It is easy to call the Israelites foolish;
unfaithful for asking for a king.
So simple to evaluate the story 
from our position of privilege: 
as people who know how the story ends,
reading Scripture in a democratic country
without fear of persecution.

But 1 Samuel 8 tells us that the system was broken.
The current leaders, Samuel's sons,
turned aside after gain;
they took bribes and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3)
Before them, it was no better.
Eli’s sons were scoundrels:
they had no regard for the Lord 
or for the duties of the priests to the people. (1 Samuel 2:12-17)

We can talk about God being king,
but what happens when the system isn't working?!?
Is it any wonder that the Israelites
asked to be given the systems they had seen to work,
that they asked to be like everyone else?

It's not hard to find parallels to today:
church leaders that act like CEOS,
including the pay inequity and lack of concern for 'employees;'
Christians acting like everyone else,
ignoring abuse, ableism, and oppression,
focusing instead on our image and branding.

We can talk about God being king,
but what happens when the system isn't working?
A system where the rich get more,
and the poor find it hard to buy food or find shelter;
a system that has taken children for residential schools,
and then their children into foster care;
a system where we run not before chariots
but in a rat-race to succeed and gain more.

And so the people ask for a king.
And God listens,
and tells Samuel to “Listen to their voice
and set a king over them.”  (1 Samuel 8:22)

What kind of God chooses to listen,
to allow us to follow our own way
so that we might come to terms with our foolish desires
and our longing for power and authority used well?
What kind of God encourages us to look to others,
to long for what they have,
only to discover that this leads us to God,
for God is already working in and through society, culture, the university?
What kind of God turns upside our image of who God is,
so that we might discover that this God of justice and love
is what we were looking for
when we realized that the system was broken?


Peter Haresnape, who is from the UK and ordained in a church tradition known for its pacifism, is exploring the image of God as king with us this week. I'm looking forward to his perspective as he helps us explore authority, power, God, male-ness, oppression, mastery (and slavery), and monarchy.
 
As always, we have a great group of people participating in the service:
The prayers are from the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Deb is putting together the service and leading the music,
Robert is reading Scripture
Jacqueline Daley is leading us in the Eucharist,
Peter is bringing sausage,
and I get to bring the rest of breakfast and act as Sacristan.

The service is on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at Trinity College Chapel. (Enter using the main doors of Trinity College and then turn left down the hallway to the Chapel).

I hope to see you there.

Living with hope,
Brenda Kronemeijer-Heyink
CRC Chaplain at the University of Toronto 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We've been posting weekly highlights from our services there as well as on our website. 

Reading Group on My Body is not a Prayer Request: We're hosting a book group on Amy Kenny's book on disability justice in the church. We'll meet 2-3 times over the semester, choosing a time that works for all those who'd like to participate. Let Brenda know if you're interested in joining us and would like a copy of the book.

Graduate Christian Fellowship on Thursdays at 7 p.m.: If you are a grad student or post-doc at UofT, you are invited to join other grad students, post-docs, and recent grads to have deep conversations about faith and scholarship, the Bible and society, relationships and calling. For more information, contact Brenda.