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. ~ Psalm 72:1-7
What should a king (or queen, or president, or prime minister) be like? What should their qualities be?
What should they not be like?
When I ask you who a good leader would be, who would you mention? George Washington? Queen Elizabeth II? Nelson Mandela?
What about a bad leader? I'll be you can pop off those names more easily.
There are a lot of bad leaders out there. According to this writer of the Psalm, who is talking about King Solomon, the things that make a good leader have to do with righteousness, justice, and care for the poor and needy.
And notice how even the call to violence isn't just for an enemy.
It is for an oppressor.
Who are those who are oppressed? Usually the poor and the needy.
The poor who can't get jobs or healthcare. Those whose needs are equal rights and protections.
I'll say it again. There are a lot of bad leaders out there - and many here. There are leaders in our own country who don't care for the needs of the poor or justice for outcast. There are leaders for whom violence is used, not to crush oppressors, but as a way to curb righteous dissent.
Over and over scripture gives us a definition of what it means to be a wise and just ruler.
Maybe when we talk about this country being a "Christian" nation, we'd be wise to take a look at just what that definition is.
Holy One, bring us wise and compassionate leaders, and when instead they are unjust, give us the strength to call them to account in wise and peaceful ways. Amen
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