Living Psalm 72 – Advent 2
Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.
Living Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 –Advent 2
A prayer for God’s leaders and God’s people
72:1 Give your justice to our leaders, O God,
and your righteousness to their heirs.
(Plant seeds of wisdom in your people, O HOLY,
And let us raise our children to practice justice.)
72:2 May our leaders judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
(May your people welcome neighbors with curiosity and joy;
may we defend the poor with courage.)
72:3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, righteousness.
(May your people tend the earth as the holy place it is;
may we share its abundance with strangers and friends.)
72:4 May our leaders defend the cause
of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
(May your people know the needs of the vulnerable in our midst;
may we feed their hunger, heal their wounds, value their hopes.
May we struggle together for a just world for all.)
72:5 May your leaders live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
(May we live together from age to age,
celebrating your love by day and night.)
72:6 May good leadership be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
(Refresh your world, your people, our rulers with hope, justice, joy.)
72:7 Soon, O God, may righteousness flourish
and peace abound,
until the moon is no more.
72:18 Blessed be the HOLY, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
72:19 Blessed be that glorious name forever;
may HOLY glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.
Living Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 for Advent 2 was written by Susan A. Blain, Minister for Worship and Gospel Arts, UCC.
Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Editor, Maren Tirabassi
Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.
© Copyright 2019 Justice Local Church Ministries, Faith INFO Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.