Inspiration from Solomon

"Praying for Our Food"

Bible Story Readers - Book 5 by Lillie A Ferris 

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Psalm 72:1-19

TO CHEW ON: "Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king's son." Psalm 72:1

My Bible subtitles this psalm "A Psalm of Solomon." Verse 1 is his prayer, where he clearly asks for God's help. The remainder is how he envisions God's help (and his reign) will look. (You will recall that Solomon succeeded King David as ruler of the nation of Israel.)

Solomon sees:

• Fairness—"righteousness" and "justice" - Psalm 72:2,4.

• Peace - Psalm 72:3,7.

• The canopy of God's dominion over the whole land and extending to the "ends of the earth" - Psalm 72:8-11.

• Liberation for even the poorest and most needy - Psalm 72:12-15.

• Flourishing fields and orchards - Psalm 72:16.

• The whole earth blessed and filled with God's glory - Psalm 72:17,18.

Wow - what an example of inspired, faith-filled praying! Of course, we recognize in Solomon's prayer the messianic and prophetic overtones. He is describing a reign that never came about during his time, a reign that we are still awaiting. Still, I think there are in Psalm 72 applications for our lives now.

I take away two things from this psalm:

1. Our rulers, whether they acknowledge Him or not, need God's help to rule just like Solomon did. We must pray for them.

2. We could compose our own prayer / affirmation like Solomon's. In faith we could envision the highest and best flowing from our lives, work, and influence to advance God's glory in our little spot and brief time on earth.

PRAYER: Dear God, may my life be characterized by integrity. I see my home as a place of peace and under Your dominion. I see You bringing liberation to those bound by poverty, physical and mental illness, addiction, and sin. I see my land, its crops and industries, flourishing. I acknowledge You as the source of these blessings and pray that the fame of Your goodness will fill the earth. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.