Psalm 72 - The Contemplative Bible Meditation Series

Psalm 72 is a beautiful prophetic prayer that speaks of the ideal reign of a just ruler,

A king whose heart is aligned with divine wisdom and compassion.

In its essence,

This psalm reveals a vision of harmony,

Where justice flows like a river and peace envelopes the land.

For modern readers,

It resonates deeply as we seek guidance in our relationships,

Our communities and our personal journeys.

It calls us to reflect on our roles in promoting justice and peace in a world that often feels fragmented.

Let us embark on this meditative journey through each verse,

Opening our hearts and minds to the wisdom contained within,

Allowing its message to weave into the fabric of our daily lives.

Psalm 72 Give the king your judgments,

O God,

And your righteousness to the king's son.

He will judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice.

The mountains will bring peace to the people and the little hills by righteousness.

He will bring justice to the poor of the people.

He will save the children of the needy and will break in pieces the oppressor.

They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure throughout all generations.

He shall come down like rain upon the grass before moving,

Like showers that water the earth.

In his days the righteous shall flourish an abundance of peace until the moon is no more.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.

Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles will bring presents.

The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.

Yes,

All kings shall fall down before him,

All nations shall serve him.

For he will deliver the needy when he cries,

The poor also,

And him who has no helper.

He will spare the poor and needy and will save the souls of the needy.

He will redeem their life from oppression and violence and precious shall be their blood in his sight.

And he shall live and the gold of Sheba will be given to him,

Prayer also will be made for him continually and daily he shall be praised.

There will be an abundance of grain in the earth on the top of the mountains.

Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon and those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

His name shall endure forever.

His name shall continue as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him.

All nations shall call him blessed.

Blessed be the Lord God,

The God of Israel,

Who only does wondrous things and blessed be his glorious name forever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

The prayers of David,

The son of Jesse are ended.

Verse 1 Give the king your judgments,

O God,

And your righteousness to the king's son.

In this verse,

We are reminded of the importance of divine guidance.

We begin by recognizing that true wisdom and judgment comes from a higher source.

As we meditate on this,

We can reflect on our own decisions and choices we make each day.

Ask yourself,

How can I invite divine wisdom into my life?

Let go of the burdens of self-reliance and trust that there is a higher purpose at play.

In our relationships,

May we seek understanding rather than judgment,

Asking for guidance to see through the eyes of compassion.

Verse 2 He will judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice.

Here we see the call to righteousness and justice,

Particularly for those who are marginalized.

Let this verse guide you to consider how you can advocate for fairness and equity in your community.

As you sit in stillness,

Visualize the faces of those who struggle,

The poor,

The oppressed.

Allow their stories to awaken your empathy.

Reflect on your capacity to act justly,

To be a voice for the voiceless,

And to offer help where it is most needed.

Verse 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people and the little hills by righteousness.

Mountains symbolize stability and strength.

As you contemplate this verse,

Envision the mountains of your life,

The foundations that support you.

What brings you peace?

How can you cultivate a sense of stability in the midst of chaos?

Allow the imagery of mountains to ground you,

Inviting peace to flow into your heart.

In your daily interactions,

Strive to be a source of calm and encouragement for others.

Verse 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people.

He will save the children of the needy and will break in pieces the oppressor.

In this verse,

We witness the powerful act of justice that seeks to dismantle oppression.

Let it serve as a reminder that true strength lies in protecting the vulnerable.

As you meditate,

Think of ways you can uplift those around you.

Consider volunteering,

Advocating,

Or simply offering a listening ear.

Let your heart be a sanctuary of hope for those who feel crushed by life's burdens.

Verse 5 They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure,

Throughout all generations.

This verse speaks to reverence and awe.

In our modern lives,

It's easy to lose sight of the divine presence.

Allow this moment to foster gratitude for the beauty that surrounds you,

The sun that warms you,

The moon that watches over you at night.

Breathe deeply and acknowledge the divine's constant presence in your life.

Cultivate a sense of wonder that fuels your faith and trust.

Verse 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,

Like showers that water the earth.

This imagery evokes renewal and nourishment.

Just as rain sustains the earth,

So too does divine love sustain us.

How can you seek nourishment in your life?

Spiritually,

Emotionally,

And physically.

And consider how you can be a source of nourishment for others.

Each act of kindness is like a raindrop,

Fostering growth and healing in the lives of those around you.

Verse 7 In his days the righteous shall flourish,

An abundance of peace until the moon is no more.

Flourishing and Abundance In what areas of your life do you want to flourish?

Maybe it's in your health,

Or maybe your relationships,

Or the work that you do,

Or your hobbies,

Or your spirituality.

Which areas of your life do you want to flourish in?

And what steps can you take to cultivate that growth?

Embrace the idea of peace not as an absence of conflict,

But as a profound sense of inner stillness.

Carry that peace into your relationships,

Spreading it like seeds of hope.

