S (Scripture)
(Psalm 72:1) Give the king Your justice, O God, and Your righteousness to the royal son.
O (Observation)
This prayer concluded David's second book of psalms. In it, he asked God to bestow His divine nature upon Solomon, and history records that this specific prayer of David's was answered specifically. Solomon's acquisition of God's righteousness was preceded by--it was unlocked by--David's prayer.
A (Appication, Personal)
Paul, by the Holy Spirit, followed this same example. Writing to his spiritual son Timothy he said (1 Timothy 2:1-15), "First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." [Second], Paul urged people to pray for their own righteous integrity before God ("lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling"). [Third], he urged people to pray for their righteous integrity before each other ("adorned ... with good works ... in faith and love and holiness, with self-control"). It's amazing we (I) don't pray more after seeing what it accomplishes!
A (Application, Psychological)
How much of our lives are spent on our own ambitions and resourced by our own inbred thinking instead of asking God for His views and values? As wonderful as it is to study God's creation (whether it's psychology or economics or medicine or politics or education or botany or physics or anything else), how much more wonderful would our studies be if we asked the Creator for His insights? David, as king, understood how necessary it was for his royal son to understand true righteousness, so he prayed for that. Oh, that we were all as smart as David!
P (Prayer)
Lord, I seek Your justice and Your righteousness. I want to know Your verdict on all things that matter in my life ... and I pray that for my immediate and extended family as well. May we abide in the comforting spring sun of Your light, goodness, and love. May our lives similarly radiate Your splendor.
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