The leader we long for (Song of Sol 1-3; Ps 72; 1 Thess 5

2024 is the year of elections with almost half of the world’s population having an election. Do you long for good government?

Psalm 72 is a prayer for the ultimate leader, it comes at the end of book 2 of the psalms and its a prayer that the king would be the king of Psalms 1&2. That He will be the king who will rule everywhere forever and bring perfect justice! It’s a big prayer! The heading tells us that it’s “of Solomon” but this may well mean “for Solomon” and as the final verse of the Psalm tells us this is the end of David’s prayers, this is likely a prayer of David for his son Solomon in his rule as king.

And yet, the prayer is too big for Solomon, since it’s a prayer that this king will rule over everywhere forever! It’s a prayer that finds its fulfilment in our king, the perfect leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. What a king He is. He is the leader we need. He is the leader who does rule everywhere and one day will be recognised as the forever King.

He is such a good king. He’s a king who protects the most vulnerable, in v2 we pray that the king will bring justice to the poor and in v4 that he will defend the cause of the poor and crush the oppressor. Here is the leader we need. The leader who lifts up the humble and brings down the proud. Here is the king of all kings, the king before whom all will bow (v14).

When Jesus came the first time, he came to save those who are poor and needy (v13). He didn’t come for those who thought they had no need of him (those who thought they were healthy – Mark 2:17), but for those who know they need him. When he returns as judge he will crush all those who have continued to oppose him. But until that day he offers deliverance. Have a look at the great words in v12:

“For he delivers the needy when he calls”

Before Almighty God, all of us are needy. We need our biggest problem dealt with, our sinful rebellion against our holy creator. If we call out to Jesus and ask for deliverance, He is delighted to give us salvation. Have you cried out to him?

If you have, then you can join in the Psalm, longing for the return of Jesus, the day when the righteous shall flourish and peace abound (v7). Amen! Come Lord Jesus.