01/05/2023
Labor Day Reflection
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆?
𝙅𝙀𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙄𝘼𝙃 22:13-19
𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗼
𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗬𝗙 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆?
𝙅𝙀𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙄𝘼𝙃 22:13-19
January 3, 2023, a famous influencer posted “Bakit may sad dahil back to work na? Dapat nga grateful kasi may chance ka na pagandahin ang buhay mo at ng pamilya mo”. She said this against netizens who keep posting “Holiday no more… trabaho na naman”. But where does this sentiment come from? Why do people feel sad when it comes to work? People have different challenges when it comes to work. Some have tiresome low-salary jobs, and some have decent jobs with decent pay but don’t have enough time for their family. We don’t have the same struggle at the workplace. Every day we labor tediously to have the life we all wanted; others work for survival. Yet despite our effort, the cost of commodities is still very expensive for us whose earnings are at the level of minimum. Labor Day is celebrated to give recognition to the efforts of all the workers. This is also a time to demand better working conditions and remind the state of their part in caring for the laborers.
In Jeremiah 22:13-19, the task of a king is defined according to God’s standard. First, the task of a King is to ensure justice and righteousness in the land. The text is part of Jeremiah's oracle to the king of Judah, particularly to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim is the son of King Josiah, one of the best kings of Judah. After the death of King Josiah, he was succeeded by one of his sons, Jehoahaz. But he only ruled for 3 months because he was exiled to Egypt. This is where Eliakim or Jehoiakim, one of the worst Kings of Judah, took over.
The heavy focus of this text on the responsibility of the ruler of God’s people to maintain justice and protect the weak is being highlighted in these verses. In v. 18, the text is directed toward Jehoahaz’s successor, Jehoiakim, and is a judgment speech against him for his failure to carry out the royal responsibility to ensure justice and righteousness in the land. The association of the whole text with Jehoiakim is confirmed by the comparison in vv. 13-17 between a just king (Josiah) and his unjust son (Jehoiakim).
There are two related issues that dominate the indictment of Jehoiakim: royal aggrandizement and injustice. Royal power is exercised unjustly. The manifestations of the injustice and unrighteousness in the land at the hands of the king can be seen in building projects that were accomplished on the backs of the people without appropriate compensation (v. 13). The opening line, therefore, summarizes the indictment (v. 13a): building a magnificent house or palace in a manner that is unjust. The rest of the passage elaborates on the specifics of that indictment.
These scenarios are still happening in our time today. The current minimum wage in Caraga is Ᵽ350.00, equivalent to 8 hours of work. This 350 cannot support a family considering that this will be less than your transportation, household expenses, and other salary deduction. Aside from this, some need to wake up at dawn to travel to work and go home late in the evening. No more family time. Some also experience delayed salaries. We all strive differently yet the difficulty of working is never worth Ᵽ350 pesos. Choosing to work amidst the struggle is already a sign of gratefulness.
The truth is, we are abusing the farmers, the vendors, the teachers, the nurses, and other laborers. Building big buildings does not make one a good king or a good leader. A good leader lives righteously, justly, and compassionately. A good leader secures the welfare of the people.
Second, the task of a King is to defend the poor and the oppressed. The issue as the prophet defines it is set forth obviously in vv. 15-17 in the comparison of Jehoiakim with his father, Josiah. It is the question of what makes a king (v. 15). Is kingship represented by possessing a magnificent palace, symbolized by using cedar? Or is it manifest in securing justice for the poor and the oppressed? The first question, however, discloses a second and deeper issue: What defines the true relationship between the king and the Lord (v. 16b)? True kingship is to be found in the ruler who “knows”—that is, acknowledges and lives in faithful relationship with—God. The content of that knowledge, that relationship, is specifically obedience to the requirements of justice and righteousness, the care of the poor and the needy that was central to the Lord's instruction and the king's job description.
The comparison with Josiah makes the point. He was a just and righteous ruler. To judge the cause of the poor and the needy under Josiah’s reign (v. 16a) was to see that they did not suffer abuse, that their labor did not go uncompensated, that their property was not extorted from them, that the legal system was not manipulated by bribery and other devices to rob those who did not have much in the first place. Jehoiakim failed the test of kingship in every way. It is very clear that maintaining a just order leads to a good order, to a good life for all.
Who will protect the poor and oppressed at this time? If there are too many extra-judicial killings happening. Who will protect these people? Who will speak up and stand up for and with them?
The church is the prophet of this time. We are the Jeremiah of our time where we are under the rule of the modern Jehoiakim. It is the role of the church, as a prophet, to rebuke and criticize, and advise the king. We see all kinds of injustice around us today. Let us be courageous enough in standing as the voice of the oppressed and the poor in society. We should not be afraid of reprimanding the state because it is his duty as instructed by the Lord. A king must ensure that there is justice and righteousness in his land. And a king also must protect the poor and oppressed.
𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗼
𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗬𝗙 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿
