Today’s
Scripture Reading (June 17, 2019): Psalm
138 & 139
At the close of World War II, Japanese Emperor
Hirohito was put in an almost impossible situation. Whether Hirohito was
personally responsible for war crimes has always been a bit of an open
question. But the United States made the decision that the Emperor would not be
tried for any of the actions of his nation during the war. He would also not be
forced to give up the “crown of leadership” that he wore for his country. His
sacrifice was that he would have to renounce his mythical lineage explicitly.
Shinto belief was that the family of the Emperor were direct descendants
Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and the universe. Hirohito would not be tried
for war crimes, but he would not be able to ever publicly claim that he was a
god again. While Hirohito agreed to reject the mythical lineage, there is evidence
that he struggled with that idea for the rest of his life. For Hirohito, he
could no more deny that he was the descendant of Amaterasu than he could deny
that he was Japanese.
Hirohito does not stand alone. Throughout history,
many kings and hereditary leaders have believed that they were gods. And we can
add to that list many others who may not have thought that they were gods, but
who insisted on acting as if they are.
The Psalmist writes that he will praise the God of
Israel with all of his heart, or with his whole being. But he also commits to
doing so “before the gods.” The Psalmist is not indicating gods like Amaterasu
or the mythical gods of the other nations. He is speaking directly to the
Hirohito’s of his time. The Psalmist’s message is directed at men and women who
could not imagine that they were not gods and demanded that they are worshipped
as such. He commits to not only worship his God with all of who he is but to do
so in the presence of those who believed that they were gods. He would not
share the worship that belonged to his God with anyone who only thought that
they were gods, no matter how firmly they may hold onto that belief.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 140 & 141
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