I fondly remember my dad as being a self-styled philosopher. He would often say, theres only one kind of government that really works, and that is a benevolent dictator!
All of us listening would object fiercely. Theres no such thing as a benevolent dictator, Dad. Look at Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Mussolini, Fidel Castro. They all messed up. Then Dad would mention Antonio de Oliviera Salazar of Portugal, who gradually became more and more powerful during his rule from 1932 until 1970.
And indeed, he seems to have been something of a benevolent dictator. He re-drafted Portugals systems along authoritarian lines, kept the country out of World War II, equipped the merchant navy and the national airline and improved rural education. Most interestingly, he lived in frugal simplicity. He was one of the few in history who ruled unselfishly.
People have been experimenting with various forms of government since the dawn of history.
Back in the time of ancient Israel, God spelled out to his chosen people exactly how the nation should be governed. Moses was in charge, carrying Gods instruction directly to the people. This was theocracy, Gods perfect way of governing. But the people were not satisfied with an invisible God. They began to look enviously at the nations around them, wanting to have a king. These gentile kings lived in luxury and power, and were all but worshipped by their subjects. Why did the Israelites desire a king? Why did they eventually even demand a king? Perhaps the temple prostitutes were a magnetic attraction, much like internet porn today. Things got worse and worse and King Manasseh of Judah seems to have hit bottom as far as idolatry is concerned. He burned his own son as a sacrificial offering. He practised black magic and fortune telling. He held séances, and consulted spirits from the underworld. (2 Kings 21:6 Message bible).
As we say, the rest is history the sad saga of failure upon failure occupies a fair section of the Bible. Sometimes a king would return to keeping Gods laws, and the land would prosper for a while. But first the northern kingdom of Israel and later the kingdom of Judah succumbed to inevitable failure. Human kings were not the answer.
In recent times we have tried communism, socialism, capitalism, democracy and some variations on these.
Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II, was known for his witty remarks. He said, democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried, and, the inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
The prophet Jeremiah pinpointed the problem. The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9).
About three hundred years before Jeremiahs time, God had warned Israel about the dangers of being ruled by a king. In 1 Samuel 11-18 we read of a whole list of problems a king would create. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and vintage and give it to his officials and attendants (verses 14-15). Does any of this sound familiar? Why do greed and self interest seem to rise to the surface and spill out in corruption and violence? Jeremiah had the answer!
But the prophet Isaiah had the solution.
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on Davids throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
My dad never understood who Jesus was. He lived through two world wars, and witnessed a great deal of suffering with no apparent solution.
But he wasnt altogether wrong about the benevolent dictator. One day I will be able to say to him, Dad, you were right! You just had no idea who the benevolent dictator was going to be.
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