Psalm 72:1-7: Gingerbread Cookies of Justice and Salvation

Second homily in the Heaven Scent series.
Presented to the Swift Current Corps 05 December 2010.
By Captain Michael Ramsay

We are looking at Psalm 72:1-7 today: This is Canada’s psalm. When I next preach on Canada Day (Dominion Day) I will most likely preach on this Psalm:

Canada’s motto, “A Mari usque ad Mare” is Latin for “from sea to sea.” It comes from Psalm 72. Where, in verse 8, it declares, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea.” That is a key underpinning of our society and of our founding identity, the idea that God himself, through the Canadian government, shall have dominion from sea to sea.
This is neat. It is not some accident or coincident. It is intentional. Our country is intentionally founded on the Word of God. And another interesting thing - Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, the father of Confederation that proposed the name for our country and that that name - the Dominion of Canada - be based on this Scripture would have made a great Salvationist.
He wasn’t one but he would have made a good one. Tilley was a Sunday-school teacher and lifelong temperance advocate; he was one of the so-called "Smashers", who tried to introduce prohibition to New Brunswick in the 1850s.[1]

This is an important, relatively recent historical application of this psalm but we can speak more about that on Canada Day. Today is the second Sunday of Advent, so we will be looking at this passage through a slightly different lens: that of waiting for the Messiah to come and of waiting for the Messiah to come again.

This passage of scripture, Psalm 72, refers to the Messianic Hope. It speaks about Justice and Salvation for the poor and needy. It is the hope of the nations. It is about the unconditional promise: the inevitability of Christ’s return, what his kingdom looks like now and what it will look like when he come back. This is what we will concentrate on shortly but Psalm 72 is also about a conditional promise to King Solomon (cf. Leviticus 25,26; Deuteronomy 6:1-5, 20-25; 8:1, 19-20; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21; cf. also Amos 3,4).[2]

This psalm is attributed by some to Solomon and by other scholars to Solomon’s father. Either King Solomon or King David could be the author of this psalm – if you look in your Bibles you may notice that some translations will say at the beginning of this psalm, the words ‘of Solomon’ but looking at the bottom, in verse 20, it reads, ‘this concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse’[3] (Psalm 72:20) - the language around authorship is actually inconclusive.[4] The psalm was probably composed as Solomon’s father, King David, lay dying and was in the process of rejecting his older son (Adonijah), his High Priest (Abiathar), and his nephew who has been the commander of his armed forces since he was young (Joab). King David in the time this psalm was written was rejecting his older son, Adonijah, and his supporters’ claims to the throne and in the process securing the kingdom for Solomon, his younger son (­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­1 Kings 1).

If David is the author of this psalm, it is here that David pours out his heart as to what he hopes for in his chosen son’s, Solomon’s, reign. Solomon, as a king of God’s people, must live in accordance with the revelation from God. To this end Solomon as the Israelite king would receive a copy of the Law of God at his coronation (cf. Deuteronomy 17:18-20). This is important because God’s country is to be ruled as a theocracy (rule by God) not as the people-centered rule of the other nations (i.e. democracy ‘rule [by] people’).[5] Because of this, if you look at the first seven verses of Psalm 72 – especially verses 2-4, you will note that there must be Justice and Salvation for the poor and needy. We know that sadly Solomon failed in this commission to provide Justice and Salvation for the poor and needy as laid out for us in Psalm 72. He was not an YHWH-based theocrat who provided for the disenfranchised. Instead he made forced-labourers of his countrymen (1 Kings 5:13, cf. 4:6, 9:15, 12:1-4) and religious pluralism and syncretism were prevalent during his reign (1 Kings 11:1-13). There was even idol-worship in his own household (1 Kings 11:1-9). In the end, Solomon’s wives eventually led the king himself astray (1 Kings 11:4). He followed other gods and he did evil in the eyes of the LORD (1 Kings 11:5-6). The country did not live up to its holy designation and as a result the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah died with Solomon as the tribes of Israel were torn from his family line (1 Kings 11:11).

But there is more to contemplate in this psalm of promise than simply the failure to provide justice and salvation for the poor and needy and final disappointment of Solomon’s reign. There is still the promise of Christ, which was to come when this was written and is still to come again (prolepsis). John Wesley remarks in his commentary on the commission of Psalm 72, that the mentioned “…blessed fruit of this righteous government… together with peace, true religion [that] shall be established… throughout all generations, …[was] not fully accomplished ‘till Christ came.” [6] The assignment of a Kingdom of Righteousness was given to Solomon to start – he failed to finish it - but it is successfully completed by Christ (cf. Psalm 118:6,7; Hebrews 13:5) penultimately at his first coming and ultimately at his second. Psalm 72 finds its fulfilment not in the failings of Solomon but in the victory and triumph of Jesus the Messiah.

