Ps 72 The role of a King

Psalm 72:2The role and obligation of a king.L. WiderbergThe initial meaning of kingship is ruling for the sake of protection of the particular group of families, the clan, the tribe as well as of clans and tribes - the nation. The role of a king is that of a unifying, integrating focus ritually, and, in a broader sense, culturally. As such he becomes the spiritual focal point. His influence is spiritually motivated, and he will also become an object for the operations of the spiritual realm to gain hold of the politics of man. He is a man of war, spiritual war. He is a personalised national stronghold. The ruler is a source of identification, a model to relate to and to copy or, as often happens in our pluralistic societies, a person to hate, an object of inverted identification. The obligation of a ruler is to set standards for the sake of protection as well as for common identity.

2. Kingship, rulership reflects God. Jesus Christ is, and will continue to be King of kings and Lord of lords, the only Sovereign, 1Tim 6:15. Samuel, the prophet, opposed the idea of Israel becoming a kingdom, as they looked to the models for kingship found among the heathen nations. The ambition of the people of Israel was perhaps politically correct but not prophetically perfect.As we consider rulership, something of a simple definition of politics is unavoidable. Politics is the interactive game of establishing protection, creating means of proper provision, formulating a framework for participation and clothing the whole structure with peace. The king, the ruler carries the responsibility and develops the possibility of covering, of protection for his people. He is the guarantee and instrument of justice, Ps 89:8, especially in regards to the poor and afflicted.A ruler’s mouth is not the law, but his mouth has to be full of the law. The king’s obligation is to rule justly. He cannot allow himself to compromise and bow down to arbitrary law. His law has to be the law of absolutes. God judges the ruler by means of heavenly absolutes and the protocol of the Throne.

3. Prayer covers the implementation of God’s protocol. Intercessors are continuously occupied with filling golden bowels of prayer. Heavenly servants add incense to the long hours of intercession and eventually the holy mixture will have profound consequences in palaces as well as in the gutter. First-priority-prayer leaves no area of life untouched. First-priority-prayer, 1 Tim 2:1-4, certainly touches and brings change to the political arena, yet it will not bow to opportunism and spirits of partiality. First-priority-prayer confronts and corrects the framework within which man expect to find peace, provision and protection.

4. The first of duties of an intercessor, of any Christian is to pray for rulers and for men in authority positions to be made able to fulfil their first obligation and duty, which is to rule justly. Extraordinary efforts are to be undertaken to express our obedience and fidelity to the commands of our Lord and saviour in regards to this particular issue. We are rapidly moving into the segment of time where lawlessness will rule, and rule brutally. Our expectation concerning the development of the politics of the end time has to be properly adjusted to the word - Rev 22:11. Pockets of peace is our aim. Pockets of protection in an anti-christian world is what we may expect.

5. The gap between the arrogant, between the many who hail the prosperity cult in its many aspects, and the godly little flock will increase. But, among the latter will also be found rulers who rule justly. Distinguishing marks will become evident, Mal 3:16. ”Behold, a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. Each of them will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land”, Isa 32:1-2. Fatherhood is a king’s proper sign of identity. Dignity combined with humility. Wisdom walking hand in hand with moral integrity.

6. Authority is an instrument designed to serve as a means of protection. ”God takes his stand in his own congregation. He judges in the midst of the rulers. How long will you rule unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Vindicate the weak and fatherless. Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. - Psalm 82:1-4.Any ruler, any person in authority position has the right to expect help from intercessors to fulfil his duty, 1 Tim 2:1-4, 8. Men, praying men, and praying women have to come together in every place for the sake of covering men in authority. The poor, the oppressed, the ill-treated has the right to expect help from intercessors in the process of presenting their case before rulers and before God, Isa 41:17, 58:6-8. Expect rulers to rule justly. Pray them into a position and habit of just ruling. Touch the anointed! Provoke and correct the ruler, touch his conscience, by fervent prayer.