God's leader

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 (NRSV) Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.  It's hard today to read this Psalm without thinking of Nelson Mandela.  If ever there was a leader in our time who judged God's people with righteousness and defended the cause of the poor, it was Mandela.  He re-taught this world something that Jesus and those who followed like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and others did, how peace is the only way to truly "crush" the oppressor.    In my lifetime, no leader has inspired me more.  His leading South Africa out of the darkness of Apartheid with truth and reconciliation as his solution proved that in this world where "might" is usually "right," peace and forgiveness can win over retribution and revenge. Psalm 72 reminds us that wondrous things are truly done only by our God.  In the end, despite Mandela's inspiring leadership, South Africa still has many problems.  But not the problems it had.  When God has a partner after his own heart - a leader like Mandela - working in concert, peace fell like showers that water the earth.  And Mandela's example lives on to inspire others to be the kind of leader he was. This Psalm - as well as Mandela's example - remind us what kind of leader God seeks for his people.  One who treats them with justice, with special attention being given to the cause of the poor.  The poor can be anyone who is oppressed and marginalized from the rest of society.  I am thankful that the world offered such a leader in Mandela, who sought freedom for his people without diminishing the dignity of his enemies.  May he rest in peace. Loving and forgiving God, we thank you for your servant Nelson Mandela.  We pray that our leaders follow his example - and that we follow his example.  May we never forget that truth and reconciliation are the true walk to freedom.  Amen. "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela