Friday 08 September 2023

Psalm 45

Background

Today is marked in some Churches as the ‘Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary’, and is associated with Christian sources, beginning in the 2nd century AD, which give more details about Mary than are found in the Bible. The Methodist Prayer Handbook notes this, praying in solidarity with partners from other Christian traditions.

The Bible passage for today is therefore the central future promise in the book of Micah (verse 2). New Testament writers see it as a reference to Mary giving birth to Jesus.

The book of Micah is in three parts, with two sections detailing the troubles faced by the people of God, and a central section giving a message of hope, culminating in 5:2-4. Before this supreme promise is a reminder of the dire situation they face – in 701 BC the Assyrian army is besieging Jerusalem and Judea stands alone. It is as if the king, Hezekiah, has been struck on the cheek – a great insult.

The promised future leader will be like King David, born in Bethlehem. David represented the monarchy at its best, in a way that so many subsequent kings failed to live up to. The promised new ruler is not referred to as ‘king’ – this will be a re-setting of the relationship between God and the leader. The Lord is King and Shepherd, and the new ruler will be an under-shepherd ruling in harmony with the divine will. There is just glancing reference to the mother of the new ruler, who will be born, "when she who is in labour has brought forth" (verse 3). This echoes slightly fuller mentions of his mother by an earlier prophet, in Isaiah 7:14.

 In Matthew’s Gospel, this passage from Micah helps the ‘wise men’ to understand why they have been guided to Bethlehem when Jesus is born (Matthew 2:5-6). This is heard by Herod as a potential threat to his own rule, and he sets out to seek and kill the new baby ruler. In contrast, Mary is honoured as humble and obedient (Luke 1:38, 45), and the question echoing through Micah and the gospels is about what such characteristics will mean for the way that her son might rule.

To Ponder:

• What virtues are good for a leader? What dangers are there in holding power over a people?
• How do you think Mary felt about prophecies like this in the Hebrew scriptures?

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God,
who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child-bearing of blessed Mary:
grant that we, who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature
and your love made perfect in our weakness,
may daily be renewed in your image and conformed to the pattern of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Church of England Collect commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary