Pastor's Ponderings                                                                                                                  Pastor Mark Willig

"Of Cabbages and Kings"

(about freedom and government and what do Christians have to say)

1. “In those days there was no king in Israel.”

We read this 4 times in the book of Judges. (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; and 21:25) This is after the people of Israel went into the promised land with Joshua; and after they had settled there.

What did it mean to have no king? Again the book of Judges says, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6; 21:25) On one hand the Israelites were free to work how they wanted, move and live where they wanted, and so on. This is the good part. On the other hand, many forgot about God and faith and morality. This is the bad part.

It is interesting how many similarities there are between their time and ours, how similar are the problems and the issues of freedom.

2. The elders of Israel came to Samuel and said, “appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:5) God said to Samuel “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” (8:7) “Only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king” (8:9)

Samuel did warn them: He will take the best of the crops, the best of your flocks and herds, and the best of the land, your sons for soldiers, your daughters to serve in the palace, and so on and so on. That is the way of the king. (1 Samuel 8:11-18)

It happened, as the people of Israel learned to their dismay over and over again. It’s in the nature of kings. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (John Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton) But how does it corrupt? Where does it all go wrong?

Recently I heard someone say this. The more power a ruler has the more he will assume he knows what is right, not only for himself but also for others. He will believe he has the right to control even the smallest things – not only what effects him but the things in other people’s personal lives.

So it happens around the world. Rulers with complete power believe they know better than others and begin to command smaller and more private parts of people’s lives. The king (in the 1700’s) demands a tax be paid on tea, and tells the citizens what they can and cannot buy and sell. In the middle ages the noble could tell the peasant where to plant, what to plant (cabbages, wheat, grapes, etc.), and how much he could keep; how to raise their children; who would go to school; and what religion to believe.

That’s why the title. It ends up being down to the least little thing. If the king can tell you how many rows of cabbages to plant, how much freedom do you have? So today we would say that kings are a really bad idea. That’s why we don’t have one.

But what about that part of 1 Samuel 8:7 where God says, “they have rejected Me from being king over them”?

3. “On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’ (Revelation 19:16)

This is the vision of Jesus returning to reign forever and ever. He is our King, with absolute power over our lives.
This is the difference: Normal earthly kings and rulers cannot fully know your abilities and potential. They cannot know what you can learn or what you would love to do.

But our King Jesus . . . He knows you. He sees all the way deep inside your soul. Read Psalm 139:1-6 (. . . You have searched me and known me! . . . You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path . . . and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, . . . You know it altogether. . . . “)
With earthly rulers, if they presume to decide what is right for you they will get it wrong. The only question is whether they will get it a little wrong or terribly wrong.

But our King Jesus – He is able to guide your life. And when He leads you and steers your life what happens? You are at your best. You are more completely you than any other way of living. You live to your greatest potential, and He brings you to the things that actually give the greatest joy.

Earthly rulers seek their own glory and greatness.

But our King Jesus – What He has decided He wants is for you to be transformed “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18); “who will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body by the power that enables Him to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21) and who says, “but I have called you friends”. (John 15:15)
He is able to be your King because He knows you so well that He knows what is truly right for you.
4. It’s Independence Day this weekend.

Enjoy the freedoms you have been given. They are from God. And remember that true freedom can only come through your relationship with the Christ who said, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8)

Pastor Mark

St. John Youth Gathering News - National Youth Gathering 2010

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