'Sovereignty Shines through Your power'

Ps. 21:2

Can a sovereign-state be ever trusted with humility?

What happens when faith leaders become false messiahs driven to disaster in the so-called name of the most high, conflating political power and piety at the expense of peace?

Will our rulers remember that they are only here to serve the people, in service of God and/or  the greater good? 

This is what the king who is also the poet of this psalm is asking here - whoever is the real author of these wondering words that still echo today - no matter who’s in charge and what sort of system governs our lives.

 Too often in our history and contemporary reality leaders forget their relative role and real responsibility, assuming divine rights and an authoritarian attitudes at the expense of the people. Too often populist position ascribe religious blessing onto leaders whose politics sow division in the so-called name of the divine.

This psalm is trying to make sure there is a little less of that and a lot more of morality when it comes to the necessary division between political and religious life.

The ancient world revered kings who were often worshiped as supreme deities, victorious in battle, just like their gods who fought against the other gods and goddesses, and won. 

This was the path to power of the Canaanite, Asssyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek gods - and many more. The pinnacle of the pantheon was the property of the alpha male with the most power. 

Guess what sort of societies venerated and validated this super-patriarchal narrative. And how, incredibly,  is this dynamic still playing out right now? 

The legacy of ancient Israel and its relationship with monarchy was influenced by its surrounding culture but also a bit different - with some  levels of ambivalence and ethical concerns about the mortal king’s ability to enjoy limitless and unchecked power just as their god did. 

Starting with King Saul and all through the dynastic centuries of sovereigns on the thrones of Judah and Israel, the prophets were the ones to check the mortals with morality, warn the monarchs against thinking of themselves as anything but public servants, answering to higher power and not losing control.  

Some listened, but most kings didn’t like to be told what to do  -- just as some of today’s rulers want to play by their own rules. 

This tension can be senses between the lines of today’s psalm, in which the poet hails the king’s victories -- but it is unclear which king he’s referencing -- the mortal or the immortal? The flesh and blue blood royal who ruled Jerusalem during the days of David - or his descendant - the future king messiah that one day will rule the world?  Whoever wrote this psalm as though it composed by David, leaves these options open, and ambiguous.

This psalm begins with honoring the role of God as Ultimate King while the human king is on the sidelines, blessed by the creator with long life and shining crown that represents eternal joy. It starts with no words of battles, blood or messy political life. 

The human ruler revels in the protection of the Almighty - the power greater than the human, humility in play:

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה בְּעׇזְּךָ֥ יִשְׂמַח־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּ֝בִישׁ֥וּעָתְךָ֗ מַה־יָּ֥גֶל מְאֹֽד׃

O ETERNAL One, the sovereign rejoices in Your strength; how greatly he exults in Your victory!

Ps. 21:2

Norman Fisher translated: ‘Sovereignty shines through your power..”

But then the narrative moves to the second part of the psalm in which the human king pulls out his sword to wage a battle as the almighty recedes into the background.

The battle will be ruthless. The king has to fight to defend his people -- but the king of kings is not there to champion or celebrate the combat - not directly anyway.  This psalm makes it clear that the king can’t claim divine authority while on the battlefield.

Only when the ruler’s safe and sound can he resume the pose of reverence - to the real ruler and the cause that helped him win the war.  It’s a societal ideal in which political and faith-based narratives are carefully set apart, an early, rare example of division between  ‘church’ and ‘state’ to preserve God's power and not mire it in the politics of battlefields. 

Only in the future, it’s believed, when the King-Messiah will appear, will religion and politics be held by the same crown. This can the ideal ruler-philosopher guided by humility, faith and wisdom.

And it can be become the kind of king whose religious zeal combined with power becomes a terror and a tyrant.

We’ve seen both models.

Which will prevail?

For better or for worse, the yearning for this form of faith-based leadership is on a lot of our minds these days. We have to call it when we see it and prevent the messianic military hubris and prioritize humility.

How do we prevent more nations that we love and care about from being hurled toward this kind of messianic anti-democratic stance we already see around this world?

Less pious kings, please, no religious wars. And more humble kindness for our sovereigns and our selves.

Image: David (detail), Lorenzo Monaco (Piero di Giovanni), ca. 1408–10. Metmuseum.org

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR PSALM OF ALL?

Join me on May 9th for our monthly Zoom conversation Below the Bible Belt - and find out.

The 150 chapters of the Psalms are not just poetry but also prayer, often used at bedsides and at funerals,  at births or weddings and each time we pause to honor life. Of all the psalms - somehow, there is one that has risen to to the rank of being the most popular and famous. Can you guess which one?

We’ll be linking the popular psalm from our oldest book with today’s heartbreaking front-page news as we keep finding ways to lift up our hearts and find comfort in our ancient poetry.

Whether you are new to this journey or have been on it for a while - please join us on May 9th 2024, 5pm ET and please bring your questions, comments, responses and reflections on the PSLAMS so far.

Here’s the link to the next Below the Bible Belt Zoom Live Conversation:

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