OPINIONS VI
REBELLION
There’s a very significant incident in the history of the kings of Israel relating to the importance of “elders” in society. It has to do with king Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, and his rival and adversary Jeroboam.
Prior to the death of Solomon, Israel had been a single kingdom which included all twelve tribes. Jeroboam was born during Solomon’s reign, apparently illegitimately, which would have caused some social barriers for him, but he grew to be an able adult and ‘man of valor.’ Solomon recognized his talents and appointed him to be an administrator over the tribe of Ephraim. However, when Solomon heard that a prophet had predicted royal reign for Jeroboam, he sought to kill him. Jeroboam fled to Egypt, apparently maintaining his “power network” in exile, because after Solomon’s death he returned to represent the interests of the northern tribes.
Rehoboam was installed as king of all Israel, but apparently Solomon, in spite of his glorious reign, had been a rather tough taskmaster; and so Jeroboam lead a delegation from the North to ask Rehoboam to lighten their burdens. There was evident envy and resentment from the North relating to the whole idea of Judah and the descendents of David claiming perennial rights to the throne; so, though we don’t find those details in the record, the petition of Jeroboam’s party was undoubtedly received with considerable suspicion by Judah.
Anyway, Rehoboam asked for three days to consider the petition. He first consulted the older men, who had been Solomon’s counselors, and they advised him to lighten the people’s burdens. Then he consulted the young men, the princes and elites he had grown up with. They advised him to threaten a significant increase in the people’s burdens with more severe oversight.
Rehoboam chose to take the younger men’s advice and delivered a stinging response to the people, whereupon the northern tribes angrily withdrew from the southern kingdom and Rehoboam found himself having to flee for his life back to Jerusalem. Jeroboam became “King of Israel” which encompassed the ten northern tribes. He quickly established a priesthood and form of worship which was idolatrous, which lead to great wickedness, which lead to warnings from true prophets, and finally the curse of God. They were vexed, then destroyed by Assyria, the people being carried away and scattered through various north countries (I Kings 11:23-43; 12 and following chapters; II Chronicles 10 & 11 and following chapters).
Here we have a powerful example of what can happen when the wisdom of the elders goes unheeded. I came across another interesting example in the writings of Flavius Josephus, the renowned Jewish general and historian, showing how the rashness of youth contributed to the war between Judah and Rome which ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70:
“There was also another disturbance at Cesarea: those Jews who were mixed with the Syrians that lived there, raising a tumult against them. The Jews pretended that the city was theirs, and said that he who built it was a Jew; meaning King Herod. The Syrians confessed also that its builder was a Jew; but they still said, however, that the city was a Greecian city; for that he who set up statues and temples in it could not design it for Jews. On which account both parties had a contest with one another; and this contest increased so much, that it came at last to arms, and the bolder sort of them marched out to fight; for the elders of the Jews were not able to put a stop to their own people that were disposed to be tumultuous, and the Greeks thought it a shame for them to be overcome by the Jews.” (Grand Rapids, MI, 1973, Kregel Publications, Complete Works of Josephus, p. 483)
“Now the occasion of this war was by no means proportionable to those heavy calamities which it brought upon us; for the Jews that dwelt at Ceserea had a synagogue near the place, whose owner was a certain Cesarean Greek: the Jews had endeavoured to have purchased…the owner overlooked their offers…in way of affront to them…and left them but a narrow passage…and such was very troublesome for them to go along to the synagogue; whereupon the warmer part of the Jewish youth went hastily to the workmen and forbid them to build there; but Florus would not permit them to use force….” (ibid p. 484)
“…when the Jews were crowding apace to their synagogue, a certain man of Cesarea, of a sedicious temper, got an earthen vessel, and set it, with the bottom upward, at the entrance of the synagogue, and sacrificed birds. This thing provoked the Jews to an incurable degree, because their laws were affronted, and the place was polluted; whereupon the sober and moderate part of the Jews thought it proper to have recourse to their governers again, while the sedicious part, and such as were in the fervour of their youth, were vehemently inflamed to fight. The sedicious also among the Gentiles of Cesarea stood ready for the same purpose; for they had, by agreement, sent the man to sacrifice beforehand as ready to support him; so that it soon came to blows.” (ibid. p. 484)
In both incidents cited above the “elders” were wise and it was the rashness of youth that led to trouble. From the Biblical perspective, it is not only considered a calamity when youth show disrespect or contempt for their elders; but also when the elders fail in their role of providing the wisdom and leadership that’s crucial for stability in society. Here are some examples:
“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water. The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” –Isaiah 3:1-15
This is a long quote, but particularly impressive because it captures the desperate situation Judea was in before its destruction at the hands of the Babylonians. The “elders” had abused their positions and abandoned their responsibilities. As a result they had lost the confidence of the people, women and children having to govern in their place without necessary experience or authority. Things were falling apart and God’s judgments were upon them…. Here’s another powerful quote from Ezekiel which takes to task the “shepherds” (leaders) who had failed to feed their flocks (the people):
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.” –Ezek. 34:1-10
The above is certainly an interesting cross reference to John 10 where Jesus characterizes himself as the “Good Shepherd,” or Matt. 9:36, recording an occasion when He taught and healed the people out of compassion, for He saw them as ‘sheep without a shepherd.’ Ezekiel 34 not only chastens the leaders but also the commoners (cattle), for helping themselves to the ‘good stuff’ then spoiling it so others can’t even enjoy the leftovers. This is a typical pattern, really, where corruption in leadership is just a reflection of moral decline in the general population:
“And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;” –Ezek. 34:17-21
So we have two important problems to discuss: first, the refusal of youth (and adults who won’t grow up) to honor parents and other authorities(rebellion), and second the refusal of elders to fulfill their God-ordained role as competent, benevolent and just leaders(another form of rebellion).
