The Long Arc

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, ‘In Jerusalem I will put my Name.’ In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.” (II Kings 21:1-6 NIV)

One of the most often quoted phrases of Martin Luther King, Jr. is this one: “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” But its fuller context is crucial to understanding its meaning: “Evil may so shape events that Caesar will occupy a palace and Christ a cross, but that same Christ will rise up and split history into A.D. and B.C., so that even the life of Caesar must be dated by his name. Yes, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

Just as in King’s time, we find ourselves in the midst of political upheaval.  For some, the feeling is that the worst is yet to come.  For others, the worst is behind us and better days are ahead.  Regardless, it seems fair to say there is a sense of unease and uncertainty that permeates our thinking as our government transitions this week.  

This may seem an unusual passage upon which to reflect this morning. Manasseh was considered by the biblical historians as the worst of all of Judah’s and Israel’s kings.  He did such evil that it is almost beyond comprehension, made worse by the fact his father was considered one of the best kings.  He sacrificed his own child to gain favor from a false god. He erected altars to idols in the temple of God; he worshipped the stars and consulted mediums—all forbidden by the Lord.  And he ruled for 55 years!

When King spoke his famous words, he was merely confirming what the Scriptures teach—God’s time is very different from ours.  As Peter says: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (II Peter 3:8)  As I’ve been reading through the Old Testament in recent weeks, what has struck me is how long in terms of years this history is, yet how quickly it is covered. Decades pass in merely a line or paragraph; centuries in only a chapter or two. Manasseh reigned for 55 years, yet his entire story is told in just over 500 words! 

Because this is our time and our history, we tend to get caught up in what is happening this day, this week, or this year.  Obama. Trump. The Republicans. The Democrats.  Climate change. Racism. They are important and big things to us, perhaps, but to the Lord they are the minutiae of a fallen world that will ultimately be set right.  This point in time is, in reality, is a mere blip along that long arc. To put it succinctly, a four to eight year administration is nothing in the eyes of the Lord. Justice will prevail; wrongs will be made right. Eventually. In the meantime, we persevere, just as believers throughout human history have done, trusting in the Lord’s rule.  

Today, whatever your circumstances or your thoughts and feelings regarding the upcoming change of government, know the Lord is in control.  The arc about which King spoke is still bending in the same way. Regardless of the present circumstances, nothing can change it no matter how long it takes.  

© Jim Musser 2017