Verse 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,

And from the river to the ends of the earth.

The imagery of dominion evokes a sense of vastness,

A sense of interconnectedness.

Recognize that your actions ripple through the world.

Your actions can impact lives far beyond your immediate surroundings.

As you sit in this meditation,

Envision your connections with others.

Envision your connections stretching out like vast oceans.

Reflect on how you can cultivate unity and understanding in your interactions,

Fostering a spirit of global community.

Verse 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before him,

And his enemies will lick the dust.

In this verse we encounter humility.

The wilderness represents both physical and spiritual desolation.

In our own wilderness experiences,

We learn to bow in surrender.

Reflect on the times you felt lost or alone.

How did those moments lead you to deeper understanding or growth?

Allow yourself to embrace humility,

Recognizing that in vulnerability we often find strength.

Verse 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles will bring presents.

The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.

Gifts symbolize recognition and honor.

In your life,

How can you honor the divine?

What gifts do you have to offer to others?

Consider acts of gratitude and generosity.

Each gesture,

No matter how small,

Is a tribute to the beauty and grace of life.

Verse 11 Yes,

All kings shall fall down before him,

All nations shall serve him.

This verse reflects the universal call to service.

As we recognize the interconnectedness of all beings,

We are reminded of our responsibility to serve with humility and love.

Ponder how you can serve those around you and consider the impact of service on your spirit and the spirits of those you touch.

Verse 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries,

The poor also,

And him who has no helper.

The promise of deliverance brings comfort.

Let this verse be a reminder that we are never truly alone.

In times of need,

Reach out to others and trust that help will come.

Reflect on your own needs and how they can be met.

Allow yourself to receive support from others and the divine.

Verse 13 He will spare the poor and needy and will save the souls of the needy.

Here we are reminded of the divine's compassion.

Contemplate your relationship with compassion.

How do you extend it to others and how do you extend compassion to yourself?

As you breathe deeply,

Envision a soft light enveloping those who are struggling.

Let this light represent your intention to uplift and support.

Verse 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence and precious shall be their blood in his sight.

This verse resonates with the value of every life.

Reflect on the worth of those around you.

Recognize that every individual carries a divine spark.

In your meditation,

Honor the humanity in others and pledge to treat each person with dignity and respect.

Acknowledge the sacredness of their existence.

Verse 15 And he shall live and the gold of Sheba will be given to him.

Prayer also will be made for him continually and daily he shall be praised.

Here we find a call to devotion.

Let this be an invitation to cultivate a daily practice of gratitude and praise.

Express your gratitude for the blessings in your life.

And as you express your gratitude,

Consider how prayer can be a tool for connection both with the divine and within yourself.

Verse 16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth on the top of the mountains.

Its fruits shall wave like Lebanon and those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

Abundance and Prosperity Visualize the richness of life.

Visualize the richness of your life.

The fruits of your labor.

The blessings that surround you.

What does abundance mean to you?

How can you cultivate gratitude for what you have?

And consider sharing your abundance with others.

Verse 17 His name shall endure forever.

His name shall continue as long as the sun.

And men shall be blessed in him.

All nations shall call him blessed.

The enduring nature of the divine invites us to reflect on the legacy we wish to leave.

What do you wish to be remembered for?

Think of the impact of your actions and the way you treat others.

Let this verse inspire you to create a legacy of love and kindness.

Verse 18 Blessed be the Lord God,

The God of Israel,

Who only does wondrous things.

A moment of gratitude arises here.

Once again,

Take this time to express your appreciation for the wonders in your life,

Both big and small.

As you go about your day,

Reflect on the moments of beauty that you encounter.

And allow your heart to swell with gratitude for the divine presence that fills your life.

Verse 19 And blessed be his glorious name forever,

And let the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

As we conclude this meditation,

Let us affirm the glory of the divine in our lives.

Sit for a moment and allow the sense of peace and glory to wash over you.

Imagine the world filled with love and compassion,

And let that vision inspire you to carry that light forward.

Verse 20 The prayers of David,

The son of Jesse,

Are ended.

This closing verse reminds us that the Psalmist,

King David,

Has completed his heartfelt expressions.

It signifies the importance of prayer in our lives.

How each prayer,

Each plea for justice,

Peace and guidance is a step towards a deeper relationship with the divine.

As you reflect on this final verse,

Consider your own prayers.

What do you wish to bring to the divine?

In your own journey,

Acknowledge that prayer is not only an end,

But a continual conversation with the creator.

As I close this meditation,

I offer my heart in gratitude for the wisdom of Psalm 72.

May I embody justice and peace in my daily life,

Reflecting your love to those I encounter.

Help me to uplift the needy,

Advocate for the oppressed,

And nurture the seeds of compassion within me.

May my actions resonate with your divine purpose,

And may I trust in the abundance you provide.

Let my life be a testament to the glory of your name,

And may I carry this light into the world.

Amen.