Just two days ago, I sat here in the chapel during a memorial service for former Dartmouth president, James Freedman. As is the case during memorial services, and especially in a service for such a well-known person, the various speakers out did themselves in singing the former president’s praises. Speaking sincerely, I am sure, people talked about their personal appreciation of his character, as well as the magnificent contributions he made to Dartmouth. Yet I have also spoken with people who felt that President Freedman came near to ruining Dartmouth. Those people, of course, did not speak at his memorial service. Since I met President Freedman only once, I can not judge the accuracy of the various testimonies. But what I can say for certain is that this man made a great impression on the college.
In a way, President Freedman was like King David. Perhaps the contemporary job of college president is most like what it meant to be a king three thousand years ago. King David made an impression on his people. His legend and his legacy grew and grew, so that during the years when Israel and Judah split and became less important in the world, the memory of the golden years of King David furnished a template for the hopes of the prophets of Israel and Judah, who hoped for a new anointed king, a messiah, who would restore the throne of David and rule with equity, justice, and peace. This hope, Christians believe, has been partly realized in Jesus Christ, whose reign has begun, and will continue, until the world’s end.
The psalm today, psalm 72, is the last of the psalms attributed to King David himself. The last line, an editorial comment, indicates that, with this psalm, the prayers of David son of Jesse are ended. The psalm is a prayer for the King, and for the king’s son. It is a coronation psalm, written either when a new king was being anointed, or perhaps at an anniversary. Whatever its occasion, the psalm has much to say to us about the purpose and goal of government.
There are those who say that religion and politics should be completely separate. If by this they mean that no political candidate should be seen as God’s obvious candidate, then they are right. But if they mean that religious values should not influence the kind of government we hope for, then they are, as this psalm makes clear, hopelessly wrong.
The simple fact is that, throughout history, there have been governments that served people well, and governments that served people poorly. There have been rulers who advocated for the people’s welfare, and rulers who advocated for their own. There have been rulers who knew that they themselves were subject to a higher judge, and rulers who thought themselves divine.
This psalm is a prayer for good government, and it makes clear that good government is concerned with these three things: impartial judgment, justice for the poor, and relief from oppression and violence. Over and over again, the psalm describes the ideal ruler as one who is responsive to the cries of the needy, one who is attentive to the poor, and one who abhors violence and seeks peace. These are, if you will, the “biblical values” that are clear in this psalm.
They are not, however, the values most loudly proclaimed today in our councils of government by those who boldly assert that they speak in the name of the Lord.
I am sometimes criticized for addressing political issues in my sermons. I do not think a preacher who knows the bible can avoid doing so. The scriptures are so clear, in this psalm and in the prophets and in the gospels, that those who rule in God’s name must be concerned for the poor, the needy, and those without power. Those are true biblical values. Those who keep those values close to their hearts, no matter whether they are conservative or liberal, are doing God’s will. Those who seek to perpetuate their own wealth and power, who embrace violence, who are unconcerned about the poor and the powerless, are not following God’s will, no matter how pious they proclaim themselves or pretend to be.
We live in a place of privilege and power, and it is hard for us not to be seduced by those illusions. That is why it is so important that we gather to hear the scripture and to center ourselves on what really matters. It is also why it is so important that The Tucker Foundation, charged with furthering the moral and spiritual work of DartmouthCollege, should continue to advocate service as a form of learning. Time and time again, students have told me that the most important parts of the Dartmouth education have been the trips to Nicaragua, or Biloxi – or the time spent as a big brother or big sister. It is very easy in a place like this to think that we deserve the privilege we have, and that the privileged deserve to rule. Too soon that conviction morphs into the conviction that privilege is the mark of God’s favor. Such attitudes turn the bible on its head.
You know that many of the rulers of our nation now make great claims about their faith, I am not convinced. Until we see our government championing the needs of the poor instead of the wealthy, until we see as many resources devoted to peacemaking as to war, until we see fasting instead of prayer breakfasts, we will have reason to doubt whether the glory of King David, and the cause of Jesus Christ, are being honored rather than mocked. There are of course many who believe that the righteousness of the nation depends upon eliminating abortion, prohibiting gay marriage, and protecting the flag. These issues all deserve serious discussion and respectful consideration. Now let us be clear: the bible is virtually silent about these issues, while it speaks loudly and clearly about others. Justice for the poor, help for the needy, relief for the oppressed – about these there can be no doubt. Let us not forget it.
Back to President Freedman. When he was inaugurated president, he vowed to make Dartmouth a place friendlier to creative loners and intellectuals, rather than a place of pure camaraderie for extroverts. He worked to accomplish that vision. In other words, he wanted Dartmouth to be a more inclusive place. For that he earned both criticism and praise. But those of us who are creative loners and intellectuals must say, for that may his memory be a blessing. And may we, in our lives, be a blessing too.
Copyright © 2006
Richard R. Crocker
