The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ann Lee ’21/’25 – Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 72
1 Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
2 May he judge your people with righteousness
and your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.

5 May he live while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
7 In his days may righteousness flourish
and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

8 May he have dominion from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 May his foe bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts.
11 May all kings fall down before him,
all nations give him service.

12 For he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy
and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
May gold of Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be made for him continually
and blessings invoked for him all day long.
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land;
may it wave on the tops of the mountains;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him;
may they pronounce him happy.

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen.

20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.

Devotional

As I read Psalm 72, I was reminded of a quote on the United Methodist marquee located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. that says: “Justice takes courage.” The longer I live, the more the scales of injustice weigh on the least of them.

King David penned this Psalm for his son, Solomon, as he was about to be crowned king of Israel. This Psalm represents David’s prayer that Solomon would be a righteous judge, breaking the backs of oppressors and violators who kept the poor and weak bound. God gifted Solomon with such wisdom that the world had never known or would ever know again. Under God’s guidance, Solomon would till the fallow ground, leveling the playing field so everyone could obtain equal justice.

As I reflect on Psalm 72, I am reminded of the many struggles that plague not only those in America but also the entire world. Day after day, story after story, it is very easy to find ourselves in a state of burnout and indifference, taking a passive stance in hopes that things will correct themselves. As Christians, we must embody the very same ideas that King David wished for his son Solomon in his prayer. We must give voice to the powerless and disenfranchised and be outspoken as we push back against the injustice that many face daily.

It can be difficult to find fairness in leadership positions. In this present day, we must find leaders who have a heart for the people—Christian leaders who shun evil and love righteousness, who care for the least of them to the greatest of them. Leaders who speak truth to power with a willingness to stand strong in the face of opposition, even if they stand alone.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You are the God of righteousness and justice. Please send us leaders after Your own heart—who hear Your voice and obey. Give them the courage to stand up for what is right and to fight against injustice. In the name of Jesus the Christ, amen.