The King that We Yearn For

            It looks like we are about to elect another president.  Hillary Clinton and a couple of others have signed up for the Democrats and too many to count have come forth for the Republicans.  It ought to be a fascinating campaign and election.  The only problem, it seems to me, is that somewhere along the line, truth will disappear and the debate will probably be more about personality and division than the reality of our life as a people. 

            The problem is that forces seemingly beyond our control have taken over the process.  Money appears to be in charge.  At the moment, the issue for all of the candidates is very clear: how much money can be raised to carry on a long arduous campaign that involves not only the primary but also the general election.  To do this, it is necessary to involve the big givers, the ones with large resources.  The problem with this is that these are also mostly the same people who want something for their donations.  Favors will be required.  We don’t look at that as closely as we need to.  It has corrupted our political process to the point that if nothing is done, we will watch while those with greed get their way and those with little resource are left on the side of the road to watch. 

            I mention this because of the words in the First book of Samuel, which is a call from the people of Israel for a king; one to rule over them and to provide what they hope will be justice. They were tired of Samuel and his children and wanted a ruler with power to be in charge.  Samuel took this request to the LORD, who told him that the people were rejecting God as their king and he instructed Samuel to warn the people that their new king would require many things of them: their sons and daughters to perform services, and many taxes for their fields.  The people were adamant about this and so Samuel took them to Gilgal where Saul was instituted as their king.  We all know how that turned out.  Saul waged wars against the nations around him, was finally pursued and eventually killed, and David and the nation went on.  It isn’t a good time in the history of Israel.  It is clear through the scriptures that the people are confused and want to have some kind of power.  They are not satisfied to have God and Samuel in charge.  They want someone in charge who will make them to be a great nation.  This is what God is warning them about. 

            In the Gospel, the Scribes come and confront Jesus about his healing and his teaching.  They claim that Satan is within him.  Jesus refutes this simply by asking if Satan can cast out Satan, and he then uses those great words that Lincoln also used during the Civil War: if a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.  We know that to be true.  When I look at the political field in this country, those are the words that come immediately to mind.  We are certainly a house divided; the right and the left fume at each other constantly.  We can expect little agreement coming out of congress or out of those who oppose each other during the coming political contests.  They will fume and blame and charge each other with all sorts of things.  It won’t be very pretty.  So what are we supposed to do?  I think it is essential that we remember where our allegiance lies.  We are not people who are wedded to one particular president or king; or even necessarily to a particular political party.  We are a people whose allegiance is first of all to our God, who created us, loves us and wants only the best for each of us. 

            Our God is not impressed by wealth.  In the words of Psalm 138:

            Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly*

            He perceives the haughty from afar.

        Those are words that our political people need to listen to.  Ultimately, they are not in charge at all; God is.  We fail when we order our lives according to greed and ignore the needs of those who have nothing.  But that is the work of the church, to provide for all of those who have been left behind and to encourage our government to do the same.  May God bless us in this new political season, and bring us out in a place that favors the values of the Kingdom of God, no matter who it is who ultimate wins the election.