Comments on Judges 14:1-16:31; Ruth 1:6-17; 3:1:13; 1 Samuel 8:1-22
Biblical Literacy, pages 74-96
If we were to smash a bottle of champagne against the hull of a ship that will carry us across the turbulent seas of the 21st century, we might call the ship “Collaboration.” Many writers say there is just too much information and too many obstacles that have to be overcome for one person to effectively lead. Leadership today, they maintain, requires a team working from the same vision and aligned with the same standards and headed for the same port. Technology helps make such collaboration possible. The best ideas can be nurtured wherever they are born, and can spread like viruses over the whole world.
Yet there seems to be another strong force lurking like the opposite pole of a magnet in the anatomy of the human psyche. We long for a powerful leader, male or female, a Samson or a Ruth. We dissect leadership in our books and conversations; we study memoirs; we probe like Delilah to find the secrets of the leader’s power and strength. We erect statues, write history, sing songs, award Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. –And we follow their advice. Give us a king, we demand—someone wise and powerful to tell us what to do--and we will follow him!
The Israelites—despite the warnings of Samuel—and despite the examples of the many Judges who served them well—wanted a king. So they got kings. In one listing of the kings from both the north and the south when the kingdom of Israel was divided into Israel and Judah, there were 40 kings listed and 30 of them were labeled ‘bad,’ ‘mostly bad,’ ‘wicked’ or ‘the worst’ by one commentator; i.e., as NOT GOOD for their people.
The truly strong and powerful people of the Hebrew Scriptures knew where their power came from: it came from God. Samson did not rely on his growing hair before collapsing the castle that had a thousand Philistines dancing on the roof; he relied on God’s hearing his final prayer.
What a contrast Jesus is to these historical ideas about leadership and power! We still cannot give up calling him Christ the King and chanting that his kingdom will never end and praying at least once a week “Thy Kingdom come,” but it is VERY difficult to keep in mind the kind of power he modeled for us. If we call him King, we’d better be sure what kind of King we are thinking of.
If that ship that is carrying us into the squalls of the 21st century were called “Meekness” or “Humility,” or “Service,” would we come on board? How many of us will find our greatest joy this year in giving UP power, turning the other cheek, forgiving, serving the under-served, and being content to swim in the sea of God’s love?
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