1 Samuel 8.1, 4-18 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “Look here! You-- you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now then, set up for us a ruler to judge us, like all the heathen nations.” But the thing was evil in Samuel’s sight when they said, “Give us a ruler to judge us.” Then Samuel prayed to the Holy One of Old.
And the Holy One said to Samuel, “Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for it is not you they have rejected, but it is me they have rejected from ruling over them. Like everything else they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this very day, forsaking me and serving other gods; they are doing the same to you. Now then, hearken to their voice; but—you shall testify against them, and show them the judgement of the ruler who shall rule over them.”
So Samuel relayed all the words of the Holy One to the people who were asking him for a ruler. Samuel said, “This will be the judgement of the ruler who will rule over you all: your sons he will take and set them aside for himself his chariots and in his cavalry, and to run before his chariots. And he will set aside for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his plowing and to reap his reaping, and to make his furnishings of war and the furnishings of his chariots. Your daughters he will take to be apothecaries and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards; he will take and give to those who serve him. One-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards he will take and give to his eunuchs and those he enslaves. Your male slaves and your female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, he will take and put them to his work. Your flocks he will tithe…and you all, you shall be his slaves. And you all will cry out on that day in the face of your sovereign, whom you have chosen for yourselves; and God Whose Name is Holy will not answer you all on the day.”
John 6.14-20 When the people saw the sign that Jesus had done [multiplying the loaves and fish], they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” When Jesus realized that they were about to kidnap him in order to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
And when it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea. And they boarded a boat and headed across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea surged; a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about twenty-five stadia [three or four miles], they saw Jesus walking upon the sea and coming near the boat and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; be not afraid.”
Reflection If only we had the right politicians, the right king or president they would make and enforce laws that support our preferences, promote our programs for happiness and settle the storms in our lives. Right?
Apparently similar logic drove the elders of Israel whom we meet in the Hebrew Text insisting the prophet, priest and judge Samuel anoint for them a king to rule in their favor and make their lives better, effectively ending the tenure of Judges’ caring for the tribes of Israel. And so faithful Samuel prays to the Holy One and hears, “Give the people what they want and in no uncertain terms detail the consequences. Your sons and daughters will be drafted, farmlands seized and labor taxed for the sovereign’s benefit and “you all shall be (the king’s) slaves.” “
As predicted, insisting on transition from tribal jurisdiction to monarchy, life for the Israelites dives downhill. Caught in the argument between the elite who want to centralize power and the peasants who want their lives and liberty protected, Saul, the first King anointed by Samuel, is powerless to effect change. Not only that, he is consumed in a struggle with David who systematically strategizes to steal Saul’s crown. So what has changed?
Leap forward one thousand years to John’s text where we meet five thousand people who have seen the signs of Jesus’ healing and when their hunger is mysteriously satisfied with five barley loaves and two fish (John 6.1-13) the eyes of their hearts are opened. They recognize Jesus, “is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!” No doubt their minds are reeling with possibility. “Finally we will have a king to make and enforce laws that support our preferences, promote our programs for happiness and settle the storms in our lives. We must make Jesus king.”
But Jesus has no interest in being king or politician. “Perceiving then that (the people) were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” Jesus will not submit to making and enforcing laws that support political preferences or promote particular programs for happiness. Jesus wants nothing to do with exercising power over people nor is he here to assure a happily ever after life. Rather than being seized by the peoples’ passions Jesus turns his face toward the Holy One and withdraws to the mountain alone. Jesus turns to the source of Real Power.
Here is the thing. Beginning with Samuel we are forewarned, “Do not turn your back on the Holy One. If you put your faith in kings, monarchs or presidents they will demand your fealty, you will become their slaves and “you will cry out on that day in the face of your sovereign, whom you have chosen for yourselves, and GOD WHOSE NAME IS HOLY will not answer you all that day.” Do not look to kings or presidents to make and enforce laws that support your preferences and promote your programs for happiness. Do not look to kings or presidents to rescue you from life’s stormy seas. Turn to the source of Real Power.
As the psalmist proclaims, “Blessed be the Fount of Justice, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.” (PS 72.18) Every blessing, every mercy, every act of justice originates with God whose name is Holy. This is why we sing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…” And here is the thing we do not like to hear. When the storm is raging and winds are raising great waves of distress around them, Jesus does not still the storm for the terrified disciples. He just shows up to be in it with them. “Here I am. Do not be afraid.” Perhaps he would add, “ I do not come to serve your desires, to legislate your preferences or promise you a happily ever after life. I come to be with you so that you experience the Peace of Real Power no matter what storms rock your life.”
Truly we are living in a storm stricken time. We have lost control of our lives. What seemed settled is unsettled, things we thought were done have been undone. Once a shining city on a hill our country is ruptured and her light is dim. Even our Christian tradition is breached by angry voices demanding they have the right to impose their version of Christian values on the laws and life of society, who justify violence to achieve their end and believe real power can be centered in a president or king.
What then shall we do? Follow the lead of Jesus, withdraw to the mountain with Jesus remembering, “God whose name is Holy alone does wondrous things.”
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