Psalm for an Ideal Ruler
The morning psalm appointed for the feast of the Visitation today is the royal psalm 72. It is a song and prayer for the ideal ruler. Good choice for the day when Christians remember the story of Mary's visit to her older cousin Elizabeth to share the good news that she is expecting a child. In Luke's account, Mary sings a song of praise that prophesies God's great work of reversal -- to scatter the proud and lift up the lowly, to fill the hungry and send the rich away empty.
Psalm 72 asks for justice and righteousness from the ruler. "He shall defend the needy among the people; he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor." The biblical dream for the ideal leader repeatedly calls for a government that will care for and protect the poor and needy. Historically it seems that the interests of the wealthy and powerful usually get taken care of first by the authorities and the needs of the poor are often a reluctant priority.
As I was reading the psalm, my imagination wondered what our nation might be like if our government fulfilled the dream of the psalmist. At first the psalm reads like this ideal ruler would be a "kick butt and take names" leader when dealing with foreign enemies -- "His foes shall bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust." The psalm expects tribute and gifts from foreign rulers. "All kings shall bow down before him, and all the nations do him service." And here is where the psalm jumped out at me. All of these foreigners shall offer their respects to this ideal king, "For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, and the oppressed who has no helper. He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; he shall preserve the lives of the needy. He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight. Long may he live! and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; may prayer be made for him always; and may they bless him all the day long."
That's a different kind of ruler. They honor this ruler because of his generosity and justice, not just his military prowess. These foreign lands are praying for him and blessing him, and even Arabia is generously cooperating with his agenda. Why? Because of his goodness and his commitment to the poor.
I wonder. What if our leaders had responded to the evil of 9/11 with generosity and justice? Yes, moving decisively in a police action against the actual perpetrators of the crime. (And willing to let the blood of others who suffer helplessly in genocidal conflicts be blood that is dear in our sight as well. Using military force to stop genocide and the oppression of bullies toward the helpless.) What if our leaders had responded primarily with compassion and generosity directed toward the suffering and injustice that creates the conditions which breed terrorists? What if we had used our power to broker a just peace between Israel and Palestine? What if we had created quality schools in Pakistan and Malaysia teaching math and science and humanities instead of the militant Islamic schools who are the only ones serving these isolated children? What if our compassion and care and justice were so present and obvious that would-be terrorists would no longer get traction with their hate? What if we had loved Tarshish and Arabia and Saba so much that they blessed us instead of cursed us?
That's the kind of ruler who would be remembered with honor by all nations. "May his Name remain for ever and be established as long as the sun endures; may all the nations bless themselves in him and call him blessed." The psalmist prays longingly for such a leader. So do I.
Lowell
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Wednesday, May 31, 2006 -- Week of 7 Easter -- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.
Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this link -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 965)
Wednesday, Week of 7 Easter
Psalms 101, 109:1-4(5-19) 20-30 (morning) // 119:121-144 (afternoon)
Isaiah 4:2-6
Ephesians 4:1-16
Matthew 8:28-34
OR readings for The Feast of the Visitation (p. 997)
Morning Prayer: Psalm 72; 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Hebrews 3:1-6
Evening Prayer: Psalms 146, 147; Zechariah 2:10-13; John 3:25-30
(note: I used the readings for the Visitation)
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Comments
FOR he shall deliver the poor
Extending Lowell's Grisham's comments a bit:
"Psalm 72 asks for justice and righteousness from the ruler. "He shall defend the needy among the people; he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor." The biblical dream for the ideal leader repeatedly calls for a government that will care for and protect the poor and needy. Historically it seems that the interests of the wealthy and powerful usually get taken care of first by the authorities and the needs of the poor are often a reluctant priority... At first the psalm reads like this ideal ruler would be a "kick butt and take names" leader when dealing with foreign enemies -- "His foes shall bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust." The psalm expects tribute and gifts from foreign rulers. "All kings shall bow down before him, and all the nations do him service." And here is where the psalm jumped out at me. All of these foreigners shall offer their respects to this ideal king, "For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, and the oppressed who has no helper. He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; he shall preserve the lives of the needy. He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight. Long may he live! and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; may prayer be made for him always; and may they bless him all the day long."
This is an excellent "fault-line" passage between Dominionist Christian Nationalism (the "kick butt", militant, subjugation-oriented wing of American evangelism) and Progressive Christianity. Notice the Dominionists always conveniently leave off the compassion part. (It's like leaving off the punchline.) I happen to agree with the general tenor of Lowell's remarks, but I think an even stronger claim is being made here than "kick butt AND be compassionate". The passage says that people will bow, essentially in awe and in acknowledgement FOR (i.e. because) of the compassion. This is the Progressive stance, that compassion comes first and leads the way, and provides the undeniable moral and spiritual force to rend the vanities and abuse of rulers and others who might put themselves above a Loving God. It is a Loving God that renders humble the vain and the abusive. Again the Creator acts through the ideal ruler, because that ruler is ruled him or herself by God, and is therefore unconquerable. Lest idolatry enter (putting words in the mouth of God), the passage spells out what being ruled by God entails: delivering the poor and helping those most needy (the law of Spirit brought into the law of the land).
I think that this is an important point to make. Most liberal-minded people have bought into the frame that compassion is essentially weak and no match for violence (even though it is somehow "better"). This passage puts forth that compassion is the source of a strength ten thousand times stronger than the worst violence. It says that the force of compassion can humble kings. Does this mean no violence, ever? No, as I have observed in a previous post, non-violence can mean trying to prevent further violence and degradation through a warrior-like defense of the oppressed and weak. When is the last time that has been the motivation of military action? Hmmm. Even WWII, arguably the last so-called "just" war got taken over by opportunists at the end, splitting the spoils of war (i.e. splitting Germany). Being a great and humble ruler as indicated in this passage is an achievable and laudable goal, but we have yet to witness a ruler who kept his or her sights squarely in spiritual perspective, squarely in servant-leadership as long as that person lives (save for Jesus himself). We have work to do. Jesus commented that we are to exceed him (by which I take it to mean that his example was to inspire even greater, more widespread spirit-in-the-world). Two thousand years is more than enough incubation. Let compassion have its day now and let true power be experienced.
Zeus Yiamouyiannis, Ph.D.
Berkeley, CA