April 5, 2015 – Sunday

Start Time: 5:32 AM

End Time:  6:00  AM

Title: Of Solomon  

Scripture: Psalm 72:1 – 20

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ This chapter was written by the wisest king ever, King Solomon, and with such great wisdom too.  Check out his psalm.  He started by saying "endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness."  I believe, Solomon was referring to himself as the king in this chapter and the royal son.  He was literally asking God to finance him with justice and righteousness.  Why?  So he can judge His people in righteousness and with justice.  Now this is one of the major role of a King at that time.  With great wisdom that he already possessed, here we hear Solomon asking for God to finance or endow or provide or supply the needed justice and righteousness that would require him to judge God's people.  This request coming from the wisest king ever to live!  Wow!  This clearly tells us that no matter how wise or intelligent we are, that is not enough to rule or judge the people.  Solomon still needed the Lord's justice and His righteousness to judge properly and to play his role appropriately as king of God's people.  Now what a wise thing to do. 

Also, I am amazed of what Solomon wrote in this chapter because as we all know, psalms are like prayers and from Verses 3 to 11, Solomon pleaded to God for everything he needed to be able to rule the people of the Lord right.  He didn't make any assumptions instead he asked God but did not limit the Lord to a certain answer or solution, thus the word "May".  But another thing that I want to point out clearly is the requests of Solomon. 

Solomon requested for the mountains to bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness - this tells me that Solomon knew that he doesn't have all the answers and credited prosperity and fruit of righteousness to nature such as mountains and hills.  He knew that these are not in his hands and he has no control of it.  In a time or era, when people seek the wise man or prophets or the king for answers to all their problems...here we see Solomon declaring a request for prosperity and the fruit of righteousness provided by nature and not him.  Now that's a bold declaration! In the next verse, Solomon asked from the Lord specifically what he, the king, should be able to do - defend the afflicted, save the children of the needy, crush the oppressor.  In verse 5, Solomon asked God endurance and solid commitment, not that God will endure and commit to him but for Solomon to endure and commit.  My point here is, Solomon is very much aware of his weaknesses and so he asked God to give him endurance and for him to stay committed to his part.  Wait a minute, you may ask, isn't that a personal decision?  To endure and to commit, is a personal decision..yes it is true!  But no matter how solid we are now and strong to our commitment and no matter how strong we are to endure today, it wouldn't be the case tomorrow, that's why Solomon knew that he needed to ask God to keep him strong so he can endure and commit at all times!  Wow!

In verse 8 to 11, Solomon asked for his kingdom territory enlarged.  But note that despite of his wisdom, which in many cases would make us think that he is sure to win, Solomon knew that his victory does not depend on his wisdom but to God, that's why he requested from God to expand his territory and kingdom.

In verse 12 to 14, Solomon provided the reasons why God should hear his requests and do it...because in all of these blessings, Solomon will deliver the needy, the afflicted who have no help; he will take pity on the weak and save them from death; he will rescue them from oppression and violence for they are precious in him and in the Lord.  So note that all these blessings, the endurance, the commitment, the expansion of territories. the prosperity and the fruit of righteousness that Solomon asked for, these are all for the service of the people!  And if we go to verse 15 to 17, Solomon confirmed that especially in verse 17, he said, "...then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed." - this i believe is a promise of God to Abraham to him and his descendants and in this chapter, Solomon was claiming that promise in his time.  So know that we will be blessed by God to become a blessing!  and all these blessings only comes from Him!  In verse 18 to 29, Solomon concluded his psalm with the most important part of his prayer, Praise and worship to the Lord.  May we have the same prayer as Solomon that all our requests for the purpose of serving the people of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for a wonderful revelation.  I learned a lot from Solomon Lord, truly he is indeed one of the wisest kings and that is all because of You.  Lord thank You for letting me know and understand that justice and righteousness is not in my hand but in Yours and I am to ask of these from You.  Lord like Solomon, help me understand that prosperity and the fruit of righteousness are not something I can create or achieve but these come from nature - You, the ultimate source of wealth and prosperity and righteousness.  Help me Lord to pray like Solomon, that instead of asking things for myself for the benefit of myself, I would focus on asking things for myself for the benefit of Your people.  Help me Lord to remember always that we are made for a life of service to Your people and Your provision, Your finances or funds are ready for us for the sake of Your people.  Give me wisdom Oh Lord to pray like Solomon did, with the full knowledge that my prayer requests are not for my own self alone but for the good of Your people.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!