Read: Psalm 72
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen (v. 18-19)
This Psalm seems to confuse God and the king. It longs for a king who “lives while the sun endures” (v. 5) and who “has dominion from sea to sea.” (v. 8). The psalm prays for the king but also requests traits for a ruler that are specifically applicable to God. Like God, the ruler should “judge the people with righteousness and your poor with justice,” (v. 2) and “defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.” (v. 4) There’s a reason this is read in light of Christ; the king longed for here is one modeled after a God who “delivers the needy and the poor,” a God who redeems the lives of those in need. (v. 12-14)
This psalm isn’t a political tract portraying the idealized version of a king, or it isn’t just that. Instead, all of these attributes are drawn from and can only come from God. “Give the king your justice” cries the psalmist. All the king can do is reflect God. We might not be charged with as much power and responsibility as a king, but this psalm reminds us to reflect the love of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with whatever responsibilities and gifts we have been given. They truly are not our own, but belonged to God in the first place.
Although we associate it more with lent, Advent is traditionally a time of penitence and repentance. May this season lead you to ask: “how can my gifts reflect where they came from?” Where have I used my gifts in an unchristlike way, or where have I failed to use them when I could have? How can we continue to gift our blessings back to God?
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
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