fish rots at the head

2 Kings 25:1-12

As we read the book of Kings (1&2) we see a detailed description of the rise and fall of one king after another. And through the kings' unfaithfulness to God the reason behind the exile of the nation of Israel is made clear.

Both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (northern and southern kingdoms) in the person of the kings were offensive to God and thus in their sin destruction follows.

As the old saying goes, the fish rots at the head or rather the fish rots from the head down. As leadership goes so does the followers, so does the country.

This idiom is certainly lived out in the book of kings.

However, the positive side of the book of kings is that no matter how bad the leadership of the kings are, no matter how destructive and sinful they may be, they reap what they so but God remains steadfast to his promise.

It is the promise to David that his dynasty would be forever that stays the hand of God from allowing absolute destruction.

No matter how bad leadership gets and how corrupt they can be or just how plain awful they seem, we must remember that God, our Father, keeps his promises; his leadership is without corruption or defilement. His kingship knows only how to be faithful and true.

As we look to the last words of todays readings we see that not all were exiled, the poor, the vinedressers and farmers, were left behind to till the soil and more importantly keep the faith alive.

Corruption may come from the top but faithfulness is guarded by the simple of heart.

Hope remains and it is found with those whose hands are callused but whose hearts remain pure and untainted.
May we be like the latter while praying for the former.

The last words of the book of kings paints a lasting picture of hope, "Jehoiachin king of Judah was released from prison...changed his prison garments and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life..."

Jehoichin means "Yahweh establishes". Even in the midst of hopelessness comes hope from the hand of God, our father.

Indeed, Yahweh establishes and what he establishes can never be undone.

In fact every time we gather at the altar we experience what Jehoiachin experiences; as we come to the altar we cast off our prison garments and embrace freedom as we feast on the bread of life the promise of Christ who brings us back from exile and fulfills the promise of the father.

In the Eucharist the promise remains, the leadership of Christ is true.