That being said, it is interesting that the New Testament nowhere specifically quotes Psalm 72 as Messianic though the picture painted here of the king and his realm is so close to the messianic prophecies of Isaiah (that we are very familiar with at this time of year; Isaiah 9, 11, 60–62) that if those passages are Messianic, so too must be this one. As a royal psalm, Psalm 72 prays for the reigning king but yet it is so far beyond the what was attained and seemingly even beyond what is humanly attainable that it suggest its fulfilment can be found only in Jesus, the Christ himself.[7]

This is important. Solomon, for whom this psalm was originaly composed, failed miserably in its commission to provide justice and salvation for the poor and needy (1 Kings 11:1-12). Canada, who at our foundation claimed for itself this same commission of Psalm 72 -judging by the poverty, crime, pride, greed, immorality and selfishness in our nation today (if not our province which by comparison is doing remarkably well)- is apparently likewise failing but where we are faithless still Christ is faithful and this is an important aspect of advent and of our waiting for the arrival and the return of Christ (Psalm 118:6,7, Romans 3:3,4, Hebrews 13:5; but cf. Hebrews 6:6). The familiar hymn ‘Jesus Shall Reign’ by Isaac Watts says:

Jesus shall reign wheree'er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.[8]

What implication does the fact that this psalm is Messianic (as attested to also by the inclusion of this text in the liturgical churches lectionaries) have for us on this second Sunday of Advent today? I think the key application for us is as follows – I think Canada’s Founding Fathers had the right interpretation of it when they chose this psalm as our foundation rather than the atheistic/deistic principles of the American Revolution. Advent is about waiting and the idea relating to this psalm is for us emulate Christ while we are waiting for his return by providing justice and salvation for the poor and needy. Indeed in ordering our lives and our society after the will of God, we are preparing the world for Jesus’ return. As followers of Christ, this is our responsibility (cf. for ex. Matthew 21:23-32, 25:14-30, 31-46; Mark 3:33, Luke 12, 19:11-27, etc.).[9] We are the church and we should build our church so as to be a suitable home for Christ. We, as the Church, are also the ‘Bride of Christ’ and if we are going to remain married to Christ we should really spend some time with him growing in his love (TSA d.9). As we do this we will fulfill the promises of Psalm 72.

As we prepare our countries, our churches, and our lives for Christ’s return, this is what they will look like. There will be justice for the poor, Psalm 72:2, salvation –rescue and defence- for the needy, Verse 4, (cf. Exodus 23:6,11, Leviticus 19:10,15, 23:22, 27:8, Deuteronomy 15:4, 15:7, 15:11, 24:12-15, 1 Samuel 2:8, Psalms. 22:26, 34:6, 35:10, 82:3, Jeremiah 22:15–17, Isaiah 11:4, 61:1, Ezekiel 16:49, 18:12, 22:29, Amos 2:7, 4:1, 5:11-12, 8:4-6, Zechariah 7:10,Matthew 25:35ff, Luke 6:24-26...). Peace –Shalom- for God’s people, Verses 3 and 7 (cf. Isaiah 9:6);[10] there will then naturally be righteousness throughout our nation, Verses 1, 2, 3, and 7 (cf. Isaiah 9:5-7); and then Christ’s everlasting realm in the spirit of the evergreen, that we spoke about last week, will have begun (Psalm 72:5; cf. Psalm 122:1). This is important and this brings us to our scent today. This advent we are matching certain psalms and certain promises of God with certain scents or aromas. Last week what was the scent we concentrated on? The evergreen. What does the evergreen symbolise? Everlasting life.

Today our ‘heaven scent’ is gingerbread. Christmas gingerbread cookies are a connection to Christmas past. Did you know that the word for cookie came to English through Dutch settlers in North America? ‘Koek’ is Dutch for cake, so ‘koekje’ or cookie came to English, meaning ‘little cake’. Christmas cookies continue a long custom of serving winter-baked treats started by the Romans, Germanic tribes, and other civilizations even before they were Christianised. So this is interesting then: much like Booth said about music composed for non-Christian, secular society, “Why should the devil have all the best tunes?”[11] And “Secular music, do you say, belongs to the devil? Does it? Well, if it did I would plunder him for it, for he has no right to a single note of the whole seven...Every note, and every strain, and every harmony is divine, and belongs to us.”[12] Just as the music, so too the baking. Just as Salvationists had popular music claimed and reclaimed for Christ, Christians back as far as Roman days claimed and reclaimed cookies. The had cakes and cookies sanctified as symbols of worship of Lord and made this known by adding a ‘J’ to the top of the baking symbolizing that these are offerings to Jesus Christ. These cakes and cookies then were taken from the devil long ago and given to God.[13]

