Leaders Who Reflect God’s Character (Psalm 45:7)

Therefore, God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.
– Psalm 45:7

So, Psalm 45:7 is an interesting verse. Right in the middle of an entire chapter, basically devoted to praying for and in a sense, praising the King. So, this Psalm, from the very beginning, Verse One says my heart overflows with a pleasing theme. I address my verses to the King. My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. So, he’s writing to the King, and he begins to talk about the King of Israel. You are the most handsome of the sons of men. Grace is poured upon your lips. God has blessed you forever. Then, it begins to talk about the King’s goodness and majesty all as a reflection of God, the king. So, in Verse Six, talks about your throne, oh God, is forever and ever. So, the Psalm is exalting God as the ultimate king.

It is our responsibility to pray that the leaders over us to reflect the character of God.

And, according to God’s design, the King over his people was intended to be a reflection of God, the King. That’s what Psalm 45:7 is all about, so there’s much we can think about when it comes to Old Testament history and how Kings did, or most often did not reflect the character of God. But then the Psalm is, I think about application, certainly causes me to think of how God has set up many leaders in the world to be a reflection of his character, and how we need to pray for leaders toward that end. I certainly need to pray for pastors toward that end. Pastors are intended to be a reflection, as shepherds of the flock of the Chief Shepherd, are intended to be reflection of the character of God.

As a pastor, I would certainly ask those who I have the humbling privilege to shepherd in the church, I would ask them to pray for me that I would be a reflection of God’s character in the way I teach his word and the way I love them. And, certainly not just for me, but for every other pastor in our church and every pastor in any church. So, I would encourage you to pray for pastors that they would be a reflection of God’s character and pray specifically for them toward that end. Then, even to think about how God has set up leaders in government. So, one of the unique things that we see in the Old Testament is certainly the King as a leader of government, as an anointed ruler over God’s people.

Psalm 45:7 Reminds Us That God Can Make a Leader Great

Now, the picture is very different in the world today, but we do all long don’t we, leaders in countries or leaders in companies, leaders in any realms, fear, who reflect the character of God? So, to pray for those who lead us in a country, to pray for those who lead us in our work, that they would be just and merciful. They would have integrity and uprightness, that they would lead others for their good. So, this is something the Bible calls us to in different ways over and over again, to pray for leaders that they would lead well. So, can we just do that right now? God, we know, based on Psalm 45:7, that a leader’s ability to lead is dependent upon your grace.

When you say, when you inspire these words that say about the King, God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. God, we want to be led by people who are looking to your grace, who are filled with your grace, who are a reflection of your grace, a reflection of your character. So, we pray for different leaders in our lives. God, we pray for pastors in your church, that they would be a reflection of your character, of your goodness, of your love, of your wisdom, of your mercy, your strength of your joy, of your compassion, of your gentleness and your faithfulness and your kindness.

Prayer For Our Leaders

God, we pray for Pastor Steven. As I pray for myself in all these ways. God, I pray for every other pastor. We pray for specific pastors in our local churches. God, please help them to be a reflection of you, lord Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of the church. God, we pray for other leaders. So God we pray for President Joe Biden in the United States. God, we pray that he would lead as a reflection of your character, your justice, your wisdom, your goodness. God, please, we pray for your mercy upon him that he might lead well. And God, we pray for other leaders in government at different levels, governors and senators and congressmen and congresswomen and judges, and this is just in my country.

Oh, God, we pray for leaders in other countries to lead well. God, we pray for prime ministers and presidents and Kings and Queens and different leaders around the world. God, as we think about different countries, we pray that you would help us to faithfully pray for their leaders. Lord God, we pray for leaders in companies. We pray for bosses and CEOs and whoever else you’ve put in positions of authority, God than they would wield that authority well and wisely and graciously for the good of those they lead. God, even as we are praying this right now, help us to think about specific leaders in each of our lives and to pray for them that your grace would be upon them. And God for any, all of us who are in leadership positions, God, we pray, please help us to be a reflection of your character.

God Is the Ultimate Leader

God, we are so thankful that you are the ultimate leader and you are perfectly good and perfectly righteous and perfectly just and perfectly merciful and gentle and kind. Lord God, we are so thankful that you are our leader, that we ultimately are led by you. So, we gladly submit to you today. Jesus, we praise you as the perfect leader. We pray that you’d help us to be a reflection of you in our lives. We pray that you would shower your grace upon those who lead us, even as we keep our eyes fixed on you, and we praise you as the Lord and King and leader of our lives now and forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.