Category: Messianic Psalms

It’s Election Day, and the leaves have mostly fallen. My church has opened up a small chapel today for prayer, but I decided to go with writing a psalm about what’s on my heart and posting that prayer online.

My heart is full. A Methodist pastor whose books I’ve already read and reviewed is running for U.S. Senate in Kansas. A Senate candidate in Texas is openly talking about the idea that we are all God’s children. And a college friend, Sam Powell, is running for state senate in Minnesota. He’s a former pastor who was removed from his church for speaking up for women and other vulnerable people. I completely love his slogan: “Courage, Compassion, Community.” Yes! May we grow that in the whole country.

But my friends and I are feeling a lot of fear. Fear that there will be cheating, whether invisibly by computer or visibly by suppressing votes. And lots of fear that results will be disputed if the outcome isn’t what crooked people want.

In praying for the election, I am going to turn to Messianic Psalms, because they are Psalms for seeking justice. They are Psalms that remind us that, one day, God is going to bring justice.

Now, Messianic Psalms don’t have a clear form, and contain a wide variety of approaches. I’m thinking today, lest I appear to be too political, I’m going to mostly quote Scripture in my prayer. As for whom I’m talking about? If the shoe fits….

A Prayer for our Elections

Father and Creator, we come before you at a turning point in our nation.
We ask you to intervene and to guide for the cause of justice.

As things are going now:
“The wicked accept bribes in secret
to pervert the course of justice.” (Proverbs 17:23)

“[Our] rulers are rebels,
partners with thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.” (Isaiah 1:23)

People from ICE “lie in wait near the villages;
from ambush they murder the innocent.
Their eyes watch in secret for their victims;
like a lion in cover they lie in wait.
They lie in wait to catch the helpless;
they catch the helpless and drag them off in their net.
Their victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under their strength.
They say to themselves ‘God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.'” (Psalm 10:8-11)

“They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, ‘The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.” (Psalm 94:6-7)

“Can a corrupt throne [government] be allied with you –
a throne [government] that brings on misery by its decrees?
The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.” (Psalm 94:20-21)

And so we pray with your people through the ages:

“But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.” (Psalm 94:22-23)

Creator, I’m praying that their power to harm
will be utterly destroyed,
and that their evil deeds
will be called to account.

“Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
‘He won’t call me to account’?
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.”

For the rich who are using our government to get richer, may this come to pass:

“Now listen, you rich people,
weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
Your wealth has rotted,
and moths have eaten your clothes.
Your gold and silver are corroded.
Their corrosion will testify against you
and eat your flesh like fire.
You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields
are crying out against you.
The cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.
You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
You have condemned and murdered the innocent one,
who was not opposing you.” (James 5:1-6)

May we see with our own eyes that this is true:

“[The Lord] is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them –
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” (Psalm 146:6-9)

May rulers rise to power who will uphold these words from your law:

“Do not pervert justice;
do not show partiality to the poor
or favoritism to the great,
but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15)

“Do not pervert justice or show partiality.
Do not accept a bribe,
for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise
and twists the words of the innocent.
Follow justice and justice alone,
so that you may live
and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:19-20)

Lord, we pray against rulers like these ones from Proverbs:

“A ruler who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.” (Proverbs 28:3)

“Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.” (Proverbs 28:15)

“A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.” (Proverbs 28:16)

“If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12)

We ask you, Lord, instead to raise up wise and just leaders.

“May they judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May they defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may they crush the oppressor….
For they will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
They will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.” (Psalm 72:2-4,12-13)

And Mother of all, may we, your people, follow the kind of fasting you have chosen:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7)

We know that these human leaders are not your Anointed One,
that true justice awaits your coming in glory.

But as we wait, frustrate the plans of those
who want to seize power for selfish gain,
who care nothing for the struggling,
who exploit our land out of greed,
who stir up wars for their own ego.

Let their power at last crumble!

May this be the day when you say:
“‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,’
I will now arise,’ says the Lord.
‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’…
You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.” (Psalm 12:5,7-8)

Stop their strutting, O God!

“But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)

Amen.
May it be so.
Thanks be to God.

Happy Third Sunday of Advent!

Today I got to sing in our church’s annual Christmas cantata. Over a hundred performers in choir, orchestra, children’s choir, handbell choir, narrators, and even a dancer made it happen. I told people that since I was only one-hundredth of the performance, it’s not bragging for me to say it was spectacular. I truly believe that we who got to participate were even more blessed than those who witnessed it. Each one of us doing our bit came together to make something stunningly beautiful – all following the careful instruction and coordination of the Director. How like what a church should be!

But one of our songs was a setting of Mary’s Magnificat, found in Luke 1:46-55. She prays it after the angel announces that she will become pregnant and she goes to Elizabeth, who also has a miraculous pregnancy. And since I’m thinking about Psalms lately, I noticed that Mary’s Magnificat is a Messianic Psalm.

First, I contend that it’s a Psalm because it’s full of parallelism. The verses are in two line sets, saying similar things in another way. (And of course Mary would express herself in this Hebrew poetry form, certainly what she was used to.)

