He selects the humble. The world selects the proud and arrogant.
With the possible exception of George Washington, every person ever elected President of the United States, wanted the job. They thought that it was owed to them. It is almost a requirement of the office, that you must believe you are better than the other person. And how arrogant is that?
What candidate for office ever said in a debate: "Please do not vote for me. I am slow of speech. I have a physical handicap. I'm not that sharp. Take one of these others."
It just doesn't happen that way, and it makes us wonder if anybody really gets the point of the connection between real leadership and humility.
And what about this "elected for life" concept? For example, in many local governments in Michigan, you will find elected officials that have held office for over 25 years. Not only do these people not step down, it becomes impossible for others to unseat them. Are they truly the only people out of the tens of thousands that they represent, that can do the job, over the course of decades?
The same is true in national office. Is Barney Frank the only person who can best represent Boston Massachusetts in Congress, for over two decades? Is he the one person that most truly represents the whole of his district? What is that saying about Congressman Frank? What does it say about his constituents?
The person that keeps re-inserting him or herself into elected office is anything but humble! But God always chooses the humble.
. . . every . . . high priest . . . is . . . subject to weakness.
So, God started out a system of government way back in the time of Abraham. The only position required at the time was that of high priest. But he made sure that the high priest knew that he was a weak vessel, just like the humans he represents. Imagine, what if every high priest to follow continued with humility. The writer of Hebrews says that the high priest has to make sacrifices for his own sins, as well as the sins of the people.
Humanity copied the idea of high priest, and turned it into a warped symbol of prestige and power. By the time of Christ, the pharasaical system had become the twisted result of what happens when we take something good from God, and put our own spin on it. The Scribes and Pharisees were the purveyors of condemnation and guilt. They had made themselves into God's representatives, looking down on others and living a high life.
We have high priests because we need them . . . all of us. Even the high priest needed a high priest.
Remember this as we go into an ugly season of partisan politics at the national level. It is Labor Day, and summer is over. The American national government is about to go to war with itself over health care reform. As you observe the debate, look for little hints of humility on the part of of "leaders" in Washington.
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