Advent and Lenten Devotions by Goshen College students, faculty, and staff - Welcome to Goshen College Advent Devotions 2013: Wednesday, 4 December 2013 “Peace from your King” by Jonathon Schramm

Advent and Lenten Devotions by Goshen College students, faculty, and staff - Welcome to Goshen College Advent Devotions 2013: Wednesday, 4 December 2013 “Peace from your King” by Jonathon Schramm, assistant professor of sustainability and environmental education

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 72: Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

Of Solomon.

1 Give the king your justice, O God,

    and your righteousness to a king’s son.

2 May he judge your people with righteousness,

    and your poor with justice.

3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,

    and the hills, in righteousness.

4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

    give deliverance to the needy,

    and crush the oppressor.

5 May he live[a] while the sun endures,

    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

    like showers that water the earth.

7 In his days may righteousness flourish

    and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

Footnotes:

Psalm 72:5 Gk: Heb may they fear you

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

    who alone does wondrous things.

19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;

    may his glory fill the whole earth.

Amen and Amen.(NRSV)

DEVOTIONAL:

As contemporary people, I believe that many of us aren’t sure what to make of the role of kings in our lives. For many people, kings are only historical persons, and even in countries where monarchs exist, they are often more figureheads than legislative authorities. This makes it difficult for us to deeply resonate with the idea of Christ as King, although we can certainly see many glimmers in our lives of what that kingship might mean. Personally, I tend to think first of bowing before the King, and trying to live my life in fidelity to Christ as my King.

But Psalm 72 emphasizes a completely different aspect of kingship — the flourishing of justice and peace in a country ruled by a monarch after God’s own heart. The psalmist petitions God to strengthen the king for the express purpose of bringing righteousness and justice to the land. As that happens, even the land itself will bring forth the means for just and prosperous lives for all. This ripple effect moving out from the king’s decrees is likened to steady, life-giving rains, which stands in direct contrast to the images that mark many other Scripture passages of drought and desolation resulting from ungodly monarchs. And of course, if a human monarch can cause this degree of life-giving change, our King Jesus can bring that in its fullness. The wonder of Advent, of course, is that we celebrate the ongoing arrival of this new vitality, even in the dark seasons of our lives. With the psalmist we pray, “blessed be God’s glorious name forever; may God’s glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen!”

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 72:Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King

Of Solomon.

Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to a king’s son.

May he judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice.

May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,

and the hills, in righteousness.

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

give deliverance to the needy,

and crush the oppressor.

May he live while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth.

In his days may righteousness flourish

and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be his glorious name for ever;

may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen. (NRSV)

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