Advent Daybook 7: Let justice roll down
Pray: Heavenly Father, make me more like Jesus as I sit in your loving presence today. Please guide my thoughts and impressions by your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Look: Allison Jean in the courtroom at the sentencing of the former Dallas police officer who killed Botham Jean - source
Listen*: Daughters of Zion, Porter's Gate [feat. Casey J & Urban Doxology) - Spotify | YouTube (w/lyrics)
Read**: Psalm 20, 21, Amos 5:18-27; Jude 17-25; Matthew 22:15-22
Excerpts:
"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
... O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call."
*
"O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.
... For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved."
*
"Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
*
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
*
"Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”
- Psalm 20:1-2, 9 * Psalm 21:1-2,7 * Amos 5:20-24 * Jude 24-25 * Matthew 22:17-21 (ESV)
Pray: The Jesus Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner."
Do: Today, take some time to be silent, without any noise or distraction, to pause and calmly think about the first week of Advent.
Savor silence
The Hebrew word selah (see-lah) is repeated throughout the Psalms. The definition of this word is probably a musical reference, calling for a break in the singing of the Psalm. The Amplified Bible (AMP) adds the explanatory phrase, "pause, and calmly think of that!", each time the word Selah shows up in the Psalms.
Today, take some time to be silent, without any noise or distraction, to pause and calmly think about the first week of Advent. There’s no need to strive for a profound insight during this time. Just be still.
If you begin to sense thoughts or feelings bubbling up in the quiet, notice them without trying to analyze. You might breathe out one phrase each time you're tempted to become distracted. Try something like the “Jesus Prayer”. When you feel distracted or anxious breathe in “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” and exhale “have mercy on me the sinner”. Another option is to echo the psalmist: "Selah, pause and calmly think of that".
Trust God as your Heavenly Father to be present with you through Christ and by His Spirit. End your time with a simple prayer or chorus. Go about your day and into the weekend with peace.
You might also enjoy: Let's not ask Botham Jean's family to choose forgiveness over justice by Shane Claiborn via Religion News Service
For an introduction read this post: Advent Daybook Explained. You can see previous Advent daybook 2018 posts here.
* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Advent 2019. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).