The Trees Can Breathe Easy
Kings and presidents and other national leaders are an interesting bunch. Â They usually surround themselves with luxury, even as they say they are working and fighting hard for the “everyday people.” Â They keep “yes men” nearby and shun those who are in complete disagreement with them ideologically.
And when they write their memoirs, they rarely ever apologize - even for their most blatant mistakes!
Perhaps that is why Isaiah writes what he does about the outgoing King of Babylon. Â The King is filled with pride, and may be totally oblivious to the oppression he is enacting over all the peoples, and even over all creation! Â Isaiah plays with words and imagery to construct an ironic taunt for the reigning King. Â Isaiah writes this looking forward to a time after the King’s death – how pleasant!
6 You struck the people with endless blows of rage
and held the nations in your angry grip
with unrelenting tyranny.
7 But finally the earth is at rest and quiet.
Now it can sing again!
8 Even the trees of the forest—
the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon—
sing out this joyous song:
‘Since you have been cut down,
no one will come now to cut us down!’
9 “In the place of the dead there is excitement
over your arrival.
The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead
stand up to see you.
10 With one voice they all cry out,
‘Now you are as weak as we are!
Think about your own life. Â Think about the ways in which you unknowingly enact oppression on others. Â How are the people treated who grew your coffee beans you had in your cup this morning? Â How did you treat your kids before sending them off to school? Â How many trees had to be cut down in order for you to function at your job yesterday?
Will trees say of you when you are gone, “Now there is no one to cut us down?”
Will the earth breathe a sigh of relief when you’re not around anymore polluting it? Â Will others be glad to see you gone? Â If you have influence (and I’d say if you can READ THIS you have influence enough,) think carefully about how that influence impacts the lives of others.
It could make all the difference when people read your memoirs!
