On Sunday, July 4th , the readings give us a story of a nation’s founding—but not our own: Today’s story from 2 Samuel is the founding of the kingdom of David and the city of Jerusalem as the capital. David has already been anointed by Samuel on behalf of God, as we heard a couple weeks ago. But what really cinches the deal is these elders of the tribes of Israel who come and confirm him as their king. And why? Merit. “For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in.” “Lead out; bring in”—this is the vocabulary for the time to say that David was their military leader, even though Saul was king. The basis for David’s rule is not that he was born that way, but that he was chosen by God AND was a leader, earning the respect, trust, and love of his neighbors.

Afterward, David does something smart. He takes what was then a small town of Jerusalem and makes it the capital. Sometimes we don’t think of Israel’s kings this way, but it was a politically savvy move. Jerusalem was both close to Bethlehem where David was from and more importantly, it was in the center of the country, so it was easy to keep an eye on things and for people to arrive from the hinterlands. You might even think of Jerusalem as the Lansing of its time: smackdab in the middle.

It all works. We’re told David reigned over 40 years. But the secret ingredient turned out not to be military might or political savvy: “And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts was with him.”

It is said Abraham Lincoln was once asked if God was on his side. He responded, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

What does it mean to be on God’s side? As Pr. Chris Laughlin mentioned last week, our New Testament professor Mark Vitalis-Hoffman was fond of saying that the parables of Jesus always talk about the kingdom of God being Good News for those who are “last, lost, least, little, and lifeless.” Think of our stories the last few weeks. Think of David, the last of Jesse’s children marched out before Samuel and then chosen king. The lost: David mourning over his rival Saul who had lost his call, throne, and life. Or for least. How about Jonathan’s son with disabilities whom David cared for. Little? Can’t do better than the poor shepherd boy David with only a slingshot against the might Goliath. Or lifeless: David showing love for Jonathan by caring for his child even after Jonathan had died. When David’s kingdom was at its best, it was exactly because it matched these traits of the kingdom of God Jesus describes in the New Testament. For David to be on God’s side meant valuing the things and people God values…and acting. We call that love.

What does it mean for us in America in the 21st century to be “on God’s side?” An America that is great is an America that is first and foremost good: good for the last, lost, least, little, and the lifeless among us. A kingdom of heaven perspective can help America live up to her ideals. And being American citizens gives us Christians a chance to answer the call to “love our neighbors.”

As one of the members of our book club said Tuesday, “That all sounds nice, but how???” Great question!

First: Pray. Praying involves both giving thanks and supplication. We can give thanks for the many freedoms we have: to speak, write, and even worship the way we want, something many people throughout world history and even now have not been able to enjoy. Supplication involves praying for our country: for our servicemen and women, for our first responders, for all our citizens, and, yes, for our leaders, even and especially when we disagree with them. Most of all, we can pray for an America that is good for all: for the last, lost, least, little, and lifeless. 

Second: Serve. Prayer always leads to action. Christians can best serve our country by serving God first. When we spend our time doing those things that give love to our neighbors, the whole country benefits. Service obviously includes those who serve in our armed forces and show love by keeping us safe. But it also includes those in many other occupations who educate our children, heal the sick, keep our neighborhoods clean and beautiful, make scientific breakthroughs that improve our everyday lives, and so many more. Service includes volunteering at soup kitchens, libraries, schools, elections, animal shelters, and all the other ways we pitch in. Service even includes those ways we use our voice to make the country better: letters to the editor and to our elected officials, serving on city/town councils, voting. No act of love is wasted. Any small act that helps the last, lost, least, little, and lifeless makes a difference for our neighbors and our country. These acts of love are the bricks and mortar of the kingdom of God.

Many of us are familiar with the opening verse of “America the Beautiful,” words of thanksgiving for the beautiful land we enjoy. But do you know the last verse? 

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears: 

America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw, 

Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law. 

The song that starts out in thanksgiving ends in a prayer. “God mend thine ev’ry flaw.” It’s no surprise. America is human. And we know that we as humans have flaws. But that’s never a cause for denial or despair. Instead, it is a call for repentance: a chance to show our love for God and our fellow Americans by how we live. Or as Pres. Kennedy ended his inaugural address:

“With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” 1 That is not just a pie-in-the-sky “patriot dream,” but a plan for Christian action today in the country we love and the world God loves.

Amen 

1 John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address (Washington, DC: January 20, 1961), https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/inaugural-address-19610120, accessed 6/30/2021.