What sort of leadership do we need in our nation and world today? Here is a hint from Psalm 72. This psalm and prayer was reportedly sung by and for for Solomon, who was already King of Israel. It reveals, among other things, some qualities we might desire in a future leader of any nation. This is a prayer. We can pray it over future leaders as a template for choosing them, but also as a prayer without a specific human target, a prayer for anyone in the office of leadership. We can pray it for our present leaders as well – and that would be very good practice for the future. We can commit to pray it for anyone our nation or any nation elects as an offering to God. More so, we can pray it over ourselves as Solomon may have done, as a way of asking God to shape our own leadership in our spheres of influence.

1. That the leader might be a champion of justice for all the people."

"Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!"

2. That the leader might be successful in economic leadership.

"Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!"

3. That the leader might be a defender of the cause of the poor and needy and an adversary to oppression.

"May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!"

4. That the leader might be used to create an atmosphere of reverence and respect. 

"May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!"

5. That righteousness and peace would characterize and bless the days of his or her leadership.

"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!"

6. That the leader might be strong and a leader among the nations who respect and honor him or her willingly.

"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!"

7. That the leader would be actively and decicively compassionate and biased toward those who are weak, needy, poor and oppressed.

"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."

8. That the leader would be blessed with health, prosperity, and well-being and supported by the prayers of his or her people.

"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!"

9. That the leader would usher in a day of abundance for the land and for the cities.

"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!"

10. That the people would be blessed and that the leader would enjoy a good reputation among his or her own people and among the nations.

"May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!"

11. That God would receive the honor for all these things.

"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 ESV)

If we have failed to pray this way for our present leaders, it is an indictment upon us. However, let it not cripple us for the future. Let us confess and move forward, especially now, when we know not what the future will hold and who our leaders shall be.