Role Models

“May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!”Psalm 72:6 ESV

Reflection: who are your role models; who do you aspire to be like? 

Yesterday my wife and I spent some time by the pool. As we were enjoying the day, a father and his son walk by, the son being dressed exactly like his dad. He clearly aspired to be like his dad, even to dress like him. I am sure you have all seen this in children, and it is rather cute. The reality is that most of us have role models, and they are important to us. They can give us a bigger vision of ourselves, help us aspire to be something much greater than we currently are; perhaps even something greater than we can ever achieve.

When we are young, our role models often are parents, teachers, or someone else very close to us. We watch them, and want to be like them. As we mature into teenage years, our role models often change to someone else, outside our direct contact, like sports or movie stars, or perhaps even writers, scientists, inventors or explorers. And, finally, as an adult, our role models might change again, perhaps more realistic and as a combination of multiple ideals we want to strive for, that we aspire to be like. 

Psalms 72 contains a beautiful example of a role model, where a king, and the king’s son aspire to be something they know very well they cannot become. But it is their prayer, their aspiration. The king being David, and his son Solomon who succeeded David as king, where the heading says “Of Solomon”, and the ending, “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” Psalm 72:20 ESV. It starts out as follows, “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!” Psalm 72:1 ESV. It is clearly a prayer to God, for the king and his son. But, as you read this psalm, you start seeing elements that are great aspirations, but no human or worldly king can ever fulfill.  Let’s take a look. 

“May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” Psalm 72:2-4 ESV. Ok, those are very good aspirations, and seem possible to achieve. But notice what comes next. “May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!” Psalm 72:5-7 ESV.

Throughout generations? As long as the sun and the moon endure? 

And then we start seeing the outline of a different king, “May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” Psalm 72:8-11 ESV. Who will have dominion over the entire earth? Who all kings fall down before, all nations serve? It is only the 

King of kings; the Messiah. Jesus Christ. 

What is his character? “For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.” Psalm 72:12-14 ESV.  And notice now how David and Solomon praying for this King, and his kingdom, “Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!” Psalm 72:15-17 ESV There is no worldly president, king, nation or kingdom who can fulfill this. It will only be achieved through the King of kings.

So what is the message here for us today? Perhaps we should evaluate this in a two-fold manner. First, who are our role models, who do we aspire to be like? And second, we must realize that others are watching us, as we might be role model for others, especially for our children. What do we want them to learn from us? While there are certainly good role models for us to learn from in the world, let’s aim much higher. As the great kings David and Solomon, let’s set our sight, our aspiration to be like Christ, and echo the blessing with them,  

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” Psalm 72:18-19 ESV