The Royal Son, Deliverer of the Afflicted

This Advent reading is pure poetry. The last of David's psalms, it reads like a benediction to me, full of hope and promise- 'May there be righteousness and justice, may the poor be helped and wicked punished, may there be peace and rain.' King David also exalts the Lord- "may He be praised, may he have dominion, and his name endure forever." But right in the middle of the psalm, it describes this one, the Royal Son, the Great King as one "who delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper." The one enthroned on the praises of men and angels who dwells in unapproachable light has pity on the oppressed, scorned and needy. Jesus, the Lord of Heaven, the Word, comes near to us, is Incarnate among us. He redeems us from our sin and sorrow and, as David knew even before His coming, and "redeems [our] life, and precious is [our] blood in his sight." That this one Jesus would leave the splendors of heaven and come in such tenderness and humility is such a mystery of love. How could the Royal Son be the Deliver of the Afflicted? Indeed, in a depth of compassion and love unmatched he considered our blood to be of such worth that he shed his own. I can only echo David in saying "Blessed be his glorious name forever, may the whole earth be filled with his glory! amen and amen!"

Psalm 72:

"Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!

May they fear you 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 the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!

For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.

Long may he live;
may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
on the tops of the mountains may it wave;
may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
like the grass of the field!
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Amen and Amen!"