That Tombstone I See

8/5/2016

2 Kings 23.17-18 17 The king asked, “What is that tombstone I see?” The people of the city said, “It marks the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and pronounced against the altar of Bethel the very things you have done to it.” 18 “Leave it alone,” he said. “Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they spared his bones and those of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

Several nights ago it was reported on the news that some Pokemon players were chasing Pokemon characters around in a cemetery where some US war veterans were buried A (living) veteran confronted them for disrespect of choosing to play Pokemon in that cemetery. It was an ugly confrontation, and of course, it was all filmed on cell-phones. Cemeteries serve two purposes: a place to lay bodies to rest, and a place to honor the sacrifice of the dead. Aren’t their other places to play Pokemon?

When King Josiah was in the midst of his purge of the evil in Israel and he came across a grave in Bethel where, apparently, the remains were of a prophet from Judah who’d prophesied against the altar that Jeroboam had built. The problem with the altar was: where it was built, and the rebellion against God for why it was built: it was an altar in another place other than Jerusalem. Such was the sin of the northern kingdom: they chose to “worship” God apart from where He had prescribed.

Now, in 1 Kings 13 is the story of the prophet who prophesied against that unholy altar, and his subsequent death. It provides a backstory to what is recorded in 2 Kings 23. When Josiah found the grave, he wanted to know whose bones were there, and the people explained to him about the prophet from Judah. So, Josiah honored the grave of the man of God who spoke out against Jeroboam’s altar.

The insight I gather from this is simply: honor. Honor is a very misplaced and misunderstood concept in much of today’s culture. That’s why Pokemon is played on the graves of US veterans with no thought as to what, why, and where. To the players, it was just another piece of ground. There was no thought to the lives represented there that fought and died for the freedom to play Pokemon in the first place… There is no honor.

Now, we can get superstitious about honor, or, we can remember the why, what, where, when, and how those graves are there, and respectfully play Pokemon elsewhere. We are a culture that misses, and misunderstands, honor. Josiah, according to a prophecy he probably wasn’t even aware of, tore up the graves of those who dishonored his God as payment for their dishonor. How can one dishonor God in their living, and expect to be honored in their dying? Josiah’s point was simply: honor is deserved.

We ought to honor those who gave their all, so we all could have some. We ought to remember why some died and respect the fact that they did die. For us. It’s not just patriotism, but it is remembering what we all stand for (or are supposed to stand for). We ought to remember those who’ve gone before us, and give them the honor due their sacrifice. The right to play Pokemon was secured by those who fought for that right… A little honor is due. Play Pokemon somewhere else.

Lord, help us! Amen.