The Reflectionary

As I write this, the UK is one week from a General Election. Very shortly, a new (almost certainly, Labour) government will be fluffing its petticoats, trying to look like it knows what it’s doing, despite the majority of cabinet members having no experience of the job.

That’s not a party-political statement; it’s true of most new governments, whatever the colour. Notably, of the last seven British prime ministers, two were noobies when they took office (Blair and Cameron) and they were the longest-lasting. Liz Truss, by contrast, had held several cabinet positions before her fifty days of pandemonium.

BTW, in case that makes me sound like I know what I’m talking about (I don’t), I read a ‘clever bods who do know what they’re talking about’ newsletter called The Conversation. Here’s their analysis.

In 1 Samuel 5, The people of Israel invite David to be their king. He wasn’t the son of the previous king, nor did he have any experience of ‘kinging’. He was a former-shepherd-cum-military-leader, and was made king because the people liked him.

He reminds me of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader. In case you don’t know, he was previously a comedian who starred in Servant of the People, a TV show about a fictional Ukrainian president. Basically, Yes, Prime Minister. The series was immensely popular and when Zelenskyy stood as a presidential candidate in 2019, he won a landslide. (Worth noting, though, that he has a degree in law, so he’s not exactly a numpty.)

So David became the country’s leader on a massive popular vote. Oh yes, and God had chosen him. The result? A 40-year golden age of peace and prosperity. Sounds good to me. And I bet they didn’t have potholes in their roads. (Mind you, first-world problem, eh?)

And what of our new leaders? And the new leaders in other places? There are elections in 97 countries this year, including eight of the ten most populous nations: Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. And the European Parliament, too. That’s 2 billion voters the world over. (Banana for scale: 8 times the size of the US election – Good Lord, deliver us!)

There are two phrases from our passage that jump out as being so, so relevant for today: ‘shepherd of my people’ and ‘the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him’. We need leaders who will be shepherds, not wolves. I don’t care what colour of political party someone is, what matters is integrity, honesty, putting people before profit. And whoever ends up leading the country you live in, pray for them. Pray that they would be shepherds and that God would be with them. Boy, do they need that!

Whatever your views on politics, and whether you are pleased with the result of your elections or not, be grateful that you live in a country where there is more than one name on the ballot paper. Not everyone is so lucky. So please do get off your bum and vote. It matters. And pray for your leaders. You never know, we might end up with 40 years of world peace and prosperity. (Unlikely, I agree, but I believe in a God of miracles!)

CartoonChurch.com cartoon by Dave Walker originally appeared in the Church Times.

Dave Granlund cartoon (c) Dave Granlund (surprise!)

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2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The LORD said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.”

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

(NRSV)

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Liturgy Resources for Proper 9

2 Cor 12:2-10

Confession and Absolution

Father of all mercies,
grant us knowledge of ourselves,
that we may realise our weakness and need of forgiveness.
Grant us also knowledge of you,
that we may glimpse your boundless grace,
for whenever we are weak, then we are strong.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

or

“My grace is sufficient for you,” says the Lord,
“for my power is made perfect in weakness.
“My grace is sufficient for you,” says the Lord,
“for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Lord have mercy.

Lord we call upon your grace, and confess our weakness.
Our love for you is weak, especially in …
Our love for our fellow humans is weak, especially in …
Our love for your world is weak, especially in …
Forgive us, we pray, and strengthen us according to your will.
Amen.

Strengthened, restored, renewed, empowered,
we thank you, Gracious God,
that you work in our weakness and give us grace.
May the power of Christ dwell in us as we learn to rest in you.
Amen.

Blessing and Dismissal

May you be strong in the Lord

May you know your weakness, and your strength in Christ.
May you know God, and his surpassing greatness.
May you be filled with grace, sufficient and sufficient and sufficient.
And the blessing …

Go, boasting gladly in your weakness, for when you are weak, then you are strong, and Christ’s power will rest on you.
Amen.