Rebellion is an interesting concept, particularly for citizens of the United States. One might say we are built on rebellion since we had a ”Revolutionary War,” but to what extent should there be rebellion, and of what sort?
True, the thirteen colonies “rebelled” against the rule of England, but the monarchies of England and other European states were corrupt and unjust. The Declaration of Independence explains at length how people who are unjustly governed have a god-ordained right to revolt against that government and establish a just system in its place. So the Revolutionary War was not simply rebellion for rebellion’s sake, but rather a revolt against evil, which made it a good thing.
The Bible gives us some examples of “good rebellions.” The most obvious, perhaps, would be Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Another good one is found in II Chronicles 22 and 23. This was a case of wicked Athaliah who had royal connections with the idolatrous northern kingdom of Israel. After making herself queen in Jerusalem, she killed off her rivals and sought to establish idolatrous practices in the south. Jehovah’s high priest, Jehoiada, secretly organized the priests and Levites into a militia strong enough to overthrow the queen and install the rightful heir in David’s line on the throne.
Another significant example, not found in the Bible but in Josephus, would be the revolt led by the illustrious Macabee family against an oppressive Greco-Syrian regime. This revolt led to a free and independent Palestine until Herod the Great and the Romans took over (see Antiquities of the Jews, Book XII, Ch. VI, continuing into Book XIII).
Finally, the Book of Mormon, while it condemns rebellion against God and righteous, legitimate authority, provides one particularly graphic example of just rebellion against powers that have become evil.
Captain Moroni (referred to earlier in relation to the subjects of force and war) lead military forces in defense of his country and the freedoms it stood for, but his country’s central government had become subverted by significant numbers of “king-men.” As a result, support for the war effort had continually dwindled until Moroni finally sent a letter to the Chief Judge (equivalent to our US President), threatening to overthrow the government. It’s a long angry letter, much of which is applicable to conditions in our day, but I only quote a small portion:
“And except ye grant mine epistle, and come out and show unto me a true spirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and grant unto them food for their support, behold I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them— And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their tribulations— And I will come unto you, and if there be any among you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark of freedom remaining, behold I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct. Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear; and it is according to his commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss. Behold it is time, yea, the time is now at hand, that except ye do bestir yourselves in the defence of your country and your little ones, the sword of justice doth hang over you; yea, and it shall fall upon you and visit you even to your utter destruction. Behold, I wait for assistance from you; and, except ye do administer unto our relief, behold, I come unto you, even in the land of Zarahemla, and smite you with the sword, insomuch that ye can have no more power to impede the progress of this people in the cause of our freedom…. Behold I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country….” –Alma 60:25-30,36 (emphasis added)
I feel the American Revolution followed in the spirit of these “good revolts.” So, just as we made a distinction earlier between types of freedom, we must now distinguish between rebellion against evil, and rebellion only for rebellion’s sake. It’s the all-too-human factors of pride and self-indulgence that make rebellion in the name of freedom an unhealthy addiction.
I’ve already alluded to Stanley Loomis’ excellent history, Paris In the Terror (J.B. Lippincott, Co., Philadelphia, New York; 1964) and I hope to put my notes together for your consideration, but for now, Here are a few excerpts found on the book’s jacket which give us a taste of the nightmare:
“An atmosphere of madness induced by the reek of blood and a sense of horror hung over Paris like a blanket in the stifling summer nights that preceeded 9 Thermidor. Brandy, therefore, was not the only stimulant that prompted men to self-destruction. Those who most fear heights will often leap from them. So many a deranged soul, fascinated by the ghastly scenes that were daily enacted about him, would plunge to his death in the very courtroom of the Tribunal by rising from his seat among the spectators and crying out Vive le roi!”
“Understandably the theatre, like every other expression of the free human spirit, withered away and died in this unpropitious climate. Someone suggested to the dramatist Ducis that he write a tragedy. ‘Why talk to me of writing tragedies?’ he replied. “If I stir out of my house I’m up to my ankles in blood….Farewell to tragedy, then. It is a rude drama when the People become the tyrant and it can only end in Hell.’”
