Give the King Your Justice, O God
This meditation is based on a passage for December 4, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).
Text: Psalm 72
Reflection and Question: It can be difficult to make sense of this poetic tribute to the good king in our time, since it has been so long since kings had the kind of power to rule over people that is assumed here. One possibility is seeing Jesus as the king who is described here. And actually, that was the idea of some of our colonial ancestors for whom God in Christ was the King alone while government on earth was human enterprise in which men made decisions inspired by the Holy Spirit. That can be our approach too when we keep Jesus as King of our hearts and minds. How does this image of God as king inform your faith?
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Let every creature rise and bring honors peculiar to our King;
Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen!
(Isaac Watts, 1719, The Presbyterian Hymnal, p,123)
