Reflection - Kings

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020416.cfm

1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12
Mark 6:7-13

Except for history and stories and legends, the concept of 'King' would probably long since have been consigned to the trash bin. The title falls into the same general classification as pharaoh, emperor, czar and monarch along with the feminine variants, like empress and queen. The title designates one who rules over a nation or country with supreme, and sometimes absolute, authority. And, while a few kings and queens are still around today, the serious ones, the ones for whom it's more than an honorary title, prefer, by-in-large, to have themselves titled president or something similar. The designation 'king' has, through the centuries, included a range of characters whose personalities and ruling styles were as diverse as the rest of mankind. Historically these people were sometimes thought to rule by divine right; at other times they were thought to be gods; at other times they simply acted as if they were gods.

In this morning's Old Testament reading we find King David providing instruction to his son, Solomon, about what is appropriate behavior for the King of God's people. I'll come back to that in a moment; but first, some background is essential.

When the Hebrew people first entered the Promised Land they were a loose federation of twelve tribes under the leadership, first of Moses and then of Joshua. They had no King. The tribes were to provide mutual support for one another without a king commanding it. The arrangement worked but modestly; most often each of the tribes was content to ignore another tribe's troubles. 

Eventually, as we find recorded in the first book of Samuel, the people came to the prophet, Samuel, saying: "Appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us." Samuel considered this an unwise proposition and warned the people as much; but they persisted. Within a short period of time, Samuel, with divine guidance, selected as king a young man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. But there were conditions, some of which we heard in David's advice to Solomon. 

. . . keep the charge [i.e., follow the directives] of the LORD your God,
walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his
ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that
you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.

These elements were critical. The king of God's people was not to be like the kings of other peoples. He was not the origin of law; the law came from God. He was not above the law; it applied to him as it did to everyone else. Thus, his power was not absolute, nor was he himself the ultimate authority. God, and God alone was the King of the Chosen People. Further, the King had a great responsibility. He was to to be the mediator, representing the people before God and representing God to the people. The manner in which he filled his office was to reflect the justice and mercy, the holiness and integrity of God himself. This was a serious burden, and, when properly carried out, provided for the spiritual integrity of the nation. That's why the exchange of words between Pilate and the chief priests was so ironic.

Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:25)

King David's advice to his son was right on target. While David himself was a sinner, he acknowledge and repented his sin. More importantly, although David was not perfect, he " . . . walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness. . . " (1 Kings 9:4) The same could not be said of Solomon. He began well enough; but power went to his head, and he quickly became the kind of king about whom Samuel had warned.

These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: said Samuel, he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your cattle and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. (1 Samuel 8:11-17)

Slowly but surely Solomon began to imitate the kings of surrounding nations. The light the nation of Israel was to be for the nations of the world was steadily being extinguished. Yet, the worst was yet to come. 

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. Then Solomon built a high place for Che'mosh the abomination of Moab, and for Mo'lech the abomination of the Am'monites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. (1 Kings 11:4, 7-8)

The story of Israel's kings for the next nine hundred years could, with few exceptions, be summarized in Scripture's dismissive description of so many: 

He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. (1 Kings 15:26)

By the time of Jesus, the Jews were no longer ruled by a king from the line of David. But by that time God was implementing the next phase of his plan. And wise men came asking.

"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2)

Jesus came from the line of David. He came as priest, prophet and king. The instructions David gave to his son were applicable to all his descendant as well --- and, for Jesus, they were totally unnecessary. In him was the fulfillment of God's promises to David that his posterity would reign from the royal throne forever. 

To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon
his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Of the increase of his
government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David,
and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with
righteousness from this time forth and for evermore.The zeal of the LORD
of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

In his great wisdom, the Father chose to extend his presence in human history. The new king was now the origin of law; the law came from God. His power was now absolute; for God himself has the ultimate authority. He and he alone was the King, not only of the Chosen People, but of all people. He was and is the mediator between God and man, par excellence. He presents us to the Father and presents the Father to us. The manner in which he fills his office, not only reflects, but makes present to us the justice and mercy, the holiness and integrity of the Father himself. And, to complete this wondrous venture, he chose to supersede the necessity for the king to model the life of the righteous for his subjects. He would now teach them from within. Because I have been baptized I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The other evening I was watching the results of the caucuses in Iowa. The ultimate result of the election and all that precedes it will command my interest and my attention --- maybe even my enthusiasm or my despair. But in the end, it is all quite temporary. My King, however, is eternal and his presence within me is more real and more profound --- and hopefully more life changing ---than anything a president can do or be. I had to ask myself: how often do I rejoice in my King.