I wrote yesterday about how the lectionary obliterated a bit of beautiful imagery.  It doesn’t do a great job with today’s response either, which is the middle-latter portion of Psalm 72.  The focus of this part of the Psalm is upon the king who is worthy of homage and dominion in verses 8-11.

Psalm 72:8-11

8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service (NRSV).

But, what is it that makes this king worthy of homage?  Why should “kings fall down before him” and “all nations give him service”?  Unfortunately, verse 11 is left out of today’s reading ruining a bit of the connection between 8-11 and 12-14.    At any rate, the answer to these two questions is found in verses 12-14.

Psalm 72:12-14

12 For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

The king is marked off as worthy of homage by his treatment of the poor, the needy, and the weak.  Now, I realize, of course, that I do not live in a kingdom and there is a pretty vast time span between my own time and that of the Bible.  And, I realize that verses 8-11 sound a bit imperialistic.  But, the underlying idea that the worth of a political leader is measured by his treatment of the poor is one, in my opinion, that is worthy of remembering.

Related:

Psalm 96:5 – Word Play

Psalm 98 and Assonance

Psalm 1.4 – A Video Illustration of Chaff

Psalm 1.1 – Translation Comparison

Psalm 72 is the responsorial for today and the lectionary successfully obliterates the imagery of verses 6 and 7.  Here’s how the lectionary reading looks online.

Psalm 72 in the Lectionary

Responsorial Psalm
72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8
R.  (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

You’ll notice from the numbering that verses 5 and 6 are omitted between verses 4 and 7.  But, this absolutely ruins beautiful imagery between verses 6 and 7.  Notice that justice shall “flower” in the days of the king.  But, why is it flowering?

Psalm 72:6

May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. (Psa 72:6 NRSV)

“Justice” … or “the righteous” … or “abundance” dependent on your translation is flowers/flourishes if the king is like a refreshing shower that waters the earth.  How can he be like a refreshing shower?  Maybe we go back to verses 1 and 4 … when he has received the gift of right judgment from the Lord (vs. 1) … when he defends the oppressed, delivers the poor and crushes the oppressor.

I usually love having a lectionary to read from, but I think today it obliterates some of the connections and beauty in the imagery.

Related:

Psalm 96:5 – Word Play

Psalm 98 and Assonance

Psalm 1.4 – A Video Illustration of Chaff

Psalm 1.1 – Translation Comparison

Last week I wrote a learner centered blog post on the significance of Jonah fleeing to Tarshish.  And, Tarshish shows up again in today’s responsive reading.  To understand the symbolism of gifts coming from there, try out the “activity” from the first part of the previous post using the maps.  Then, consider the text.

Psalm 72:10

May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts.

What is the symbolism of gifts coming from Tarshish?  (Full text of Psalm 72)  Feel free to answer in the comments section if you would like…

Related:

Learner-centered Blogging?

1 Samuel 1 – Some Background

Haggai 1.2 -The Historical Context