The power and the force of the king were based on his power to organize and maintain the society. The force of the military helped to maintain and protect the state from the external enemies. The law was to guarantee the stability of the nation and the king was considered as the law maker and his judge.
Basing on the Christian history, in the start of the history of Israel, Egypt was a model of a well constructed monarchy. Egypt afforded to construct an independent estate, strong and stable (2800 a.C – 525 a.C). And in this state, the king was considered as divine. He was adorned and given a right of cult. The pharaoh had divine power to make laws, and his pronouncements were absolutes. The Egyptian military was the most powerful and frightening. Egypt was always seen as a state of force, violence and repression.
In the same sense, we can talk of the ‘American empire’. The USA, in the 20th and 21stcenturies, has come out as the most powerful state in term of force, violence and repression of the other nations especially in the so called third world countries. However, hearing some talks from the current president, “the emperor of America”, it creates a great hope of the prophecy of Isaiah that the servant will promote justice and rightness to the nations. In this context, we nominate the word servant, and may all permit, any leader who takes the risk to announce and proclaim the elements of the kingdom. It is clear that by hearing the speech of Obama in Cairo, Egypt, in emphasizing that ‘the people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now that must be our work here on earth,’ no one would dare, with whichever malicious reason, undermine the usage of the word servant in this context. It was fantastic, and we should learn from it, to here Obama recalling the Paul’s words to the Corinthians, ‘people should come together regardless of religious and racial differences and root out extremists who threaten world peace.’
No one would ever think that the Egyptian empire would one day meet the USA Empire seeking to promote the true kingdom – ‘peace on his beloved’. To do that, all have to go back to the new Galilee, as they did the disciples of Christ in the gospel of mark (Mk. 16, 1- ff.): and Obama showed it clearly when he said, “I have come here to seek a new beginning between the united states and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”
A true servant of the kingdom knows how to work with opposite sides – and in truth, knows what it means by ecumenism. To stress on the point, Obama called for the spirit of religious tolerance. For him, people in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. It is by prophetic spirit of post-modernity that we can talk of richness of religious diversity which must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt, Said Obama. At the same time, people should not disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism. And with the same spirit of announcing peace on earth, we recall the last words of Obama that, “…too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of many (not to mention only Israelites and Palestinians) can see their children grow up without fear; …when Jerusalem , and the world as a whole, is a secure and lasting home for all (whether Jews, Christians or Muslims or whichever religion should belong!), and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra , when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed, peace be upon them, joined in prayer.”
This is really working for true kingdom – peace, peace, peace, is the totality of well being and every man and woman has a right and a duty to participate on its promotion and living.
