How Many Kings?

We recently watched as the country of Egypt went through an intense period of turmoil. The pro-democracy and pro-reform citizens were embroiled in a power struggle against their autocratic ruler of over 30 years. Many commentators said we were watching the birth of a new nation amidst the chaos. The dominoes began falling across the region as Tunisia’s authoritarian ruler of 24 years was toppled by the Jasmine Revolution, literally ignited by a street vender who set himself on fire to protest his unfair treatment by a local official. Now uprisings in Libya, Bahrain and Yemen are continuing the unrest among countries seeking to throw off their dictatorial regimes. Why, after nearly a generation of near silent suffering and submission to tyrannical leaders would their citizens rebel so openly, risking injury and even death from the militaries controlled by the leaders they sought to remove from power? Some have credited the social networking power of the internet and the increasing desire for freedom with the widespread unrest that has deposed the longtime leaders of two countries already. The desire to cast off bad leaders however is nothing new; we did it ourselves to birth the United States of America. Our Declaration of Independence, signed by fifty-six brave individuals, mutually pledged to each other their Lives, their Fortunes, and their sacred Honor. The leaders of our rebellion said,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. …That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, …But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, …it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Is it possible that in these conflicts we can see and experience something that is ‘ancient history’ to us? Since we haven’t experienced the rule of an oppressive king in United States since the 18th century, can we learn something about our country by looking in the mirror of current world events? For most of recorded history, much of the world, both civilized and uncivilized, have been ruled by kings. These rulers have been both benevolent and malevolent and their subjects and citizens have experienced either reward or retaliation by the king’s behavior. In the book of Proverbs, the behavior of the king is said to determine how a nation fares… By justice a king gives a country stability, but kings who are greedy for bribes tear it down… and... If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. (Prov. 29:4,14)

While these harsh rulers have remained in power for decades, their citizens have endured their behaviors and now are speaking in a clear voice – ‘Be gone, we will accept nothing less” and they appear to be willing to pay for their convictions with their lives, fortunes and sacred honor.

These events make me think what their countries and lives would be like if they had been ruled these many years by rulers who practiced justice and judged with fairness? "How Many Kings?" is a song sung by a group called ‘Downhere’ and the chorus is about such a concept.

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
to romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

If these rulers we see being driven out of power today had really cared about their citizens during their reign, would there be such hatred for them now? I doubt it… The freedoms that we enjoy were also bought with a price and the events we observe in the world today serve as a reminder of the good things we have in our country. While we can all admit that we still need to mature in our behavior and attitudes as a nation, we can be thankful for the freedoms that we have enjoyed for over two centuries. It has been declared, “My country, right or wrong!” as a cry of extreme patriotism, but we would do well to regard the rest of the quote from Carl Schurz, “if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” This seems like what our founding fathers intended in their declaration and the lamp of liberty continues to burn bright in the hearts of humanity around the world.