A Psalm of Peace

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

    the Lord sits enthroned as King forever.

11 May the Lord give strength to His people!

  May the Lord bless His people with peace!

The Lord of the covenant (all capital letters) sits over judgment – the flood. David knew his history. He grew up a shepherd, so the story tells us the importance of learning God’s Word in his early life because he became king at a young age, anointed as an adolescent by Samuel. David knew the people who heard this psalm would be familiar with the story of the flood too.

God sent His Son for us to be reconciled. Through this reconciliation, God fulfilled His covenant with Israel and with us. Simeon, an elderly man, recognized the Christ in Luke 2, and he lifted up this song to God:

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now You are letting your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”

David foretells of the Messiah as do the prophets. Simeon, inspired by God’s Spirit, sees Christ and knows who He is. The God of Judgment is also the God of Peace and Reconciliation. 

We pray: Gracious and merciful Father, help me to hear the message of reconciliation as we draw near Easter, the day Your Son defeated death, sin, and Satan for us. Help me to know the peace this gives. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.