Today’s Scripture Reading (January 23, 2017): Isaiah 32
John Ashcroft’s singing of the song that he wrote - “Let the Eagle Soar” - at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in February 2002 made a list of top five Worst Political Advice compiled for The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos back in 2008. Ashcroft and the song ever since 2002 have been fodder for late night comedians, although “Let the Eagle Soar” is not the only song that Ashcroft has written. And more than the nature of the song itself, which is really about living a triumphant life, it seems to be the self-promoting nature of Ashcroft with the song which appears to be the problem. The impromptu concert at the Seminary left Stroumboulopoulos and others wondering where the political advisors were when this decision to sing was being made. Of course, late night comedians love to talk about anything John Ashcroft does because then they can also talk about Ashcroft’s distinction of being the only man to lose a Senate race to a dead man. The man, Governor Mel Carnahan, had died in a plane crash during the campaign, but because of election regulations in Missouri, both names remained on the Ballot on election night – and two weeks after Carnahan had died, he won a Missouri Senate seat 51% - 49%.
All of which raises a question. Why would anyone, let alone 51% of the electorate, vote for a dead man. In many ways, it seems like a waste of vote – and for that many people to decide to waste the vote, is a little unbelievable. And the two events – the singing of the song at a Theological Seminary and the loss of a Senate Race to a dead man – may share a single cause. That is, both of these incidents may reveal a common problem. Both events appear to be acts of someone who refuses to listen to either his advisors or to the people who elect him into office. The symbolic message of the voters is a dead man will hear us and represent us better than you will. And deafness on the part of Ashcroft is the only way to describe the events that led to the 2002 song.
With Ashcroft, this is mere conjecture. But for Isaiah, this was exactly the reality of the politicians of his day. They were like dead men – their eyes no longer saw, and their ears no longer heard. The advisors that they gathered around them were ignored, and the king and princes simply did whatever it was that they wanted to do.
For some, Isaiah is not speaking about just any king, but rather he is pointing directly at the day of the Messiah. The argument lies in the idea that Isaiah is talking about someone in the future – and there does not seem to be any king (although some have argued for Hezekiah) that fits the description. The opening of the eyes and ears of those in power speak of a day of justice, but also of compassion and mercy, which in many ways sums up the ministry of Jesus. And add to this that Jesus was the one who literally opened the eyes of the blind and opened the ears of the deaf and we have a fairly strong argument for this passage to be interpreted as pertaining to the Messiah.
But whether or not this passage is Messianic, Isaiah is instructing his readers that a real leader is not someone who simply does as he wants, but rather, someone who has ears to hear and eyes to see. A leader is someone who values all of the people that surround them and all of the opinions, seeing the strength and truth in each person’s suggestion and being able to, then, tease out the direction that needs to be followed. It is never easy, and wimps need not apply. But it is necessary for anyone who wants to be a Christian leader.
Originally Published on December 5, 2013
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah 33
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