Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter. – Psalm 108:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 18, 2016): Psalm 108

The government of Thailand might be the only current government left that is ruled by a military junta or a military dictatorship. The idea behind a military government is often the protection of the people. They endeavor to protect the citizens from dangerous ideas like communism or from the poor policies of inept leaders. But the reality is that a military junta often is led by a powerful person and is enhanced by a cult of personality. These individuals simply do what they want and what they think is right. In these cases, might really does make right. Past military dictators include Idi Amin of Uganda, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Their countries became terrifying places to live as the whims of the military ruled.

The alternative has always been a division of duty and authority. In the democratic west it is often a balance of powers that rules – an elected civil authority that is at least partially accountable to the people of the nation and a police force and army that is confined to the rules of the government and the wishes of that authority. In the United States, the elected President is the Commander in Chief of the military. And the raw power of the army is curtailed.

David begins to describe the government of an Israel that is under God. He starts by describing Gilead and Manasseh as his. David is probably describing the area over which the government ruled. Gilead describes the territory on the east side of the Jordan River, a territory that is currently found in the Northwestern portion of the Kingdom of Jordan. It is a mountainous area. Manasseh comprises of the largest of the tribal lands, and is the only tribe to inhabit land on both sides of the Jordan River. Manasseh actually covers the area from the mountains to the sea. It is symbolic beginning of all the land of which Israel is comprised.

But then David’s Psalm moves from a figurative illustration of land on both sides of the Jordan River to an illustration of the division of power. During the reign of David, Ephraim was the most populous and supplied the largest portion of soldiers to David’s army – they were his helmet, literally his protection. But Judah was given the task of being the ruling tribe, the one who judged and upheld the Law of Moses – they were his scepter, and he was their king.

The original idea of Israel was one where each tribe brought something special to the whole. And the Christian church, when it is running its best, reflects the same. We are not a personality cult run by someone with great power. When the church runs best, we do it together.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 24