Sunday, December 31, 2023  

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Today’s Hymn

All hail to God’s anointed,
great David’s greater Son!
All hail, in time appointed,
your reign on earth begun!
You come to break oppression,
to set the captive free,
to take away transgression
and rule in equity.

You come with rescue speedy
to those who suffer wrong,
to help the poor and needy
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in your sight.

James Montgomery’s “All Hail to God’s Anointed”
(tune: Rockport)
from Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal

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Reflection

This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 72, which, in my Bible, contains the heading: “Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King. Of Solomon.” Its inspiration is found in verses 12–14:

For he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems our life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.

The psalm is describing the works of a person, the king, King Solomon. This means that the hymn writer (the Moravian James Montgomery) has confidently attributed the characteristics of this kingly figure to Jesus, who comes “with rescue speedy to those who suffer wrong.” The hymn draws on imagery not only from Psalm 72 but also from the prophet Isaiah and even the Magi story from the Gospel of Matthew.

“All Hail to God’s Anointed” takes significant liberties with Biblical texts to make them speak to the experience of contemporary people. Scholars might object, yet isn’t this the essence of faith, to hear in the ancient story of Scripture echoes of the lives our neighbors near and far are actually living? Isn’t it the essence of Scripture to speak (to sing!) across great distances and geographies, calling forth a response of faith out of doubt and despair?

I think so, on both counts.

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Prayer
Great God, you come to break oppression and set the captive free. Make us heralds of that good news of great joy for all people in word, act, and song. Amen.

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Written by Rocky Supinger, Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry and Worship

Reflection © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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