by Pastor Paul Dugan
I very much appreciated Pastor Andy’s recent words on our current cultural crisis. They are worth repeating:
“It feels like the world, and our country, is absolutely falling apart right now. We’re in this awful place of injustice and chaos, of needing to express our anger over racism and our lament over our cities being burned and looted, of wanting to protect and defend every person…all lives…people of color and police officers and those who agree with us and those who disagree with us.
So what can we do?
The first thing we do, as followers of Jesus, is to define which conversation we are having and the conversation we are NOT having.
We are NOT having that old, unhelpful conversation between liberals and conservatives, democrats or republicans, or between those who are right and those who are wrong…”
What we need, Pastor Andy proposed, is a kingdom conversation:
“In a kingdom conversation we get to point out all of our sin: the sin of racism, the sin of destruction, the sin of injustice, the sin of shame and blame, the sin of murder, the sin of unforgiveness.
Oh, and by the way, in a kingdom conversation we first point out this sin in ourselves.
A Kingdom conversation starts this way: the problem is me.
A Kingdom conversation starts with confession, not condemnation; repentance, not resentment; listening, not labeling.
When we have a kingdom conversation we get to plan together how to change for the better…”
Click here for Pastor Andy’s full post.
I believe a kingdom conversation begins with kingdom prayers.
How often have you read or listened to the news and found yourself grumpier afterwards? I can relate. I not only get frustrated with the news; I get frustrated with those who frame (or spin) the news. Before I know it, I find myself triggered into an internal debate in my head with those in power- whether it be government or media- getting more and more angry and cynical.
What if you and I were to pause, and pivot that frustration into positive prayers for those in authority? Listen to Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:1-3:
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Please note this: Paul wrote this during the time of Roman emperors like Nero, who lit his garden parties with the burning carcasses of Christian human torches. If Paul can call the early church to pray for Nero, you and I can pray for members of the opposing political party.
There is a whole category of psalms that express prayers for those in authority. These are called “royal psalms.” Psalm 72 is a classic example of a royal psalm:
Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure[a] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. (Ps 72:1-7)
In the Hebrew Bible, royal psalms refer to different situations in which the king is involved: thanksgiving for victory over enemies, prayer for the king’s safety before battle, thanksgiving for protection during battle, the occasion of the king’s marriage, the king’s ascent to the throne, and vows made by the king to God. Examples of royal psalms: Psalm 20, 45, 61, 72, 89, 101, 110, 138.
Christians take up these psalms as they pray for those who are in authority in both the church and culture.
Here’s how you can pray your own royal psalm for our leaders today:
Pray for those in authority in the church:
for their spiritual, emotional and relational health and growth…
for protection in temptation, strength in weakness, and victory over the enemy…
that they use their authority to serve in love, under the authority of King Jesus…
that the life and mission of the church flourishes under their leadership…
Pray for those in authority in our culture:
for God to raise up men and women at every level of government to lead with courage, compassion, competence and integrity…
for those in positions of authority in all sectors of culture: family, education, the courts, business, media, the arts, non-profits, and healthcare…
that leaders in each of these areas recognize God’s authority in their work, and seek the well-being of the community over personal gain. ..
that those who are Christ-followers in these areas exhibit the love and integrity of Jesus in their work…
This is part eight in a ten-part series on how to pray the psalms. To return to part one, click here. To go to part nine click here.