Advent 2
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Object:
(See The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Cycle A, and The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Cycle B, for alternative approaches.)
This psalm is a prayer for the king, and it asks God to extend divine rule over earth through the anointed one who sits on the throne. Although the inscription says the psalm is about Solomon, that is a scribal addition. More likely, this was a general prayer used for more than one of the Davidic kings, and it shows the common belief that the monarch would be the instrument through which God acted.
The primary request of the psalm is that the king's rule be marked by godly characteristics -- justice and prosperity for all within the kingdom, righteousness in all dealings, dominion over enemies, and submission from other kings. In all of this, the psalm is an appropriate one for this Advent Sunday as we consider the coming of the King of kings.
The lectionary skips the middle verses of this psalm, but there is no special reason to do so. Most of the psalm, at least through verse 17, is a cohesive unit and does not deviate from the theme. Verses 18-19 are a doxological conclusion for the entire Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42-72) and verse 20 is possibly a leftover marker from an earlier collection of psalms, whose purpose is to distinguish those attributed to David from those authored by others.
For preaching purposes:
1. Note the similarity of theme between this psalm and the First Lesson for today. It may be enough simply to use the psalm as a further example of the messianic hope Judah places in its kings.
2. Verse 11 can be interpreted symbolically to refer to the visit of the Magi.
3. Christianity has long seen the hope of this psalm as fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Consider focusing on verses 2-4 to discuss the ministry of Jesus.
4. Verse 3 refers to the yield of the mountains and hills. Though not an Advent theme, this verse could provide the basis for a sermon on how the wise use of the planet's physical resources could, under the rule of a just and righteous government, contribute to universal justice and prosperity.
-- S. P.
This psalm is a prayer for the king, and it asks God to extend divine rule over earth through the anointed one who sits on the throne. Although the inscription says the psalm is about Solomon, that is a scribal addition. More likely, this was a general prayer used for more than one of the Davidic kings, and it shows the common belief that the monarch would be the instrument through which God acted.
The primary request of the psalm is that the king's rule be marked by godly characteristics -- justice and prosperity for all within the kingdom, righteousness in all dealings, dominion over enemies, and submission from other kings. In all of this, the psalm is an appropriate one for this Advent Sunday as we consider the coming of the King of kings.
The lectionary skips the middle verses of this psalm, but there is no special reason to do so. Most of the psalm, at least through verse 17, is a cohesive unit and does not deviate from the theme. Verses 18-19 are a doxological conclusion for the entire Book II of the Psalms (Psalms 42-72) and verse 20 is possibly a leftover marker from an earlier collection of psalms, whose purpose is to distinguish those attributed to David from those authored by others.
For preaching purposes:
1. Note the similarity of theme between this psalm and the First Lesson for today. It may be enough simply to use the psalm as a further example of the messianic hope Judah places in its kings.
2. Verse 11 can be interpreted symbolically to refer to the visit of the Magi.
3. Christianity has long seen the hope of this psalm as fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Consider focusing on verses 2-4 to discuss the ministry of Jesus.
4. Verse 3 refers to the yield of the mountains and hills. Though not an Advent theme, this verse could provide the basis for a sermon on how the wise use of the planet's physical resources could, under the rule of a just and righteous government, contribute to universal justice and prosperity.
-- S. P.
