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Psalm 72: Psalms for Shepherds

An audible devotional on Psalms 72

July 2, 2022 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds • Psalm 72

Today we're in Psalm 72, one of only two Psalms credited to Solomon and he is asking God to bless him as he takes over as king.

1 Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
and righteousness to the king’s son.
2 Help him judge your people in the right way;
let the poor always be treated fairly.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
and may the hills be fruitful.
4 Help him to defend the poor,
to rescue the children of the needy,
and to crush their oppressors.
5 May they fear you[a] as long as the sun shines,
as long as the moon remains in the sky.
Yes, forever!
6 May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like the showers that water the earth.
7 May all the godly flourish during his reign.
May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
8 May he reign from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates River[b] to the ends of the earth.
9 Desert nomads will bow before him;
his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
10 The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands
will bring him tribute.
The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba
will bring him gifts.
11 All kings will bow before him,
and all nations will serve him.
12 He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
13 He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
and he will rescue them.
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are precious to him.
15 Long live the king!
May the gold of Sheba be given to him.
May the people always pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 May there be abundant grain throughout the land,
flourishing even on the hilltops.
May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon,
and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
17 May the king’s name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun shines.
May all nations be blessed through him
and bring him praise.
18 Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such wonderful things.
19 Praise his glorious name forever!
Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!
20 (This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.)

This is a unique Psalm as it focuses on the king's role in defending and protecting the weakest in society. An important role that we as shepherd leaders in today's world must not forget. Are you defending those less fortunate than yourself? I encourage you to take a moment and ask the Father that question. Ask Him if there are ways you need to be a more effective under shepherd in this space. Be encouraged today to stretch yourself.

And may you live deeply into your calling this week.

Psalm 119 | Part 17 | Psalms for Shepherds

March 2, 2024 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:129–136

Welcome to week 17 of our series on Psalm 119, and we’re looking at verses 129 through 136. This stanza of the Psalm is based on the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, known as Pe which in Hebrew means mouth. I have not spoken of the meaning of the Hebrew letters during this Psalm 119 series, but I’ve been so drawn to the meaning with this particular letter. The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet also means “mouth”, but interestingly it means breathing, breath, Spirit, and revelation. Pe, the letter associated with these 16 verses, however, means “speech, the spoken word, testimony”.  There is so much truth in this short passage. God’s testimonies ARE wonderful. His Word DOES give light, as well as understanding. His way toward those who love Him is, in fact, to turn toward us and be gracious to us. He DOES redeem us from our oppression, He surely shines His face upon us, and He does give us a passion for those who do not know and love the Father. To me, it feels like the real power in this passage is the reminder the psalmist gives in verse 133. The ESV reads, “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion [or autocratic rule] over me. The New Living Translation of that verse says, “Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.” The Message translation reads: “Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign [or nothing harmful, hurtful, or damaging] gets the better of me.”  You know, it seems that we often use so many excuses as to why we sin, that we forget so many passages like Peter’s reminder that “We have been given everything we need for life and godliness”. In other words, to live as Christ would have us to live, and Paul’s admonitions to believers to live a godly life. Not letting sin overcome us is not just an aspirational thought or an aspiring goal, but can be our experience as shepherding believers. If we abide in Jesus Christ, then He has the power, through the Holy Spirit, to daily draw us to Himself and to direct our feet, our hands, our hearts, and our minds into the ways of righteousness. “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” (verse 133)   Our Good Shepherd will keep that promise, fellow under-shepherd. He will help us keep our steps steady and He will not let sin have dominion over us. And we must do our part, as well by beginning our day by crying out to Him and staying focused on Him throughout the day. In essence, we abide in Him. All day. Every day. Never wavering from keeping our minds fixed on Christ, the author and protector of our faith. Our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd. Whatever tempts you the most and it does not matter whether it is an addiction or an occasional attraction or enticement you can live in a way that does not let that sin get dominion over you. It is really your choice, fellow under-shepherd. Giving into temptation will always produce a negative situation in your flock, because as Scripture teaches us sin always separates us from God, us from others, and, even, us from ourselves. Shepherd leader, How willing are you to move from separation to community? Even with the flock you shepherd. Be encouraged to spend time contemplating that question, evaluating how you are living, if you are crying out to the Father, longing after His Word, and meditating on Him and His Words day and night the only sure-fire way that you will not be overcome by evil and that nothing harmful, hurtful, or damaging will get the better of you.  May you live deeply into your calling to shepherd well all those entrusted to your care.

