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November 30, 2016

The Wilderness of the Heart

Amy L. Mears   |   Read Psalm 72:1-7

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Lectionary Week
November 28–December 4, 2016
Scripture Overview

The Old Testament roots of Advent hope are cast in royal imagery. The psalm marks the king as one whose work is to bring justice to the weak. The new king makes a new world possible. The Gospel reading is both invitation and warn- ing that we must make concrete decisions to reorder our life in ways appropriate to God’s new intention. Characteristically Paul makes the grand, sweeping claim: The new behavior appropriate to God’s new governance is that the strong and the weak, the haves and have-nots, relate to each other in new faithfulness. Advent is spent pondering speci c decisions about bringing our daily life into sync with God’s rule.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Isaiah 11:1-10. When do you allow yourself “fallow” time? How does that time of “resting” nurture your fruitful- ness?
• Read Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19. This prayer for the king expresses the qualities that the people desire in a leader. What would you add to the list?
• Read Romans 15:4-13. Paul notes that Christ welcomed you for the glory of God. Consider the last several months: Whom have you welcomed for the glory of God?
• Read Matthew 3:1-12. What is growing in your heart’s wil- derness this Advent season?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 72:1-7

1 God, give your judgments to the king. Give your righteousness to the king’s son. 2 Let him judge your people with righteousness and your poor ones with justice. 3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people; let the hills bring righteousness. 4 Let the king bring justice to people who are poor; let him save the children of those who are needy, but let him crush oppressors! 5 Let the king live as long as the sun, as long as the moon, generation to generation. 6 Let him fall like rain upon fresh-cut grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 Let the righteous flourish throughout their lives, and let peace prosper until the moon is no more.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

This psalm, in its references to both king and king’s son, brings immediately to mind David and Solomon. In this psalm attributed to King Solomon, the psalmist asks the Holy One for help. Let’s see what he seeks in his prayer-song. He seeks God’s faultless judgment. He asks that the...

Spirit of peace and beauty, help me to focus my life on peace and beauty. Remind me of my purposes and my intentions. May I align my words and actions with my psalm. Amen.


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