OUR KING HAS COME!

C H R I S T M A S S U N D A Y 2 0 1 7

Matthew 2:1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose. Now we have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too. 4 So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah was going to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied.

Matthew 2:5 “This is what the prophet has written. He said,

6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah. A ruler will come out of you. He will rule my people Israel like a shepherd.’ ” (Micah 5:2)

7 Then Herod secretly called for the Wise Men. He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem. He said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report it to me. Then I can go and worship him too.”

Matthew 2:9 After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they returned to their country on a different road.

“ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC JUST NOW WE ARE LIVING WITH THE SURPRISING RESULTS OF DEMOCRACY, AND THIS IS A GREAT MOMENT TO REFLECT ON GOD’S VISION FOR HUMAN GOVERNMENT, AND INDEED GOD’S VISION FOR A HEALTHY HUMAN SOCIETY.”

Retired Anglican Bishop and New Testament Scholar

PSALM 72a vision of a world in which justice is done,

especially for the powerless, by those with power “Loving v. Virginia” (1967)

PSALM 72: DESCRIPTIVE EXCERPTS

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.

4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 11

May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

PSALM 72: DESCRIPTIVE EXCERPTS

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will

call him blessed. 18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19 Praise be to his glorious

name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

“PSALM 72 HOLDS OUT FOR US A VISION OF A WORLD AFLAME WITH GLORY; A WORLD IN WHICH JUSTICE IS DONE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE POOR AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOBODY TO SPEAK FOR THEM…”

“…THIS IS A VISION OF A KING TO WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH COME BEARING GIFTS BECAUSE HE IS DOING WHAT THEY KNOW THEY OUGHT TO BE DOING, NAMELY DELIVERING THE NEEDY WHEN THEY CALL OUT, HAVING PITY ON THE WEAK AND POOR, RESCUING THE HELPLESS FROM THE GREEDY, THE OPPRESSIVE AND THE VIOLENT.”

“…THIS IS A VISION OF A KING TO WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH COME BEARING GIFTS BECAUSE HE IS DOING WHAT THEY KNOW THEY OUGHT TO BE DOING, NAMELY DELIVERING THE NEEDY WHEN THEY CALL OUT, HAVING PITY ON THE WEAK AND POOR, RESCUING THE HELPLESS FROM THE GREEDY, THE OPPRESSIVE AND THE VIOLENT.”

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In spite of how America was birthed with this inspiring promise, only 8% of the population were eligible to vote in the very first election for President.

Only land-owning males withroots in western Europe.

-Rev. Joshua DuBoisFormer Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

“We are a country that has deep challenges related to race, gender and economics. While things have certainly gotten better over time we have not done a lot of introspection about our character—thus, we see the spasms and backlashes that have occurred and will occur as we grow and change.”

Politicians—most who see themselves as ones whom the Almighty has entrusted to govern this country—have routinely sinned against the human beings who were here centuries before Europeans arrived.

How does King Jesus view Native Americans today? How does King Jesus expect American politicians and others with power and influence to rescue the helpless from the greedy?

Crude oil spills in the last 5 years

“THE JAPANESE RACE IS AN ENEMY RACE AND WHILE MANY SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION JAPANESE BORN ON AMERICAN SOIL, POSSESSED OF

AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, HAVE BECOME ‘AMERICANIZED,’ THE

RACIAL STRAINS ARE UNDILUTED…

General John L. DeWitt, head of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command

“…IT, THEREFORE, FOLLOWS THAT ALONG THE VITAL PACIFIC COAST OVER

112,000 POTENTIAL ENEMIES, OF JAPANESE EXTRACTION, ARE AT LARGE

TODAY. THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THESE ARE ORGANIZED AND READY

FOR CONCERTED ACTION AT A FAVORABLE OPPORTUNITY…”

General John L. DeWitt, head of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command

“…THE VERY FACT THAT NO SABOTAGE HAS TAKEN PLACE

TO DATE IS A DISTURBING AND CONFIRMING INDICATION THAT SUCH ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.”

General John L. DeWitt, head of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command

Psalm 72:1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.

4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.

14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

STUDY VOTE PRAY HOLD

OUR KING HAS COME!

ACT

Psalm 72:18 Give praise to the Lord God, the God of Israel. Only he can do wonderful things. 19 Give praise to his glorious

name forever. May his glory fill the whole earth.

Amen and Amen

For to us a child is born,to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6