Recently, in search of another penetrating perspective on the origins of the First World War, I happened upon a lecture by historian Christopher Clark on power. Having explored the nature of power in his insightful and witty manner, Clark dove deep into the Biblical book of Daniel.
King Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by a dream. Summoning his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans (Clark, incidentally, jests that whenever the pagan kings are seeking advice, the mercurial Chaldeans are, for some reason, always there to help), he asks—without divulging—the nature of his dream and what it means. Caught flatfooted, his advisors insist it is impossible for a man to interpret a dream without first knowing what happened in it.
Furious, Nebuchadnezzar condemns them to be cut into pieces and their homes to be transformed into dung heaps. That is, until Daniel comes to the rescue. A Jewish captive gifted by God with the interpretation of dreams, Daniel stuns the king as he describes the dream featuring a large statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. From head to toe, the statue represents the devolution of kingly rule once Nebuchadnezzar passes and the indestructible kingdom of God that will (as a divinely hewn stone from a mountain) obliterate the earthly kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar, upon recognizing Daniel’s gift, falls to his knees in worship and empowers Daniel mightily. Meanwhile, Daniel simply points to God.
Here is what the historian Clark concludes:
[King Nebuchadnezzar], the most powerful man in the world, is powerless before his night terrors. The holders of bureaucratic power — the experts — fail to come up with a solution and, thus, forfeit their power and even potentially their lives. . . And into this fraught constellation steps someone with no power at all — a rightless alien, a prisoner of war, a captive from a destroyed city. . .
[In his God-given wisdom, Daniel imparted to the fearful king] something Daniel had himself learned as the son of a destroyed city — a piece of wisdom, namely, that power is always temporary.
To be sure, the image of a violent king prepared to carve up every wise man in Babylon is chilling. But it is not altogether unexpected. Sadly, we are now accustomed to historic despots and dictators from Nero to Robespierre, from Hitler to Stalin flaying, beheading, gassing, and purging countless victims. What is surprising is to witness such a king prostrate before his own prisoner and slave.
That is the paradox of Judeo-Christianity—the place where Divine power meets worldly power. In our narrative of faith, we encounter the paradoxical—the inexplicable—time and again. Moses, a Jewish slave, would deliver the Israelites from Egyptian captivity. David, the shepherd boy, would conquer a giant and lead a nation. Mary, a peasant girl, would bodily house the Christ of prophecy. Peter, the growling fisherman, would serve as the Rock upon which the Church would be built.
And Jesus, the poor carpenter from Nazareth, is the Savior of the World.
How does worldly power, which measures itself in bullying strength and vain influence, reckon with the impossible and unworldly nature of God’s chosen ones? Not very well. If Pontius Pilate offers any guidance, worldly power is utterly befuddled in its encounter with God and his designs. Spending precious moments with the King of the Universe, the Roman Governor of Judea could sputter little more than a query, “What is Truth?” when Truth Incarnate stood before him.
Worldly power doesn’t do nuance. Oh, sure, there are always Machiavellis and Iagos with their intrigues and connivances. But these are always thin veils for naked desires. The nuance of God’s power, however, is delightfully satisfying. It is a riddle that always possesses the best punch line. “In our weakness, we are made strong.” “The least shall be greatest.” “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Blessed are they who are persecuted.”
God’s power turns everything on its head. It confuses. It disorients. And then, with faithful eyes, it exhilarates. Why? Because while worldly power ends in slaking ravenous appetites, God’s power forever ends with love.
Daniel’s story, as Clark discovered, is yet another example of the despot’s limits, the experts’ impotence, and the magnificence mind of God. But Clark, as educated as he is, didn’t discover this. The Psalmist sang of this thousands of years ago:
Put no trust in princes,
in children of Adam powerless to save.Who breathing his last, returns to the earth;
that day all his planning comes to nothing.Blessed the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God,The maker of heaven and earth,
the seas and all that is in them,Who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
who gives bread to the hungry.The LORD sets prisoners free;
the LORD gives sight to the blind.The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.The LORD protects the resident alien,
comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,
but thwarts the way of the wicked.The LORD shall reign forever,
your God, Zion, through all generations!
(Ps. 146: 3-10)
Who knew the wicked Nebuchadnezzar could be so instructive?
Do not trust princes.
But bow before the Lord.
