Summer in the Psalms
A Prayer For a Future King
Psalm 72
The change in our world we're longing for was never going to come from a better system or any world leader or earthly king. It comes from Jesus Who is forever and always King of kings.
1. A King Who Is Just and Righteous
Righteousness and true justice has a source — not from man himself, but from the LORD
Defend the poor, rescue the needy, crush their oppressors — the evidence of this king's righteousness is measured at the margins of society.
He rescues, he feels pity, their lives are precious to him
2. A King Whose Reign Brings Shalom
Shalom is bigger than "peace" — not just the absence of conflict, but all things new and as they were originally intended
"Like spring rain on freshly cut grass" — gentle, life-giving and restorative.
A king's reign and rain sound the same — his rule was meant to fall on his people the same way
The king's reign doesn't just bring justice. It brings life and flourishing.
3. A King Whose Reign (rain) Expands
"From sea to sea… to the ends of the earth" — in the psalmist's world, that phrase described the entire known world
Desert nomads, distant kings, all nations bowing — this is not a regional kingdom. This is a prophetic prayer for a king whose reach has no boundary.
"All nations be blessed through him" echoes the ancient promise made to Abraham
"All the families on earth will be blessed through you" — the kingdom was never meant to stay inside Israel's borders
4. A King Whose Reign Leads to Worship
The final mark isn't really about the king at all
After seventeen verses building toward a king so great every nation bows, the prayer's final focus redirects all the glory to God
5. The King Who Didn't Live Up To It
Solomon's own prayer early in his reign: "I am like a little child who doesn't know his way… give me an understanding heart"
For a season, Israel under Solomon looks remarkably close to Psalm 72 — peace, prosperity, the Queen of Sheba traveling a great distance to see it
700 wives, 300 concubines — in his old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods
The wisest man who ever lived built shrines to false gods because he could not say no to what his heart had drifted toward
Every king after him, with rare exceptions, does worse
6. The King Who Fulfills It
"Your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey"
The crowd meets Jesus with palm branches, shouting "Hail to the King of Israel!"
"We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever… Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?" — they knew what they were waiting for, they just didn't expect him to arrive humble, on a donkey, heading toward a cross rather than a palace
Already fulfilled: just, righteous, full of lovingkindness, leading worship back to the Father
Not yet: the full, global, undeniable arrival — every nation blessed, the whole earth filled with his glory
Three Things to Carry Out Today
Notice the overlooked. Pay attention this week to those on the margins...notice them.
Pray something too big. Bring what feels too big to hope for to God in prayer — not because you've figured it out, but because He rules with justice and righteousness and sits on the throne. You serve a God of strength and mercy and He invites you to come to Him.
Live as a citizen now. You already belong to a kingdom that's here, even while you wait for it in full — let that shape one ordinary decision this week. It looks like our King. It's sacrificial. It's humble. It's spoken with grace and truth.