With my “republican” leanings, you can well imagine that I loved this week’s Sabbath School study. The intent of this reflection, however, is not political but spiritual.
Some Dates I Cannot Forget
As a traveling pastor and administrator, I cannot easily remember dates, places, or sermons preached over the years. But there was one Sabbath I can recall the date of: May 6, 2023. I remember where I was preaching (High Wycombe, UK) and the passage I preached from, Judges 21:25, which reads, “There was no king in Israel at that time. Everyone did whatever they pleased” (GNT).[i]
This date is firmly engrained in my memory because it was the date of the coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom (and the other commonwealth realms).
This was a historic moment, for it was the first coronation in nearly 70 years; for many it was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
As you can imagine, the media coverage in the United Kingdom was extensive, and many discussions took place regarding the role of the monarchy in modern Britain. One particular aspect of lively discussion was the invitation to the public to swear allegiance to the king by reciting the words: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
As an aside, anyone wishing to become a British citizen has to share either the Oath of Allegiance or the Affirmation of Allegiance:
The former goes like this: “I, (name), swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors, according to law.”
The Affirmation of Allegiance, however, differs in that it does not include any reference to God.
Birth of My Republicanism
My republican leanings began when I was a child (7 years of age) and Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II visited my hometown of Leicester. I was so excited as my school arranged to greet the queen on her journey. What could be better than meeting the queen and being out of the classroom?
It was a gray and miserable day with a strong breeze and light rain, but that did not dampen our enthusiasm as we waved our Union Jack flags to see Her Majesty the Queen.
After waiting for well more than an hour, police outriders on motorbikes with their blue flashing lights came into view, and then we started to scream in excitement as they were heralding the approach of the monarch.
Numerous police on motorcycles and in cars passed until, in the middle, I saw a black limousine travelling at maybe 20 mph. The queen riding in her nice, warm limousine waved her hand, and within four seconds it was over. I had met or at least seen the queen.
This experience began my questioning: How can a child born to certain parents be considered more important or worthy than another child?
Whether our leaning is towards republicanism or monarchism, the truth is this: Jesus is the “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14).
Love of Monarchy
Israel’s desire for a king was partly a result of the corruption of Samuel’s sons as judges. Despite God’s warnings, the people were insistent on having their own monarchy (1 Sam. 8). It is also incredible that God would actively direct the appointment of their first and second kings, Saul and David (1 Sam. 10.24).
Whether a republican or monarchist, it is commonly agreed that monarchies are an enduring and compelling feature of our world’s history and are still significant today. It is reported that 43 of the 194 recognized states in the world have a monarchy, with monarchies being present on five continents.[ii]
As far as the UK and USA are concerned, psychologists and commentators have sought to explain why there is such love and interest in the royal family. Frank Farley (professor and psychologist) explained that people often live some of their lives through famous people, such as royalty. He described it as “parasocial behavior,” which occurs when “someone becomes attached to a person without actually interacting with them in any meaningful way.” [iii] This is very interesting, particularly because God has always wanted a meaningful interaction and relationship with His subjects. The people, however, rejected that, favoring what is now, a distant, remote relationship with monarchy through the media.
Benefits of Monarchy
I have wondered, when the author of Judges wrote what we read in the very last verse of the book, whether this was a hint to the benefit of a monarchy to Israel. The book of Judges chronicles some extremely bloody and violent events, such as we read in chapter 19, which begins with the preface: “In those days Israel had no king” (verse 1, NIV).[iv]
Is this to say that a monarch would have brought about the rule of law, but without such everyone would do “whatever they pleased” (Judges 21:25, GNT)?
From the standpoint of the monarchy, the period of the judges was one marked by anarchy and upheaval. The often-leaderless people wallowed in idolatry, immorality, and hatred. Sin was rampant on both personal and national levels.
Perhaps the book of Judges reveals the consequences of our lives and the type of society we can expect when we live outside the jurisdiction and authority of God, our King.
When God is not king, anything goes!
Maybe the horror of Judges 19 is recorded because it highlights how humanity lives when there is no royal godly authority figure who rules over our lives!
Certainly the book of Judges is about authority figures and their role in shaping Israelite society.
God and King
While Israel’s decision to appoint an earthly monarch was seen as a rejection of God as king, it is interesting to see how the beliefs and relationship between monarchs and God developed.
“Kings were revered, in many cases not just as priests, that is as intercessors between man and god, but as themselves gods, able to bestow upon their subjects and worshippers those blessings which are commonly supposed to be beyond the reach of mortals, and are sought, if at all, only by prayer and sacrifice offered to superhuman and invisible beings.”[v]
The idea that monarchs derive their legitimacy from God and might pass it down to their children has existed for millennia. Further, the relationship of monarchy and God/religion was evident in the past and is still evident today.
Aethelbert is recorded as the first English king to convert to Christianity (587-616). Among his first actions as a Christian king were to issue the earliest set of laws in the English language and to grant land to Augustine on which to build an abbey in Canterbury, the forerunner of Canterbury Cathedral. This began the close relationship between the church and the UK monarchy.
Another notable mention is Henry VIII, whose determination to have a male heir precipitated his marriage to Anne Boleyn, leading to his excommunication by the pope and the eventual creation of the Church of England.
The Authorized Version of the Bible came by way of King James of Scotland and England (1566-1625). The king took a strong personal interest in the translating of the Bible, which he viewed as an instrument of peace to bring together the divided factions in the church and the nations of Scotland and England into a single united kingdom.
The coronation of King Charles III was an openly religious service, which was “framed in the context of a celebration of Holy Communion and directly modeled on the crowning of Israelite kings . . . in which the new monarch is anointed with holy oil, consecrated and set apart in the manner of a priestly ordination.”[vi]
Whether our leaning is toward republicanism or monarchism, the truth is this: Jesus is the “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14).
So maybe, on final reflection, I am a monarchist; it is just that I believe in the heavenly Monarchy, and I willingly swear allegiance to God.
[i] Texts credited to GNT are from the Holy Bible, Good News Translation, second edition. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[ii] https://www.dw.com/en/across-the-world-kings-and-queens-continue-to-reign/a-67972921
[iii] https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/why-people-are-obsessed-with-the-royals-according-to-psychologists.html
[iv] Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
[v] https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3623/pg3623-images.html (chap. 2)
[vi] Ian Bradley, God Save The King: The Sacred Nature of the Monarchy, Kindle edition (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2023), pp. 7, 8.