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“paradox of Judeo-Christianity”
Really? This made-up PC term even here at CWR?
What part of that is PC?
Thanks!
Well written and full of truth, dear Tod Worner.
Reminds me of the last part of the second reading at Holy Mass yesterday (4th Sun in Ord Time) – “. . make sure that everything is as it should be, and that you give your undivided attention to The LORD.” 1 Cor 7:35
Maybe the reason we humans need a long life is that it takes years for most of us to learn Jesus’ Way of ‘POWER UNDER’ and repent from the world’s way of ‘POWER OVER’.
It is only a matter of time when the power structures of Washington DC which have intentionally countermanded and smashed underfoot the God-endowed rights of its citizens come tumbling down. It’s only a matter of time.
In a similar manner, heavy-handed papacies that flout God’s teachings that come to us through Scripture and Tradition also come to an end.
All will come down when America receives Jesus Christ as Lord, Saviour, and God. Now is a time of judgment from God due to America’s rejection of God’s only begotten Son. As judgment gets worse, the hope is that many and more, will turn to God and His provision of salvation. At some point, the judgment will end, and America will be restored.
Do pray for all of the Cardinals who will be voting at the next Conclave, to vote as the Holy Spirit leads and guides them.
God bless, C-Marie
“The Roman Governor of Judea could sputter little more than a query, ‘What is Truth?’ when Truth Incarnate stood before him” (Worner). Although Pilate sputtered, lacking knowledge of Christ’s by now well documented narrative of salvation he was able to recognize a good man as well as an innocent man. Regardless of his inflammatory claim of kingship. What some Romans acknowledged, the several centurions who witnessed him by degree was something more than a curious oddity It was a Roman centurion who officiated the Crucifixion that was first to exclaim “Indeed, this was the Son of God”.
What is truth remains a baffle for the majority of our world’s inhabitants. Clark’s image of Nebuchadnezzar is not complete, since it was the despot king who recognized God’s authority when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the blazing furnace. It was Ahasuerus who vindicated his Jewish queen Esther, protected by decree the Jewish people. And within this same kingdom we have Cyrus.
Eventually it was the Roman emperor Konstantin who by edict recognized for all time the primacy of Christianity. Although on face value Tod Worner’s essay is correct, as are the psalms, there are princes and there are princes [Worner I suspect may be making an allusion to a current prince]. And of course the Prince of Peace.
Constantine did for the Romans what Scripture says is due from all nations – see Psalm 2, Psalm 22, Revelation 15 and other such passages. This would hold for Old Testament and New Testament. The Queen of Sheba sought the wisdom of God. Early European kings submitted not only doing homage. The Magi are representative of the whole procession through time. But their stories show other important facets, good to be mindful of: the Lord makes Himself available to them: He provides the peace and strength due to their just way; the Lord is the hope of all even in spite of those who will not accept Him; the Lord will make Himself known to them if they seek Him; and so on without exceptions.
The idea that the spread of Christianity was something always “forced” and always tainted in some way with “bad” can be very like poison. Also the insistence from some quarters that the State must be disaffiliated, in whatever sense never neutral with actually no such thing, aims dishonestly to disarm. But the examples given by so many, of a real call, cures and deflects.
Interesting article!
Perhaps: ” ….Mary, a peasant girl, would bodily house the Christ of prophecy. …”
Could be said in a much better way … “Mary, a humble Jewish maiden, would bodily house the Messiah of prophecy”.
Likewise: ” ….And Jesus, the poor carpenter from Nazareth, is the Savior of the World.”.
Said in a much truer way, ” Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, is the Saviour of the World.”
For, there is no reason to believe that Joseph and Mother Mary and Jesus were poor. Joseph’s work was stable ,,,, he taught Jesus the family trade ….. and Jesus was an excellent carpenter.
God bless, C-Marie
There is a big difference between incorruptible divine authority and corruptible human authority! The reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah as recounted in the Old Testament demonstrate this. The heathen rulers were not the only leaders guilty of abusive power and infidelity.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Psalm 117 verse 9.
There is a big difference between incorruptible divine authority and corruptible human authority! The reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah as recounted in the Old Testament demonstrate this. The heathen rulers were not the only leaders guilty of abusive power, idolatry and infidelity.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Psalm 117 verse 9.
Judeo-Christianity is an oxymoron.