Gingerbread is our ‘heaven scent’ for today and in my own life, when I think of gingerbread cookies, my mind often goes to ginger snap cookies. I always associate ginger snap cookies with my Grandma. I can still to this day picture the house that my Papa (my grandfather) built on Shelbourne Street in Victoria, their kitchen and their cookie jar. The fact that I remember some of my grandmother’s baking fondly is really quite something. How should I put it? Let’s just say that the food was not the reason we went over to Grandma’s house at dinnertime – she could turn anything into a jellied salad: fruit and vegetables, ham, a casserole, an old tire, you name it, I’m sure it was there, jellied and on our plate at some point…but I do remember the gingersnap cookies fondly – maybe because they were almost the only thing not jellied at Grandma’s. These cookies really were something to look forward to at Grandma’s house and this is the heaven scent that I would like to leave us with this week.

Psalm 72 promises justice for the poor, salvation for the needy, peace (Shalom) for God’s people, and righteousness throughout our nation. Solomon’s attempt to produce this resulted in no better than a jellied salad appetizer; Canada’s claim to this seems to be at present nothing more than a jellied ham salad main course; but when Jesus first came to the world those ginger snap cookies were put in the oven, and as we in obedience to him providing justice for the poor and salvation for the needy (as we certainly have the opportunity to do around here at The Salvation Army at Christmas time!), this pleasing aroma of these cookies of justice and salvation fills the air. And still Jesus is coming back and when he does come back, he promises that we –his faithful followers- we shall all partake of these ginger snap cookies of justice and salvation for our eternal dessert (TSA d. 7-11). Advent is all about waiting and these ginger snap cookies of justice and salvation that we will savour for eternity with our Lord and Saviour are indeed worth waiting for.

Let us pray.

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

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[1] Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Psalm 72: the Credit Card of Justice and Righteousness', presented to Nipawin and Tisdale Corps 01 July 2007. Available on-line at http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/08/psalm-72-credit-card-of-justice-and.html
[2] Cf. Willy Schottroff, “To Perceive, To Know,” in Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament, Volume 3 eds. Ernst Jenni and Claus Westermann (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997), p. 516 and Thomas E. McComiskey, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Amos/Introduction to Amos/Theological Values of Amos/The doctrine of election in Amos, Book Version: 4.0.2
[3] Cf. John H. Stek, ‘Psalms’ in NIB Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Mi.: Zondervan Publishing, 2002) Note on 72:20, page 866.
[4] Cf. Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1973 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 15), S. 48
[5]Isaac Watts, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Psalms/Exposition of Psalms/BOOK II: Psalms 42-72/Psalm 72: The Glory of the Davidic Kingdom/I. Prayer for Davidic Kingship (72:1), Book Version: 4.0.2
[6]John Wesley, Notes on Psalm 72, Available on-line at http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=19&c=72&com=wes
[7] Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1973 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 15), S. 273
[8] Isaac Watts, "Jesus Shall Reign" cited in Willem A. VanGemeren, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Psalms/Exposition of Psalms/BOOK II: Psalms 42-72/Psalm 72: The Glory of the Davidic Kingdom, Book Version: 4.0.2
[9] Cf. Andrew R. Morton, ‘Worship Resources, 6th of January: Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 721-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12’ in The Expository Times , Volume 119 Number 3 Pages 122-123.
[10] Andrew R. Morton, ‘Worship Resources, 6th of January: Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 721-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12’ in The Expository Times , Volume 119 Number 3, page 123
[11] The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, “Why should the devil have all the best tunes?”, available on-line at http://www1.salvationarmy.org/heritage.nsf/36c107e27b0ba7a98025692e0032abaa/42d53ced9ec1583080256954004bff3e!OpenDocument
[12] From a War Cry article in 1880. Available on-line at http://www.ourchurch.com/view/?pageID=12281
[13] A Dash of Cinnamon, A Pinch of the Past, A Smidgen of the Future
By Kristin Johnson. Available on-line at http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Dash-of-Cinnamon,-A-Pinch-of-the-Past,-A-Smidgen-of-the-Future&id=16568