Today's Scripture Reading (August 26, 2025): Psalm 61
Elizabeth II
died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Her reign was 70 years, 214 days, the
longest reign of any British monarch and the longest reign for any Queen
anywhere on the planet. The only longevity mark that Elizabeth II did not beat was
that of Louis XIV of France, who ruled for almost two years longer than
Elizabeth II, but he also ascended to the throne of France at the age of four.
In contrast, Elizabeth was 25 years of age with a three-year-old son, Charles III,
and a sixteen-month-old daughter, Anne, when she became Queen.
The Sunday following
the Queen's death was September 11, 2022, a day that was already full of
meaning for people who live on my side of the pond. But on that Sunday, I decided
to do something a little unusual. On significant days, I have been known to
throw in the national anthem to sing in the worship service, even though I
believe that my allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven takes precedence over the
nation in which I live and am a citizen. However, on September 11, 2022, the
national anthem I chose to use to open the service was the anthem of the United
Kingdom, a song entitled "God Save the King." The title of this anthem
changes with the gender of the monarch. On September 11, 2022, I remarked that
while I have sung the song "God Save the Queen" several times in my
life, even though I have never been to Britain, this would be the first time I
would sing "God Save the King." But first, in memory of over seventy
years on the British throne, we sang "God Save the Queen," followed
by "God Save the King."
Some
severely criticized me for my decision. We have long memories, and the evils of
rulers and their houses often dominate our memories. Why would I choose to sing
that song, knowing all of the evil that the monarchs of the United Kingdom have
perpetuated throughout history? Murder, slavery, false imprisonment, the sins
of colonization in the New World, were just some of the sins for which the
former Queen and the new King could be blamed.
My reaction
was that I have a shorter memory, and blaming any of us for what our ancestors
might have done doesn't make much sense to me. Elizabeth and Charles could be
blamed for the sins that they have committed, but at the same time, so could
we. And there comes a moment when what we need is to forgive each other. And so
we sang.
God save our gracious
King.
Long live our noble King,
God save The King:
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The King.
David prays
that "you have given me the heritage of those who fear
your name." It is a phrase that speaks of his reign as King, but it also
speaks of those who went before and those who would follow him. The words carry
a similar meaning to the one we would find in "God Save the King."
God, you have heard my vows, and even when I have failed you, I know that my
reign and that of those who follow me will be in your hands. Therefore, you
remain the one who deserves all of our praise.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 62
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