Psalms 72:15-17 (ESV)
Long may he live;
may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
Psalm 72 is either a prayer by David for his young son who is to be king, Solomon. Or a prayer of Solomon, David’s son, the king. We don’t know. But the point of the psalm is to ask God to bless the king. But not simply for the king’s benefit, but that also the followers of the king would also benefit. The life law here is that when leaders rule in a way that honors God the people of the land are blessed. Solomon would say it this way in Proverbs:
Proverbs 29:2 (ESV)
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Good leaders foster great people. Bad leaders foster people who complain and groan. It is a simple principle of life but one often ignored. Our prayer, like this psalm-prayer, ought to be for God to put leaders in place who will bring about praise for Him and blessings for His people. Paul said it this way:
Romans 13:3a (ESV)
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.
As we pray for rulers we need to remember that their leadership is for our good:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Our prayer for leaders is that they walk with God and therefore be blessed by God and therefore we are bless through them by God.
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