Silence for 2-5 minutes:
If your mind wanders, silently pray a simple prayer again and again, such as, "I surrender to your love" or "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me" until the Holy Spirit gives you a sense of peace and focus.
Scripture reading:
(I'm using the Message today. I think it speaks to our current situation.)
Psalm 2
Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: "Let's get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!" Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he's amused at their presumption; Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: "Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit."
Let me tell you what God said next. He said, "You’re my son, And today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? Continents as a prize? You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.”
So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God—you won’t regret it!
Reading:
Psalm 2 is a song written during a particular crisis. The crisis is catastrophic, for it involves a plot by the kings of the earth to conquer Israel and overthrow her anointed King. The Hebrew word for a plot is the same as meditation.
In Psalm 1 we see the righteous individual meditating upon the words of God and receiving blessedness and fruitfulness. In Psalm 2, we see those who reject the word of God, meditating upon how they can exclude God from the equation of life. God is amused at their thoughts of self-importance. Then, He becomes furious.
The nations and their leaders may be making lots of noise and plotting their stratagems, but by doing this, they miss the true King entirely. Who is this King? He is the Son of David. He is the Messiah. He is Jesus.
This Messiah is the one who has entered our world as a lowly baby, and His death, upon a cross in a garbage heap in a little known spot, among unknown people, is the most significant event in all of human history. The Kings of the earth are blind to this fact and thus work against the Lord. They cannot fathom a king whose throne is a cross.
Psalm 2 is a coronation hymn. It was sung when a descendant of David was crowned as King. This is Jesus’ coronation hymn as well, for he is the true Son of God who will reign forever on David’s throne. Jesus’ earthly coronation took place at His baptism, as the heavens were opened and the Father sang this coronation song over His Spirit drenched Son.
The Coronavirus poses a threat to life as we know it. The leaders of nations are clamoring, but seem to have no solutions to this catastrophe. We may become fearful and disoriented by the surreal disruption of life that a pandemic brings. Psalm 2 reorients us to the reality of God speaking and working in history through His Son. We will either look to the kings of the earth for answers or to our Servant King. Let us crown Him King of our hearts today as we sing His coronation hymn.
Questions/Actions:
How can you begin to have God’s perspective on our current crisis?
Perhaps meditating on Colossians 3:1-4 could be a start.
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Prayer:
Lord, I want to look to you today as the true King of heaven and earth. Help me to meditate upon your words, rather than the words of those who oppose you. Give me your perspective on this pandemic as I trust you day by day for deliverance. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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