like Lebanon.” One greater than Solomon lives and “his name endures forever.”
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Like forgiving the sins of all who call on him and promising them an inheritance.
May the whole earth be filled with his glory.
As the angels announced one night long ago…as it shall be on a day not long off.