But look at the Key Concepts I have found in Messianic Psalms. And then let’s look at how most of them show up in Mary’s Magnificat:

Messianic Psalms Key Concepts

God’s Rule

Coming Justice

Certain Victory

Eternal Scope

Now let’s look for them in Mary’s prayer:

My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, [Eternal Scope]
for the Mighty One has done great things for me – [Certain Victory]
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him [God’s Rule]
from generation to generation. [Eternal Scope]
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. [Coming Justice]
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble. [God’s Rule]
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. [Coming Justice]
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful [Certain Victory]
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors. [Eternal Scope]

Okay, other people might assign those concepts differently. But compare with the Messianic Psalms in Psalms – Psalms 2, 45, 72, 110, and 132 – and see if you don’t think Mary’s Magnificat has similar themes.

Over the years, I’d often wondered why Mary starts talking about bringing rulers from their thrones and lifting up the humble – but it fits with the news that she’s been told she will be mother of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the one who brings justice!

And with the Christmas promise of “peace on earth, good will toward men,” doesn’t Advent seem like the time to long for justice, to cry out for peace?

Today we also sang “Joy to the World.” It’s another song about how things will be some day.

He rules the world
with truth and grace.
And makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love.

And as in Psalms, we sing and rejoice in the assurance that what we long for will actually happen. Some day.

And as I keep saying, Mary’s example and the entire book of Psalms tells us we can also pray this way.

So let me write a short example Messianic psalm (Happy Ending psalm). Please try it yourself and paste yours into the comments.

An Advent Psalm

Joy to the world!
Lord, you came as a tiny baby,
and you’re coming again to make all things right.
Your beginnings were humble
and you are one of us –
even though you came from power
you did not identify with the powerful,
but began your life in a bed of straw,
dependent on your mother for sustenance,
even you who sustain the hungry.
Our joy is because
the injustices of the world are not forever.
You stepped into human history
showing us a way of love.
And yes, you’re toppling the hierarchy
and lifting up the lowly.
You’re filling the hungry with good things
and coming near the desolate.

The story of your first coming
is a story of God showing up where least expected.
(Yes, you were long-expected,
but not in a manger!)
And I’m sure your second coming
will also be full of surprises.
Even so come, Lord Jesus!

I’ve been neglecting this blog since I wrote the weekly posts in my Laments for Lent series. Naturally, I took a break after finishing that series, and then I had a vacation in June to Oregon (see the Columbia Gorge picture above), and a trip to ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia after that, and then a mini-retreat to Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia – and I need to get in the swing of writing again.

I recently read another book on praying laments, which I will review before long. But it got me thinking about ways my own book, Praying with the Psalmists (as yet unpublished) is different. Yes, I talk about Laments, but I go through the entire book of Psalms and divide them up into ten types – and I talk about how we can use each type as an example in our prayers.

And the most difficult type, honestly, to explain why we should use it in prayer was Messianic Psalms.

Now, many Psalms have elements that ended up being fulfilled in Jesus – and I do think some of the Laments would have surprised the original psalmists. But the Psalms I named as specifically Messianic were talking about the ruler, the Anointed One, at the time – Psalms 2, 45, 72, 110, and 132. I doubt that the psalmists who originally prayed these Psalms realized they were being prophetic, and I certainly am not suggesting that we must prophesy when we pray. But think about it: We know how the story ends!

So in my book, I call them Happy Ending Psalms. I believe that the arc of the universe does tend toward justice and I believe that Christ will return and make things right.

I found four key concepts that show up in Messianic Psalms: God’s Rule, Coming Justice, Certain Victory, and Eternal Scope.

All that is to say that in posting about Psalms tonight, I’m going to attempt a category I’ve been neglecting – a Messianic psalm or better called a Happy Ending psalm or Justice psalm:

Justice Psalm for Troubled Times

Lord, why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
Why are the rulers of our land
blaming immigrants for every woe?
Why are they abducting people
who came here seeking refuge
and locking up people
who answered the call on the Statue of Liberty
and came here for a better life?

And Father, I don’t know what I can do about it.
I feel helpless when I hear of detention,
horrible conditions, and harsh treatment.

Let the evil not go unnoticed, Lord!
Help us to not look away.
You’ve said that your people
are to care for the stranger in the land.
Watch over the immigrants,
the homeless,
the hurting.
Watch over everyone wrongly imprisoned –
let them know they are seen.

And I don’t know how,
I don’t know when.
But I pray that justice will be done,
that those responsible for these deep wrongs
will be called to account.

Let America once again –
or maybe for the first time –
truly become the land of the free
and the home of the brave,
where we take in the tired, the poor,
and the huddled masses yearning to be free,
where we defend the fatherless and the oppressed
and never turn a deaf ear
to the cry of the poor.

I know that the day will come
when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
But, Lord, hear now the cry of the poor
and the immigrant.

May your justice come swiftly
and your unfailing love shine.

— And I still feel at a loss. But it helps my spirit to pray.

This week, we’re covering Messianic Psalms – Psalms about how the Anointed One will come and make all things right. Since I don’t claim to be able to prophesy, but I do know that God wins in the end, when I write a psalm in this pattern, I like to call it a Happy Ending psalm. It’s a good pattern to use when praying about injustices out in society.

Here’s one I wrote this week:

From Psalm 72:4

May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.

O Lord,
May our governments do this —
defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the needy,
crush the oppressor.

Thank you that, in the end, your kingdom will bring
righteousness and justice for the oppressed.

Help me to learn what my part is
in relieving the oppressed
in defending the afflicted
in helping the needy.

If my part is to supply books
to help them know they’re not alone,
then help me do my part
and not be silenced.

Father, our world is so far from safe
for so many of your children.
May your kingdom come
on earth as it is in heaven.