Psalm 72 concludes the prayers of David, son of Jesse and is
a prayer for his son Solomon. In many ways, David, the man after God’s own
heart (who broke God’s heart time and again) is a tragic figure. Guilty of
adultery and murder and intrigue the sword never left his house and while he
was not “cast away from God’s presence” he experienced the penalty of his sin
in heartbreaking loss, no more so than in the rebellion and death of his
son Absalom. “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” His cry of grief
for Absalom stands in stark contrast to his prayer for Solomon. Born out of the
disappointments and difficulties of his reign David prays that Solomon would be
a better king than he was. Make my son a just and righteous king who remembers
the poor and delivers the needy from the oppressor, whose rule like rain on
mown grass will bring peace and prosperity to your people. “Teach your children
well, their father’s hell did slowly go by, and feed them on your dreams the
one they picked, the one you’ll know by” (CSNY) David dreamed of a dwelling
place for God in the midst of the city named Peace, a temple he was not
permitted to build, but the son for whom he prayed would make the dream come
true. David’s prayer that Solomon would do better than he is the prayer of
every parent learning from the whole of life, wishing, hoping, praying their
child will make fewer mistakes and know twice the joy and only half the
pain they did and that well taught lessons and dreams picked will help the
prayer come true. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus
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