For the LORD had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.” – Numbers 7:11

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 18, 2015): Numbers 7

Nine Kings

In May 1910, European Royalty gathered in London for the funeral of King Edward VII. The event provided the opportunity for a very special photograph – one featuring nine kings. It may have been the only time that nine sitting kings were photographed together. If Edward had lived for even just a more few years, the photograph may never have happened. Standing in the back the picture features King Haakon VII of Norway (considered to be one of the greatest pre-war Norwegian leaders), King Ferdinand of Bulgaria (he would fight in the First World War on the side of Germany and would abdicate after the war in an effort to save the Bulgarian throne), King Manuel II of Portugal (he would lose his throne to revolution just months after this photo was taken), Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire (he would lose his throne following the World War I), King George I of The Hellenes (or Greece – he would be assassinated in 1913), and King Albert I of the Belgians (Albert would refuse to allow Germany passage through his territory so that Germany could attack France, insisting on Belgian neutrality, and as a result of Albert’s actions Belgian suffered under a long occupation during World War I). Seated in the picture were King Alfonso XIII of Spain (one of the few European nations to successfully stay neutral during World War I), King-Emperor George V of the Great Britain, and King Frederick VIII of Denmark (Frederick would die just two years after this picture was taken). But this was a moment in time, one of the few times and places where a picture like this might be possible. Today Greece, Bulgaria, Portugal and Germany no longer have Kings that could appear in a photograph. At best there would only be five kings (and actually it would be three kings and two queens) that could appear together to be photographed. But on this day there were nine, and all of that makes this photograph special.

We like to mark special occasions. We hold special gatherings that go by a variety of names – funerals, birthdays, coronations and dedications to mention a few. We give gifts, but maybe the most important gift we can give is the gift of our presence. It was significant that these nine men wanted to honor the life of Edward VII with their presence – and with a picture.

At the completion of the Tabernacle a special celebration was called. Gifts for the Tabernacle were to be brought, but maybe more importantly, the leaders of the tribes paraded to the Tabernacle to personally give their gifts – and at the same time they gave the gift of their presence. These were the princes of a nation – princes that did not always agree with other, but they would join together to honor this event – this dedication of the Tabernacle. And in many ways their presence was more important than the gifts that they brought. Because in bringing their presence they also brought their active commitment to chase after the things of God. And nothing could have been more important in this moment of time.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 8