“In many ways it was better to be in prison than ‘free’ in a city paralyzed by terror and suspicion. In prison, at least, the worst was over. One could fairly well count on death. ‘Out of prison you could not venture to meet, speak to or scarcely look at your friends, so terrified were you of compromising one another.’ So writes Pasquier, Napoleon’s future Chancellor. ‘If you heard a knock on the door you immediately imagined that Revolutionary commissaries had come to take you away. But behind bars you re-entered society, as it were. You were surrounded by your relatives and friends and could converse freely with them.’”
“It is ironic that of all countries in Europe, France was the only one that could have had a revolution—not because she groaned under the lash of tyranny, but, on the contrary, because she tolerated and even invited every conceivable dissension and heresy. Restlessness, a passion for novelty, the pursuit of excitement were everywhere in the air. They were the fruits of idleness and leisure, not of poverty.”
I site this book in relation to the subject of rebellion because it so graphically illustrates what can happen when people fail to make the distinction between rebelling against evil, and rebelling against all order and authority. The later is like a narcotic which produces a “high” coming from excitement, danger, and a false sense of personal freedom and power.
Pertinent too is pp.60-66 where Loomis describes the return to Paris of an “elder,” Abbe Raynal, from exile. Raynal was the last living member of the philosophes and Encyclopedists which included such luminaries as Voltaire. Their teachings and writings had figured greatly into the “Enlightenment,” influencing public opinion the later half of the 18th century. This, of course, greatly affected not only the French, but also the American Revolution.
It’s ironic that Raynal, at the age of 81, discouraged rather than encouraged the developing Revolution, with its excesses. Being too infirm to attend the national Assembly personally, he sent a very eloquent letter condemning the mobocracy that had come to dominate the movement and admonished the Assembly to turn back and reinstitute a strong, legitimate central government, even to the point of monarchy. His point was that even monarchy was better than anarchy. This letter created a stir, not only in the Assembly, but throughout France and Europe; yet in the end, his admonitions were attributed to the delusions of old age and went unheeded.
“They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.” –Amos 5:10-13
As one might expect, the Bible has a good deal to say about rebellion (emphasis added):
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” –Deut. 21:18-24
“Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?” –Deut. 31:26-27
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” –1 Samuel 15:23
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” –Isa. 30:9-18
I especially like this quote from Isaiah because of the references to fleeing upon horses and upon the swift. It relates to what I’ve already written about our modern addiction to excitement. The Lord’s assertion that rest, quietness and confidence (faith) lead to salvation and strength, is highly instructive. Here are a few more quotes relating to rebellion:
“Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” –Jer. 5:20-31
“And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.” –Ezek. 2:6-8
“But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.” –Ezek. 3:7-9
“The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.” –Ezek. 12:1-2
“And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” –Ezek. 20:38
So, rebellion can be a good thing, but is more often a bad thing due to our human tendency for short-sightedness, and putting emotion and self indulgence ahead of reason and restraint. Rebellion is a serious problem with youth especially in light of their relatively large numbers, high energy, oblivion to danger, and susceptibility to peer pressure, fads and fashions.
Rebellion is perhaps a more serious problem, however, with “elders” who are driven by vain ambition. Their numbers may be few, but because of their greater knowledge and experience, they assume positions of power, and pride and covetousness can make them an oppressive elite rather than the bastion they should be of wise counsel and prudent leadership. The elders are the Bible’s ‘leaven in the lump’ (the yeast in the dough), which though small in quantity, makes a crucial difference in the quality of larger society (the loaf).
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Ex. 20:12)
In my opinion, this passage has broader application than to the parents in our immediate families. Biology has mandated parents for all, and so the implication is that previous generations have something significant and vital to offer new generations; so significant that heeding or not heeding our elders affects the length of our lives! Rebellion against this order, as a broad principle, leads to shortened life, not only for individuals but for nations.
It’s interesting that the Ten Commandments don’t include qualifications on this point. There’s no expedient suggesting the possibility that rising generations “know better” than older generations. True there have been unwise parents with wiser children, but this is exceptional. The essential point seems to be that if the older generation goes unheeded, or the older generation becomes corrupt and fails in its role, the rising generation has little hope of saving itself!
In my next essay, I’d like expand on the idea of “elders,” including the problem of “failed elders.” The elders in society are our leaders, our professionals: doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women, media moguls, commentators and celebrities, church, civic and school leaders, teachers, professors, military commanders and politicians. Also, they are our parents, grandparents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, even the ‘neighborhood sage.’ In general, an elder who fails is anyone who has the wisdom and power to be a good influence, and isn’t. Of course, the “ultimate elder” is the collective, ‘common people with common sense.’ We are the ones with the power, if we only realized it. It is our failure (apathy) that tolerates and sometimes even encourages corruption and dysfunction in high places.
The common man
Must not be a rebel,
Or the common man
Will rebuild Babel!
–Doug Taylor
