Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.
Verse 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
Verse 3May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
Verse 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
Verse 5May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
Verse 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
Verse 7In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
Verse 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
Verse 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
Verse 12For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
Verse 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
Verse 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.
Devotion
King Solomon asked God for wisdom. This royal psalm prays that Solomon would also be given a heart for justice, defending the cause of the poor, saving the lives of the needy and redeeming the people from oppression and violence. This prayer could be ours today for the rulers and government leaders of the world, for solutions to the disparity between rich and poor, about the desperation of the unemployed, the homeless and for all those who have no help.
The psalm echoes Isaiah's proclamation of kings from other lands—Tarshish, Sheba and Seba—offering their gifts in presence of the king in Jerusalem. This comes in our hearing as part of the promise of a new gift of God's presence, the gift of Immanuel, God with us and with all the earth.
Prayer
O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe. O Savior, king of glory, who does our weakness know. Bring us, at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven and into endless day. Amen.