We are called to be a people of prayer, and one of the areas of prayer in which we must engage is that of praying for our leaders. Our prayers are not based on whether we voted for those leaders, like those leaders, or agree with those leaders. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul tells young pastor Timothy:
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 (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Keep in mind, Paul was calling for prayer for the Roman emperors who, by and large, opposed Christianity. There were no caveats for praying only for those who supported them.
In Psalm 72, David is calling for prayer for an incoming king that would be just and righteous, care for the poor and needy (as opposed to only those who could benefit his rule), and would stand as a blessing to the nations.
For this particular Psalm, we see in the title “Of Solomon.” This could mean this was written by Solomon or was about Solomon--and the latter seems to be more accurate. This psalm is a royal psalm, praying for the king and all the heirs of the line of David, which we see in verse 1:
Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
Like a topic sentence on those essays and themes you wrote in school, everything in this psalm plays off verse 1: may God's justice and righteousness be imparted to Solomon, and to all the heirs.
This psalm also speaks of an eternal reign, which some view as a hyperbole but, in reality, it speaks to something real and tangible: there is someone who will and (now we can say this side of the cross) is reigning on the throne that will last forever. Christ has perfect justice, perfect righteousness, and exercises a perfect rule.
So this Psalm is both a commissioning for the earthly King and finding confidence in Christ, our eternal King! Christ is the only one who can answer this prayer.
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