PREVIEW: Wouldn’t it be great if our presidents-current and future—began their reign by declaring their utter dependence on God? Wouldn’t it be great if they saw their administration as a conduit of God’s blessing on us? Wouldn’t it be great if they played fair with both the bigwig and the little guy? Wouldn’t it be great if they fundamentally saw themselves as both servant of God and servant of the people? If we ever got a leader who was both an authentic servant of God as well as a public servant in the truest sense, we wouldn’t be crying out for term limits. As much as we wish for that kind of leadership in the White House…or in the governor’s mansion…or in the mayor’s office…or in the pulpit, we should be even more intent on praying for those very qualities to be endowed to them from on high. And, of course, we ought to pray that they would have the kind of heart into which God places the stuff of great leadership.

MY JOURNEY OF WORSHIP // Psalm 72:15

It has been a long time since we have had a national leader like the one described in this royal psalm. This is a psalm of Solomon, who, of course, was King David’s son and successor to the throne. Under Solomon’s reign, the nation of Israel expanded economically, educationally, militarily, and spiritually — “happy days were here again” for God’s people.

Solomon began his reign by declaring his utter dependence on God. You can see it here in this song, which is really a prayer to God declaring the kind of leader he wants to be. Notice what he prays for:

He speaks of being divinely endowed with justice and righteousness so that those same two qualities will characterize his leadership.: “Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.” (Psalm 72:1-2).

He desires the nation to be prosperous and fruitful primarily as a result of his righteous rule: “May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful….May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.” (Psalm 72:3,7)

He declares his intentions to look out for the little guy—the needy, poor, oppressed, and the innocents: “He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.” (Psalm 72:4,13-14).

No wonder he thinks his leadership can endure and his influence expands: “May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!… May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 72:5,8)

People will not be crying out for term limits with this leader; he is both an authentic servant of God and a public servant in the truest sense. His people love him!

Wouldn’t it be great if our presidents began their reign by declaring their utter dependence on God? Wouldn’t it be great if they saw their administration as a conduit of God’s blessing on us? Wouldn’t it be great if they played fair with both the bigwig and the little guy? Wouldn’t it be great if they fundamentally saw themselves as both servant of God and servant of the people?

Who wouldn’t want to follow a leader like that?

But as much as we wish for that kind of leadership in the White House…or in the governor’s mansion…or in the mayor’s office…or in the pulpit, we should be even more intent on praying for those very qualities to be endowed to them from on high. And, of course, we ought to pray that they would have the kind of heart into which God places the stuff of great leadership.

Solomon was wise enough to know that he couldn’t be that kind of leader without the prayers of the people. That is why he includes a prayer request for himself in the song: “May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.” (Psalm 72:15)

Wouldn’t it be great if we began praying and blessing our president like that? Who knows what good it might do him, and in the process of praying and blessing him, it might do us some good, too!