A Few Good Men

1 Kings 16:2

I lifted you up from the dust and made you leader of my people Israel, but you walked in the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to provoke me to anger by their sins.

I can’t believe I did not watch ‘A Few Good Men’ nineteen years ago! It is one of the better courtroom dramas with a great cast too. The story revolves around the trial of two U.S. Marines charged with the murder of a fellow marine, which turned out to be an extrajudicial punishment ordered by the colonel on top. Cruise’s character here as defense lawyer tried to highlight the fact that his clients were just following orders. Marines believe that ‘You follow orders or people die’, especially crucial in wartime. But given the victim’s physically unfit condition, it would have been morally right to neglect the code. Thus the verdict ‘guilty of conduct unbecoming of a U.S. Marine’. But with Jack Nicholson’s difficult and  intimidating character, who’d dare say No? And with the high risk of punishment and staking their military careers for it, it’d be a dare to say No.

The closing of chapter 15 tells us of Baasha destroying all that breathed in the line of Jeroboam. That’s how he got the throne. It was an intimidating first impression. I picture him like a barbaric villain in periodic movies: proud, foul, and loud.  And if the royal house wasn’t able to protect itself from this man, who’d be safe then? When he talks, who’d dare speak up? When he walks, who’d dare not step aside, if not bow? It follows then that when he worshipped false gods, he expected all his subjects to join him. No exceptions. Now if you’re a common, family man, you wouldn’t want to get his attention by doing otherwise. But of course, you have a choice. Jehu took that risk. He was bold like his father Hanani who dared rebuke Asa for his alliance with Syria and was imprisoned for it. The word of the Lord came to them and they went to speak truth to these kings, not fearing for their lives. Their faith is on the One who rules all men, kings and commoners alike. They dared break the chain of command because they saw the highest command violated. They feared God rather than man.

Trending  worldwide on Twitter yesterday was PNoy’s second State of the Nation address.  First minutes of his speech were focused on his trademark fight against ‘Wangwang’ mentality. Tagged from the anti-siren policy for higher officials, he extends it to corruption in general, down to the private sectors. In light of our reading today, agree with me that corruption happens because those under them (that’s us) chose to step aside and be silent while they pass by?  Our secretary in Windsong is one rare jewel. She’d take time to confront a traffic officer or report a tricycle driver to their TODA when her judgments tell her they crossed a line. I mean why bother? Why can’t she be like everybody else who’d just raise an eyebrow, blurt a disgust on the system, and go on with their lives? Or, how about this: why can’t we be like her? Colonels and kings, government officials and company bosses, parents and teachers - - these highly esteemed people on position will demand our allegiance and compliance, and they have the right to do so. But when God’s moral standards are being compromised, we have a higher order from God to choose otherwise. Prerequisite for this is to know His will and be guided by His word. His ways are not always for us to face those giants with a sling. Sometimes, it’s just to stand our ground, refuse to bow down, and to keep the faith even if God may choose not to rescue us from the fiery furnace. Our one NO vote may not be enough to win a fight today, but God’s justice will sure come in time.  There may be a few good men to date, but do still sign in. In the end, God will sure win this case.