An imagined interview with the Hebrew prophets
Each week, attempting to maintain sanity, I overlay the preaching of Hebrew prophets with the politics of the US.
Cornel West, in Democracy Matters, says “In the face of callous indifference to the suffering wrought by our imperialism, we must draw on the prophetic.”
Here is an imagined interaction between prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Balaam, Amos, Ezekiel, and two surprise guests to discuss the fog of war, the dangers of imperialism and overreach, the allure of power and military aggression.
In agreement with Hebrew scholar Walter Brueggemann, “I do not believe the Bible points directly to any political action or policy …. but it may tilt our imagination in one direction or another.”
The prophets do business at the intersection of truth and power. They engage in conversations in which status quo power doesn’t always prevail. The prophets speak truth to power.
Rod Kennedy: I’m Rodney Kennedy and I am having a conversation with some Hebrew prophets about politics, war and power. This has been a week of all over the map decisions about war. Are we at war or in a cease fire? Is the Strait of Hormuz open or closed? Is there a deadline or not?
My first question is for Isaiah: Are we seeing the limitations of political leaders to grapple with issues of war?
Isaiah: Indeed. Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Even though you read the Bible in public from cover to cover, this will not hide your hypocrisy and I will not listen.
God demands people “cease to do evil; learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16 – 17).
Rodney: Do you think recklessness or heedlessness can be the undoing of a powerful leader?
Isaiah: Yes. As I said in my day, people should taunt reckless rulers. God has finished with oppressors. Those who rule with insolence and arrogance, who rule in anger with unrelenting persecution are struck down. God will not forever tolerate the ruler who thinks more highly of himself than he ought. The pompous will end in Sheol. And his is true of “all who were kings of the nations.”
I was speaking to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and all reckless, arrogant rulers:
How you are fallen from heaven,
O Morning Star, son of Dawn!
You said to yourself,
“I will ascend to heaven;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the depths of the Pit (Isaiah 14:12 – 15).
My second question is for Jeremiah. What do you think about the idolatry in America?
Jeremiah: Image is just another word for idol. In ancient Rome, Caesar had sculptors make multiple versions of his image. No contemporary authoritarian can succeed without the modern equivalent. Images of your president are everywhere. Most tellingly, his image will appear on the commemorative coin for America’s 250th anniversary. On both sides, can you imagine it?
I recall my words: “But my people have changed their glory
for something that does not profit ….
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug out cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns
that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2: 11, 13).
Rodney: I want to switch now to one of the most delightful and sort of “Late Night Comedy” stories in the Bible. Balaam, do you think your story applies to what is happening in American politics? I can’t resist the possibility that your donkey knew more about diplomacy than President Donald Trump.
Balaam: The writers tell my story tongue in check. The story of my all-seeing, talking donkey ranks with Jonah as brilliant Jewish comedy.
I was a prophet for hire. I accepted a contract with Balak to curse the army of Israel. On my way to curse Israel, I encountered the angel of the Lord in the road with sword drawn to kill me, but I couldn’t see the angel. My donkey sees the angel of the Lord. And to add spice to the story, my donkey speaks. This is sheer comedic genius.
Once the truth hit me, I refused to curse Israel. Instead, I blessed Israel three times.
Rodney: Imagine the outrage of President Trump if Robert Jeffress or Franklin Graham told him God didn’t bless his war with Iran.
Rodney: Amos, like his prophetic peers, was committed to justice – justice for the oppressed. Amos, do you find your words as relevant now as ever?
Amos: I prophesied in the name of the God who decides the destiny of all nations. No nation is ever exempt from God’s judgment especially any nation claiming to be God’s special people.
The king’s court priest Amaziah falsely accused me and deported me. Power never respects or honors truth. Amaziah stands forever condemned by his own words:
“O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there, but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”
Rodney: Ezekiel gave much attention to the scourge of false prophets in his day. Ezekiel what do you think about false prophets now?
Ezekiel: Every nation is haunted by false prophets. Such preachers are particularly numerous in America. False prophets are rewarded in America with money, status and access to more political power. Plus photo Opps in the gold-gilded Oval Office. You can identify the false prophets. They are the ones hovering over the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Robert Jeffress and Franklin Graham vie to be the most ingratiating of Trump’s false prophets.
Rodney: What do you think of all these performances?
Ezekiel: Alas for the senseless prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. You have not gone up into the breaches or repaired a wall for the house of Israel, so that it might stand in battle on the day of the Lord. They have envisioned falsehood and lying divination; they say, “Says the Lord,” when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! Have you not seen a false vision or uttered a lying divination when you have said, “Says the Lord,” even though I did not speak? (Ezekiel 13:3 – 7).
Rodney: Zechariah has a quick word. He just dropped in on our conversation.
Zechariah: I am appalled by military aggression and entanglements Preemptive strikes against alleged enemies are the standing orders of all power-hungry rulers. You see it everywhere when rulers claim unconditional power: A “lone-ranger” policy. “Spare no enemies” policy. Unconditional surrender policy. The bully on the block policy.
I couldn’t say better what I said in my time: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ” (Zechariah 4:6 – 8).
Rodney: Habakkuk has dropped in to offer a closing benediction. Good to see you Habakkuk.
Habakkuk: “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing
and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous;
therefore judgment comes forth perverted (Habakkuk 1:1 – 4).
