Living in the Spirit

November 15, 2021

Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 23:2-7

The spirit of the Lord speaks through me,
   his word is upon my tongue.
The God of Israel has spoken,
   the Rock of Israel has said to me:
One who rules over people justly,
   ruling in the fear of God,
is like the light of morning,
   like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
   gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

Is not my house like this with God?
   For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
   ordered in all things and secure.
Will he not cause to prosper
   all my help and my desire?
But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away;
   for they cannot be picked up with the hand;
to touch them one uses an iron bar
   or the shaft of a spear.
   And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot. –2 Samuel 23:2-7

Politics has crossed the line into jurisprudence– practical wisdom about the law. In Oklahoma last week, we legally executed a man for murder who was possibly mentally ill.  According to witnesses, he suffered numerous convulsions after he was administered the first drug and vomited twice while tethered to a gurney with arms outstretched. A federal court hearing is scheduled in February to determine once again whether Oklahoma’s method of execution is cruel and unusual punishment. Thirty men were on death row when this hearing was called who would be impacted by it. They were each required to choose the method of execution they would prefer, to be a party in the case. The man executed last week said making such a choice would be the equivalent of suicide, and his faith forbids suicide. Thus, he was removed from the case and immediately moved into execution protocols. This week our Governor will decide whether to execute a man for which there is compelling evidence that he did not commit the crime for which he was given the death penalty. Will the Governor decide based on the facts of the case or the point that 61% of Oklahoma’s support the death penalty?

David is the identified author of the above scripture, written at the end of his reign as king. Thus, the advice comes from an experienced politician. Yes, politics exist in a monarchy. David’s sage observation is to be a successful leader; one must do justice. Sometimes leaders need to be teachers also. They need to share with their constituents the broader picture of issues they may not know or understand.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, open our hearts and minds to considering all aspects of justice and as we strive to do what is right as citizens of a nation and state where justice is defined by people we elect. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.