Psalm 119 | Part 16 | Psalms for Shepherds

February 24, 2024 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:113–120

This is week 16 of our series on Psalm 119, and we’re looking at verses 121 through 128. This stanza of the Psalm is based on the 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, known as Ayin. In this portion of Psalm 119, the psalmist --- the author --- feels he is at the mercy of his enemies and that he has done what is just and right, and wants assurance that God will rescue him. The psalmist knows and expresses in this psalm that God is the ULTMATE PROTECTOR. He can intervene at any time He chooses, just as He did for the children of Israel. So he is begging God to do so. Sometimes, though, God does not intervene. Our status as children of God, as those who love Him, follow His Word, and serve as His under-shepherds, does not shield us from the arrogant and the evil around us. Sometimes it seems that God is doing nothing. Maybe someone in your congregation, on your work team, in your community, or even in your neighborhood, is making life difficult for you. They may be spreading lies, undermining a task you’re trying to accomplish, or, worse yet, working to tarnish your reputation. Maybe it is evil you are experiencing at school or at work. You have been clear with God, as the psalmist was, that you need to be rescued and delivered from whatever you are facing, but God has not yet acted. He has not stepped in and saved the day! He has not done whatever it is you are hoping He would do. Or does it just seem that way? My dear fellow under-shepherd, God is ALWAYS working. He is ALWAYS hearing our pleas for help, our complaints, our fears, our concerns. We need never question His presence even if we cannot feel it. We need never question His provision even if we cannot see it. We need never question His protection even if we cannot hear His army approaching.  As the psalmist ultimately says, we need to trust our Lord. Fully. With His timing. His ways. His truth. Even in the midst of oppression. The bottom line to this passage is that no matter what happens, no matter how long it takes God to save, we, like the psalmist, have blessed assurance that the Lord is our rewarder. He is our surety (because God keeps His promises). He is our Master and the final judge.  Shepherd leader, what will you do with the truths in this passage? How will you apply them? May we live deeply into our calling this week.

Psalm 119 | Part 15 | Psalms for Shepherds

February 22, 2024 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:113–120

This is week 15 of our series on Psalm 119, and we’re looking at verses 113 through 120. This stanza of the Psalm is based on the 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, known as Samekh, and reminds us that God protects His people, God upholds the obedient, God rejects the wicked, and that God alone should be feared. This passage is a perfect reminder that respecting God’s judgments begins with respecting His Word, and that respect begins with a wholehearted commitment to Scripture. A commitment that we, as God’s under-shepherds, should demonstrate. Beyond that whole-hearted commitment to Scripture, the psalmist speaks of the importance of patiently relying on God’s Word for the ultimate victory. We must rest on God’s protection, making Him our hiding place....our refuge and shelter from the attacks of the enemy, whether they are by Satan and his forces or by those with whom we work or serve. God is our shield, our defense to fend off the attacks that do come our way.....and we must be leaders who protect the flock in our care, NEVER losing confidence in the ultimate triumph we have through God’s Word. As the psalmist wrote, “I WAIT for the Lord... and, He is counting on God’s Word to never let him down because of his deep trust He has in the Father. Fellow shepherd leader, if you do not ABSOLUTELY know that you can trust the Father and that He is faithful, then a follow-up exercise to this podcast would be to take a moment and make a list of every single time you have experienced God’s faithfulness in your life. We need to remember that as we shepherd, as the enemy plants seeds of doubts in our minds, when things get harder than expected ---- or harder than we would like ---- We. Can. Trust. Our God! Thank you for joining me this week. I pray that you will take time to make your “How God has proven Himself faithful to me” list and search your soul for how you regard His Word, His statutes, and His precepts.