The Just King (Psalm 72:1)

 


Wednesday, July 30, 2025


Psalm 72

2 Samuel 11:22-12:15a

John 9:1-17


Observance: William Wilberforce, social reformer (d. 1833)


The Just King (Psalm 72:1)


Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to the royal son!


I once heard someone claim that here in Australia we don’t really have much in the way of culture. I must say, I had to fight the urge to simply write them off as a God-hating commie; had they never voted in an election? Because if they had, they would have experienced one of our greatest cultural past-times. There is nothing quite like an Australian election: usually at a church or school with sausages sizzling, we see what makes us uniquely Australian. We stand in the sun, waiting quietly in lines, and in the one place where politics is the focus, we try not to get too political. Love it or not, election day the way we do it is a uniquely Australian cultural phenomenon.


I am thinking about politics because that is what today’s Psalm is about. It is prayer, or petition, to the ruler. And the Psalmist’s politics are, for the most part, nothing anyone could find fault with. Righteous judgement, defending the cause of the poor, saving the lives of the needy, economic success: who doesn’t want to live in this country?


The point of disagreement might lie in who this petition is directed towards: a king appointed by God. The concept of “the divine right of kings”, while mostly misunderstood these days, is nonetheless an unpopular one. Yet this is a Psalm, not a political manifesto. Who is the King, appointed by God? It is none other than Christ the Lord.


His kingdom is coming; his kingdom is close it hand; his kingdom is here. This is not some fantasy utopia which the Psalmist is describing: this is God’s universe, ruled over by Christ, here and now. Yes, some parts of this universe are in rebellion against her King; but he is still King, and his judgements are as inevitable as they are righteous. As Christians, we are his beloved subjects, and our lives are precious in his sight.


How does your spirituality inform your politics? How might a politics of Psalm 72 inform your spirituality?


God our Father, you have given all things to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: grant us the joy and privilege of serving you in his kingdom both now, and in the kingdom to come.

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