Psalm 100 is called a Royal Psalm. It could have been prayed by a king on inauguration day, maybe even used as an oath of office. But there aren't many kings and queens left in the world today, so more broadly we might recommend it as a prayer for anyone who governs or leads—presidents prime ministers, premiers, senators, representatives, governors, mayors. In the life of the Church—popes, cardinals, bishops, pastors, ministry directors.
A lot of people in leadership are unhappy, cynical, selfish, angry. By contrast, notice how the psalm-praying king begins, "I will sing of love and justice; I will sing to you, O Lord. I will walk in the way of perfection." The words perfect or blameless life don't refer to right morality, but a life that's rooted in God's own love and justice. And justice doesn't mean doling out "the punishment that fits the crime" but effecting what is best for everyone, not just those who comprise the ruler's "base" or insider orbit.
The psalmist-ruler prays, "When will you come to me?" Is the king feeling God's absence or just a profound sense of inadequacy before assuming leadership? It's a godless leader who feels he's got the power, that he alone can fix it. This king makes known his need for God; he's not afraid to sing about his commitment to God's rule of justice and compassion. This king believes that God is the real ruler—God's love is the only real power.
But this psalm might be prayed by all of us, don't you think? We all know what it is to feel God's absence. The cross is the ultimate symbol of loss and divine absence. Remember the crucified Jesus praying, "My God, my God why have you abandoned me?" Jesus represents God's faithful love and mercy in the face of all the losses. "Into your hands I commend my spirit," Jesus then prays.
We take great pride (even boast) of our frequently quoted motto or national theme, that we live by the rule of law. But this psalm says rule of law isn't enough. The character of the one who governs and how that character impacts the ones who are governed—that's what matters most. We're having a hard time today living true to our national name: UNITED States - bitter, exhausted, divided. Something has gone very wrong. Maybe this terrible, afflicting virus will restore us to unity.
Years ago when I was a teacher in Manhattan, our principal went around telling the children, "Just do the right thing." But what does that even mean? Right conduct can be a superficial thing, "Everybody be quiet, the teacher's coming!" But right conduct flows from one's commitments—the values one holds most dearly, one's inner standards: the dignity of each and every person, integrity, possessing a clean heart.
We know the expression, "dirty or crooked politicians" the ones who are greedy, narcissistic, arrogant, obstructive, self-serving. I'd suggest, for all the leaders in any capacity and for all of us, this psalm's message is: "It's God's world—live like you believe it."
