Lent 4, Samuel - Leading

For the Lord does not see as mortals see...” (1Sam 16.7)

It’s not easy being a leader—prophet OR king. Saul learned the hard way. Enjoying God’s favor, battle after battle, he became more and more impressed with himself, finally claiming sacrificial leadership that did not belong to him. He forgot that his success was not his own, that everything he had achieved depended on God and on Samuel, God’s messenger. Samuel loved his protege–king, even when Saul arrogantly took over Samuel’s job. When God abandoned Saul, Samuel grieved.

As I read about poor Saul, I recalled the strange scene at the Colorado legislature on Friday, March 18, when first the Senate and then the House, interrupted their business to give Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren a standing ovation and a resolution of uncritical support for the state of Israel.

Everyone I’ve told about this asks, Why is the Colorado legislature passing resolutions on foreign policy? Introducing the resolution with laudatory praise for Israel, the legislators explained that it was the $36.6 m Colorado companies make, selling things to Israel. The resolution was our state’s thank you to Israel, a “democracy” that “shares our values,” and is such “ a good partner.”

I, too, have believed that Israel shares our democratic values....until 2008, when I met Dr. Abdul-Latif, a hydrologist who lives surrounded by Israel’s wall in the village of Jayyous in the West Bank. He showed us the wall and told us about his brother-in-law, Dr. Ghassan Khaled, a lecturer and professor of commercial international law at Al Najah University in Nablus, who had been arrested a few months before, on January 16. He was released for lack of evidence, rearrested and held under “administrative detention” for 20 months; then released and arrested again in August, 2010.

“Administrative detention” means that they can hold him without charges...for however long they like. Like most universities, Al Najah is a place where ideas are developed and debated. As a Palestinian university, a big topic of conversation is Israel’s occupation and strategies to end it. As a teacher of international law, I can imagine that Professor Khaled has spoken and written about Israel’s own violations of international law in continuing its occupation and discriminating against its own Arab citizens and the Arabs in occupied areas like Nablus. There have been many demonstrations against Israel’s occupation.....Is this why he is considered a security risk and held in prison for the last three years? Photo is Dr. Khaled's sister-in-law and niece, 2008

Or does his arrest have something to do with his father, Sharif Omar Khaled, who is one of the popular leaders of the peace demonstrations against the Apartheid wall built on the land of Jayyous? His own fields – like most, in that area – were incorporated into Israel by the wall, and he is required to present a permit in order to cultivate them.

We can only guess, because, since the original charges were dismissed in 2008, for lack of evidence, Dr. Khaled has never been charged with anything, only imprisoned. Dr. Khaled is not the only one. Today here are 214 Palestinians held in “administrative detention.” Are these the values we share with Israel? Is this even democracy?

God of Samuel, Saul and David, we are stubborn, and slow to learn your ways; we do not listen to your prophets or submit to your will. But we are quick to assume power. Help us learn humility, to conform our lives to your desires for us, to let go of our desire for control, to live into our baptism with the gifts you have given us. Amen.