If you’ve been following the devotions, you will notice that we were assigned a reading from this Psalm just a few weeks ago. Perhaps those who formulated the lectionary cycle felt this one was worth repeating. What do the first 7 verses tell us about the kind of leadership the psalmist longed for? I wonder if the type of leader a person desires depends on their station in life. People who are comfortable in their life may want someone who will keep things the way they are. Those who cannot seem to get ahead, those who do not feel safe for any number of reasons, may hope for a leader like the one described in this reading – one who is righteous and just, who levels the playing field, who seeks to ensure that all people will flourish.
Can you think of any situations where this type of leadership would not be acceptable? Who are the people who would argue against a leader like this? What local, national, and world leaders do you see leading in this way today? How might we become a stronger voice in defending the cause of the poor, giving deliverance to the needy, and removing from power those who oppress?
Offer a prayer for those in leadership to have a “heart after God’s own heart.”