Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
Psalms 20 and 21 are prayers for the king, written at a time when an absolute ruler was a far more significant figure than a modern prime minister or president. There were certainly laws and customs he would have been wise to abide by – as King Ahab found when he tried to buy Naboth's vineyard from him (1 Kings 21) – but his power was extensive. A bad king could rob his people and create poverty and hardship, or embroil them in ruinous wars.
So when the psalmist says, 'May [God] give you what you desire, and make all your plans succeed' (20.4), he's making a very large assumption: that what the king desires and plans will be right, and in line with God's will. This is a good king, whose character is shaped by his trust in God.
Nowadays we're very aware of the faults and frailties of our leaders, in both the Church and the state. We would not pray that they'll receive all that they desire. But the psalm reminds us that they ought to be people of wisdom and integrity. And so should we all – but most of us know that some of our desires are wrong, and that it would be better for some of our plans to fail than for them to succeed. As always, we read this psalm in the light of the whole of Scripture; we are called to live in humility and prayerful repentance.
God, thank you for good and wise leaders, who know their own hearts and trust in you to guide them. Help me to live in wisdom and integrity, and to trust that you know what's best for me.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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