Bullying versus R-E-S-P-E-C-T

 

Did Naboth realize what might happen to himself, because he refused to sell? It turned out to be a significant event in Naboth’s life, and in the lives of those with whom he refused to deal -- Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21). Naboth paid with his life, unfortunately (see the image here of the 1712 copper engraving by Caspar Luiken, which shows Naboth being stoned). Ahab offered to pay for Naboth’s vineyard, or in fact exchange it with Naboth for another one, but Naboth felt he could not cavalierly dispose of his ancestral land. The resulting attitude of Ahab, and especially of his wife Jezebel, did anything but respect Naboth and his feelings in the matter. In fact, Jezebel’s scheming had Naboth killed (murdered) by people in his own city – all based upon the lying and covetous behavior of the royal pair sitting in their palace in Jezreel next to Naboth’s vineyard – violations of the 6th, 9th, and 10th Commandments. Naboth was dead, and this specific incident would also have deadly consequences for Ahab and Jezebel, and in fact all of Ahab’s descendants – they would die most disgracefully, as Elijah told them (1 Kings 21:19-25, fulfilled later in 1 Kings 22:35-38; 2 Kings 9:32-37; 2 Kings 10:10-11). It was reminiscent of  their evil ancestors, Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:10; 15:28-30) and Baasha (1 Kings 16:3-4, 11-13). Their attitude was opposite of another of their royal ancestors – David (though he likewise violated the same commandments, once upon a time). That king refused to forcefully acquire some property that he wanted from a man named Araunah (2 Sam. 24:18-25). Why? It seemed to be out of David’s character, to behave so. It also made a difference in that episode that David had already realized that he’d done something wrong, dreadfully so, and thus was loathe to pile up more bad behavior. Instead, David sought righteous behavior in order to offer sacrifice and repent of wrongdoing…he would not seize the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, but insisted on paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing, David said. David respected Araunah, and especially respected God. He knew who was watching, didn’t he?

And so, in our 21^st Century world – in which the whole world can watch a leader’s behavior in public discourse with other people – is respect for others an ethic that is worth underscoring here one more time? This blog has already addressed this more than once – a search for that word respect yields no less than four other times this important trait has been mentioned (7 Sep 2024 – re: honoring people; 8 Jan 2025 – re: decency, goodness, generosity, and righteousness; 8 Feb 2025 – re: patience in people-to-people relationships; and 26 Feb 2025 – re: reputation with others). But what if repeated episodes, as exhibited by the current US president, of disrespect arise? In this latest episode, the president has reiterated that he would like Canada to become the US’s 51^st state Canada as 51st US State? (Yahoo Finance), Canada 51st State? (The Guardian), Canada 51st State (Alaska Beacon) . This despite firm a firm ‘no’ from Canada’s leaders (first Justin Trudeau, and now Mark Carney), and even action by one of the current US states (Alaska, which has been solidly pro-Trump/Republican, giving him 3 wins in 3 tries in 2016, 2020, and 2024) to disapprove of the president’s behavior. This is just one more example of the president’s penchant for bravado, of being a bully; will he endorse violence –which he himself inspired – as he did to try to extend his first term in office? Can he be trusted to accept ‘no’ for an answer, or will he try some other tactic, like more tariffs? Moreover, is Greenland still in his sights, and is he cooking up something rotten for Denmark? What should be expected from a career operator – a four-time-convicted defendant in US courtrooms in 2024, who also pardoned the mob whose January 6^th violence at the Capitol marred American electoral politics – who even the Supreme Court (incomprehensibly) has said possesses some unlimited immunity from prosecution? What leverage did this president use with Ukraine in striking a deal for minerals  US-Ukraine Minerals Deal ? Read at the link, but it seems clear that the president wanted something – a profitable business deal, in exchange for what Ukraine needs, like military arms, to protect itself from Russian attacks. Only time will tell if this actually plays out honorably.

 

What does history tell us about bullies? Unfortunately, US history and many presidents have had issues with this – from dealings with native Americans, black Americans (even for 100 years after the Civil War, via Jim Crow laws), and war with Mexico that resulted in annexation of the American Southwest and California. While we could say that these episodes were just ‘normal for those times’ – even couched as ‘manifest destiny’ -- can we not learn something from them? No nation, because it is filled with fallible people, can claim to be free from bad behavior. On the other hand, there have been other episodes of land acquisition that have been fair – the US government paid for them, the result of deals that were negotiated, and treaties signed; the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, and the 1867 Alaska acquisition (initially called Seward’s Folly, after Secretary of State William Seward who negotiated its purchase) are examples. So which deals will the US president proceed next to craft? Will they be done fairly, and will US standing in the world be improved or denigrated, particularly with a man in charge whose trustworthiness is at best fragile? Will he instead craftily avoid legal considerations? A nation that has had a checkered history of bully-ness is one that should give us Christians pause. Respect for others does matter to God, make no mistake. Will this president’s model for behavior spawn a new generation of like-minded politicians? Reigning in a president who is wont to impulsive and angry – and yes, criminal -- behavior, and has a very apparent thirst for business profit, is someone to watch, carefully. None of us would want another Ahab or Jezebel in power, but what is happening already makes one wonder if a version of that is currently at work at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. R-E-S-P-E-C-T matters. Laws should matter.  It reminds me of a song about this ethic…perhaps Aretha says it better than I can write. Listen, and think. Aretha Franklin's RESPECT

 

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jezebel_has_Naboth_killed.jpg …copper engraving of the stoning of Naboth…1712…This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. {{PD-1996}} – public domain in its source country on January 1, 1996 and in the United States.