What price peace?

Psalm 85 is one which captures the feelings of those Jews returning from Babylon – years in captivity, subjugated, largely demeaned but now free to return to their homeland. Their ‘Church’ is in turmoil: penned in all on all sides. Perhaps dwindling numbers every time they meet, those members not getting any younger, traditional in its ways: where’s the future they cry? We only seek peace perfect peace.

We have heard from verses 8-13 but we missed out the first part which might have given us context, that all important glue which binds the text together and gives it full meaning. Those first 7 verses speaks of remembering the past, when God repeatedly had saved the Jews, rescued them. It seems all to close to that passage we might recall from Mark’s Gospel, when Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee, sorry slept on the boat, and had to be awoken by the frightened disciples. He spoke to them then about having faith that God had always been with them, whatever storms in life appear.

Peace perfect peace

So what of these verses Psalm 85:8-13? Well overall the message is about Peace. Peace. What does that really mean?

Peace to a parent may be when they can close the door and finally hear the TV or radio. To a teenager it might mean filling the void around them with music, or Radio 1 (or to a parent noise), to some of us peace could be a walk in the countryside listening to the wildlife, and to others, we might find peace within the urban jungle, in our own bubble of thoughts. We only seek peace perfect peace.

Is Peace more than an absence of background noise but possibly a surreal awareness of calm?

There are many mobile phone app’s which offer such a valuable commodity as ‘calm’, all at their own price. In Scripture there’s a verse which reads that Peace which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), which makes it …undefinable. So is it about trust and faith? 

Prosperity is also mentioned but it is relative. Again context is vital. Captivity is fresh in the minds of the returning Jews. They have little to really show of their time away – it wasn’t a holiday. In contrast, we may well be prosperous in comparison to them. We are not on a long journey back to a land we once knew, are we? 

Prosperity is not to be measured in millions of pounds, so how about we measure prosperity in units of peace? 

Who said the Bible wasn’t relevant to today?

We have heard a lot about political in-fighting over recent weeks. Where politicians thought they were either above the law, or beyond the bounds of the moral compass of today: people didn’t agree. Sometimes, rulers wish to ignore others and drive forward regardless, but that’s today and there’s nothing relevant in Scripture about this.

In Mark 6:14-29 we read of a party which went out of control. Some context first.

There was a man called Herod the Great, who may or may not have been around for the birth of Jesus, given that he purportedly died in 4 BCE – or Jesus was born before 1 CE. Anyway. His first wife was called Doris, whom he allegedly married twice. He had other wives: Mariamne I, whose child, Herod Agrippa I was linked with the imprisonment of Peter, James and eventually Paul; Malthace, whose children included Herod Antipas, the Herod in our story. Also in this family ‘Herod the Great’ had marriages with Mariamne II who had Herod Philip, who is mentioned in our passage; and Philip the Tetrach, who would later marry his grand-niece Salome. And we thought Eastenders had a convoluted story line. We only seek peace perfect peace.

What’s in a name?

Herod means heroic, albeit few scholars might see the connection. Herodias is merely the feminine form of Herod. Some feel that she was particularly nasty.

Herodias was originally in love with Herod Philip, all was well – they had a daughter called Salome (only cited here), the name means “she who brings peace and tranquillity”. Now, if you look closely you may discern that Herodias had married her Uncle – and he had no land to call his own but… Herod Antipas had married an Arabian Princess, Pharsaelis, and he had land, for he ruled Galilee and Perea. His marriage had brought some form of reconciliation between the neighbouring lands with Nabatea: what’s not to like when marriage brings harmony between fighting factions? 

When Herod Antipas went on a journey he visited Philip and Herodias, and fell for her charm and beauty. Hence Herod Antipas divorced his Arabian Princess, Pharsaelis, Herodias divorced Philip: Herodias and Salome were installed as Queen and Princess respectively. This gave great offence to the local Jews whom Herod was supposed to be in charge of; but upsetting the locals didn’t upset Herod. Oh we only seek peace perfect peace.

What’s wrong with John?

Now John had emerged from the bushlands and was striking a chord amongst the locals. He seemed to have achieved quite a following, he was becoming quite popular, news had even reached the ear of this ruler, Herod Antipas. Herod sought a meeting at his Palace in Machaerus on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, with this John to find out more about the man, how much power did this man have, how much influence? Here, Herod would listen to his alternative perceptions about life, trying to discern whether he was a potential cause for concern? for Herod. Then John spoke out: “your marriage shouldn’t never have been permitted“. You can imagine the eery silence: “Pardon? What did you say?“

Perhaps Herodias was in earshot. Her position as Queen wasn’t strong as if Philip relented and told the truth, the marriage would have been highlight as illicit. This John character needed to be silenced, but how? It’s just like Eastenders.

Time for a party

Within the hectic diary there was always time for a party, and it was his Birthday. What’s not to like? Herod enjoyed Salome’s dance moves, the abundance of drink, merriment, his passions and temptation made him make a rash and foolish promise. Herodias, upon being questioned by her daughter Salome, responded: ‘Go for John’s head”. You wonder whether Salome was an innocent by-stander in this conspiracy. What might she have been thinking when she carried in John’s severed head on the platter?

In Hebrew Scripture, this might have struck a chord. For it was in Esther 5:3 we read: “Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” Sound familiar? In the Apocrypha we read of Judith who beheads Holofernes after he has drunk so much and brings back his head. (Judith 13:1-10). It’s typically the women, and so it is here.

Some might also link Herodias and Jezebel. Both woman married those who ruled the northern part of part of Israel. Both manipulated their husbands who sought to appease their wives. It was Elijah who confronted Ahab and his wife for murder (1 Kings 21), whilst John confronted Herod Antipas for his marriage. 

Decisions Decisions

Herod has to make a simple decision: keep a drunken oath, or lose face and take a decision to protect life and his people whom he rules. Oh for peace perfect peace.

So what of us today?

I recall those moments when a youngster is in aisle 5 of the supermarket, and they are screaming, legs kicking: do we take the easy route out?

Do we protect our family time or do we allow some ‘flexibility to seep into our working schedule to appease the boss?

Do we let teenagers explore their life or keep them harnessed to our expectations?

Here is a tale of good news: albeit hard to find. Devastation of a King scared to displease his wife although it would mean killing another. Innocent people being killed for speaking the truth. And Jesus would suffer the same. Herod and Herodias were both set to be cast out by the Roman authorities later, and to die in ignominy. The Gospel writer might have included this story as it brings strong parallels with Jesus. Both Herodias and the Jewish authorities had to await an opportunity to kill them; both were killed by a ruler who didn’t want to do it (Herod and Pilate); and both were convinced with the innocence of the prisoner but still went through with the punishment. Mark is signalling the death of Jesus.

Jesus came so that there could be a better ending to our stories and the story of the world than we can imagine or construct on our own. 

Working Preacher, David Lose

Where is peace in our world, and does it come with a price? Could we seek a different form of peace, that Jesus offers? One where the road might be rough at times, but our conscience is clear and we follow God? We might then find peace perfect peace.

Questions:

Do we allow our own reputation or promises keep us from following the Gospel of Love?

How often do we prefer the status quo and social stability over truth? Why is that?

Bottom line

Mark shows us the ways of the world, and political power can seek to influence that. In Jesus, there is another way. Who said the Bible isn’t topical?