Day 129 – February 17, 2024: II Chronicles 1-5 and Psalm 72

The rule of Solomon begins, and it begins well. We all know the story of how God asks him what he might want. Solomon says that God has been so faithful to him that he really has all that he needs or would want materially, but since he is given such a large responsibility, to reign over God’s people, WOW, that is a lot, that he would ask for wisdom so he doesn’t mess it up. Those are my words and not his, but it is basically what he is thinking. I remember when I began pastoring in Palatka, Florida and my predecessor was an excellent pastor and beloved. I remember stepping in as a 29 year old and thinking, just don’t mess this up.

He begins building God’s temple. Notice he begins the temple before he begins building his own house. I assume that the people noticed that too and understood that his priorities were such that he put God first before anything. That had to be respected. We see that he also won the favor and the respect of the surrounding nations as well. Basically, he was a really good guy and a really good king.

Psalm 72 is a prototypical royal psalm. It speaks about asking a blessing upon the king. We see at the end of the psalm that it was considered the last of the psalms of David. It makes sense. If he was asking for a blessing upon his succesor, then that would have been Solomon. It is very likely that this psalm was written and sung by David as a tribute to his son who was about to take on the reigns of the kingdom. That gives us a little more personal touch.