The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 72:1-14 (day seven)

May he judge Your people with righteousness. v. 2

Righteousness is a cornerstone characteristic of the personhood of God. Repeated four times in seven verses in Psalm 72, it is also a cornerstone characteristic of a good king. The king is to rule as God would, with mercy, love, and justice.  Then the psalmist points out that The Good King will rule as God Himself. In doing so, His righteousness will become attainable to us so we can rule with Him.

Matthew 5 tells us that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Even though His righteousness is attainable, it is not guaranteed. Righteousness must be sought. When we seek and pursue righteousness, we will find that God has equipped and prepared us to have dominion here as we live and serve Him with mercy, love, and justice.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 72:1-14 (day six)

The Church is called to be a living preview of the kingdom to come—a foretaste of the universal reign of Jesus. We are meant to embody the justice, blessing, and flourishing promised in Psalm 72. As heirs of God’s promises, we are empowered to confront the brokenness around us and bring renewal.

Where injustice reigns, we work to set things right. In a world of crooked paths, we are called to walk uprightly and lead others to do the same. Where there is suffering, we bring healing. Where there is need, we respond with generosity. Where darkness looms, we shine the light of Christ. When the world exalts power and greed, we exalt the humble and eternal King, Jesus—the heir to David’s throne, who reigns from everlasting to everlasting.

Until the day of His return, we are the city on a hill, shining with the light of hope, love, and redemption. In every act of justice, mercy, and grace, we reflect the reign of our coming King and point the world to the glorious day when His kingdom will come in its fullness.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 72:1-14 (day five). Jesus (who is ultimately being described in this Psalm) is indeed the King of kings and Lord of lords. How??  Why??  It is not by force as some were hoping. It is not by power or miracles as others were thinking. No. When we read this Psalm it becomes crystal clear. Jesus reigns with holy righteousness/justice while at the same time demonstrating gracious compassion/mercy. People (tribes and tongues, and social classes) are drawn to Him in worship and service. No earthly leader or government has ever been capable of doing that.   The Psalm points past Solomon to the perfect King-the Lamb upon the throne, who would come to usher in the Kingdom of God.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 72:1-14 (day four)

Over the past six weeks, I hope you’ve been able to reflect on and celebrate the birth of our Savior. I hope you have found new ways to prepare him room in your hearts and experience the hope, peace, joy, and love that he came to offer. But as we continue toward the season of Epiphany, we’ll find that there is still much to learn about the child in the manger.

During Epiphany, we discover along with the shepherds that Jesus is more than the product of a miraculous birth. He is more than a good teacher, more than a kind person. He is more than an influential leader. He is the Son of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, and the center of heaven and earth. In this season, we examine the Biblical texts that reveal Jesus’ divinity. Psalm 72 does just that, as it describes the reign of the perfect king.

While it was written for Solomon’s coronation, we know that only Christ is worthy of this description. As David penned this psalm, he unknowingly prophesied of the one who would one day come through his family line to judge with righteousness and vindicate the afflicted. Only Christ’s kingdom will extend to the ends of the earth. Only he is worthy of the worship of all the nations. It is this glorious kingdom that we speak of when we say, “Your kingdom come.”

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 72:1-14 (day three)

For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help,
The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
He will have compassion on the poor and needy,
And the lives of the needy he will save.

The prophetic word of the Bible always envisions a day in which attentiveness, empathy, and liberality will abound. We don’t live in that day yet. It’s hard even to imagine such a day. But you long for it, even when you act in ways contrary to it, as everyone does. In that day, neediness will give way to assured resourcefulness. Affliction will surrender to tender comfort. Poverty will fall to generosity. That is the world God is bringing into existence – a world in which God will act in these ways, and so will you. It’s yours for the believing and becoming.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 72:1-14 (day two) 

May he also rule from sea to sea
And from the River to the ends of the earth. v. 8

There is a duality in leadership which makes most people uncomfortable. This same savior whose incarnation we are celebrating is at once tender, compassionate, and benevolent while also being just, righteous, and formidable. When we try to find all those characteristics in human leadership we are always disappointed. Whereas someone can be formidable, they often lack compassion. Our capacity to lead at every conceivable end of the spectrum is beyond our ability. We settle, and hope for the best. It is our sin nature that prevents us from our ability to fully embrace all of humanity. Jesus does not suffer the same failings. As the author of our faith, he draws the lines of the absolute, but he also knows how to meet us in our failings. Jesus reign is one of perfection. This child will grow to lead with a love that transcends our current capacity. Our hope should reflect that trust in his perfect plan for our day, our family, our church, our country. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts this year.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 96 (day seven)

Sing to the Lord a new song. vs 1

As 2024 draws to a close this week, it gives us a chance to reflect on the year that has passed. There have likely been moments of surreal joy, but there have likely been moments of pain and sorrow. Each year it seems to be the same old routine of enduring this roller coaster of emotions. It becomes natural to feel stuck, but a new year brings hope. We begin to set our mind on goals we want to achieve and things we want to do. We believe that the next year will be even better than the last.

This is true in our spiritual life as well. It can become too natural to feel stuck in your walk with the Lord. Though we are promised that God is constant and will always be the same, we have an equal promise that His mercies are new everyday (Lamentations 3:23). The manifestation of His grace is fresh in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. The truth is the same, but the revelation is new. When we realize this, our heart cannot help but sing.

Whether you feel stuck in a rut or are in a season of growth, God has something new for you each day. How will you look for the movement of His Spirit in 2025?

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 96 (day six)

Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. Luke 2:14

¹⁴ So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14

The root of the Hebrew word for glory is “heavy” or “weighty,” as in heavy treasure. Something glorious has inherent value. Therefore,  “ascribing glory” (Psalm 96:7) is not adding value but acknowledging value.

When John writes, “We have seen his glory,” he is saying that they encountered the whole nature of Jesus, the Son of God; they saw him for who he was. It is an awesome thought that the Creator became man (entered creation) so the disciples (and others) could behold his glory or see him for who he really was. And now, through their testimony, so do we.

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 96 (day five)

What do you believe about worship?  How central and prevalent is it in your life and faith?  When, where, why, and how do you worship the living God? This Psalm will teach, encourage, and correct.

A few quotes that challenge me and my view of worship:

“Worship is the goal and the fuel of missions: Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Missions is our way of saying: the joy of knowing Christ is not a private, or tribal, or national or ethnic privilege. It is for all. And that’s why we go. Because we have tasted the joy of worshiping Jesus, and we want all the families of the earth included.”- John Piper

“The message of worship is not some hidden truth reserved only for the seasoned saints of the deeper life. It’s a street-level message that will challenge the imagination of even the most hardened among humanity: ‘God is looking for worshipers, and you could be one of them.’  Worship is not some kind of acquired skill that can only be learned after years of religious training. It is actually the most natural response of God’s creation to His manifest presence”.

“Worshipers, don’t just enjoy God’s wonderful presence for yourselves. Call others to join you there through faith in Christ. And those of you who want to see the world come to Christ, don’t just call men and women to believe, call them to worship.” Gerrit Gustafson