Thoughts for the Day

The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;
anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
It is honourable to refrain from strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
The lazy person does not plough in season;
harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.
The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
but the intelligent will draw them out.
Many proclaim themselves loyal,
but who can find one worthy of trust?
The righteous walk in integrity—
happy are the children who follow them!
A king who sits on the throne of judgement
winnows all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin’?
Even children make themselves known by their acts,
by whether what they do is pure and right.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made them both.
Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In the past when I was singing with the English Baroque Choir in London we sang Handel's Chandos Anthem No. 3 (written for the Duke of Chandos around c1718/19) in the church where it was first heard, that is in the parish church of St Lawrence, Little Stanmore. The organ that was used that night was the same one that was played by Handel, and there was something very magical about the whole event.

The reason this anthem came to my mind were the words "Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin’?" in Proverbs Chapter 20 (see above). King Solomon took these words from his father. King David's, Psalm (Psalm 51) that great lament over the latter's sin, that we say or sing on Ash Wednesday as we prepare for the season of Lent.

The point is that both David and Solomon knew how dangerous a King's rage could be for they had the power of life and death over their people, and just as it wasn't wise to wake a sleeping lion, it was also unwise to make a King angry. However, both these Kings knew that ultimately the real power lay with God, and it was to Him that they must offer an acceptable sacrifice. David had learnt that "a broken and contrite heart, God, will not despise", while Solomon knew to offer advice to his son that when trouble struck he must "Wait for the Lord, for he will help you".

Almighty Father,
Heavenly King,
we come to You knowing our unworthiness
to be Your sons and daughters,
since we have sinned against You.
But You have taught us that
a broken and contrite heart
You will not despise,
and so we plead that You will give us
a clean heart free from all our sin.
Amen.