Advent
December 4, 2019
Scripture Reading: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
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. –Psalm 72:1-4
I love this prayer attributed to Solomon asking God to gift the national king, Solomon, God’s justice. Solomon is noted for his judgment, but not necessarily good sense in seeing beyond his rulership and the future of Israel. If God’s justice is doing the right thing, how do we discern what is right in the eyes of God? This Psalm goes on to illustrate righteousness as taking care of the poor and providing prosperity for the people. It speaks of crushing the oppressor supposedly those who are taking advantage of the poor.
Mahatma Ghandi said “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”* He also said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”** Sometimes it is helpful to see ourselves as persons from other faiths see us, particularly when we say one thing and do another.
I wonder what would have become of Israel following Solomon’s death if his sons and followers had taken to heart doing God’s justice for the people as their highest calling. It was not. Israel was split eventually being overthrown and its people exiled.
Advent is a good time to consider what is right, what is just in the eyes of God. Do our actions reflect the Word of God Christ Jesus?
Prayer: Lord, help us to see ourselves as others see us. Help us to live our love not just state it. Amen.
*http://blogs.law.unc.edu/probono/2012/03/07/it-was-mahatma-ghandi-who-said-a-nations-greatness-is-measured-by-how-it-treats-its-weakest-members/
**https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22155-i-like-your-christ-i-do-not-like-your-christians
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.