How can we judge societies? Are there principles applied to do so? Does the Hebrew Bible offer a methodology?
The Hebrew Bible, in fact, yielded at least two philosophies for judge both nations, their leaders and inhabitants. The Hebrew Bible’s significance on this topic is its extensive period of observation. The Bible’s writings address the founding, the rise and the demise of three particular nations: the United Israelite Kingdom, the Northern Kingdom and the Judean Kingdom. With the Hebrew Bible’s writings, both praise and derision was exacted upon the nations’ leaders and residents. The scripture contains various opinions coming from various authors and orators during various periods of time.
The ultimate reality is that all of the three nations fell. The issue is whether the opinions accurately depict the causal factors. Did principles play a role?
Is it possible that some of the Bible’s methodology can be employed to address the current health of nations? Do the biblical principles apply to modern societies? To begin to address these questions, one must first start with the biblical philosophies.
Biblical Philosophies
The first philosophy is the one that scholars identify as Deuteronomistic theology. This ideology believed that adherence to certain principles translated into societal success. Expressions of this philosophy is found in scripture. For instance, kings received grades, i.e. for Josiah, the Second Kings’ author opined: “He did what was proper in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his forefather David; he did not veer right or left.” 2 Kings 2. This observation was most favorable.
The other philosophy comes from the Hebrew Bible Prophets. In critiquing both nations and individuals, they cast their judgement based upon principles. While there are a variety of prophets and opinions, three particular principles stand out: truth, justice and righteousness. See Jeremiah 4:2: “If you swear, ‘As the Lord lives’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, the nations will bless themselves through [Israel], and will praise themselves through it.”
With this criteria, the prophets pontificated. To what exactly they decried over is an issue. According to Abraham Joshua Heschel, the prophets’ observation were unlike other humans. The prophets took their aim societal pursuits. Wisdom, wealth and might were considered three dominant societal goods in ancient times. See Heschel, The Prophets at P. 41.
Antiquity’s societal goods still resonate in the present. Today, wisdom now includes science, technology, and academics; wealth now includes corporations, digital currency, and multi-national businesses; and might now includes politics.
With these concepts, is it possible to address a society’s health? What happens when the prophets’ principles are applied in modernity?
To answer these questions, the principles enumerated must be defined.
The Prophets’ Principles Defined
Truth, justice and righteousness, while at times interrelated, can be addressed independently.
The truth is somewhat defined in the Torah by addressing its opposite. In the Ten Commandments, the Children of Israel are instructed: “You shall not testify against your neighbor as a lying witness.” Exodus 20:16. The truth essentially is not a falsity.
Justice largely concerns judicial impartiality. Judges are described as people who do not bend in judgment. They do not recognize the parties (as to applying favor) and do not take bribes. Deuteronomy 16:18-19.
Righteousness, in this assessment, is social welfare or charity. For instance, the Torah instructs landowners to leave the corners of one’s fields and the fallen fruit for the poor and for the alien. See Leviticus 19:9-10. Within Israelite law, landowners were given perpetual rights of ownership. One can argue that in exchange for this tremendous right that they were required to comply with the commandments or terms of the ultimate landholder- God.
The next issue is the approach used to apply the principles. The Hebrew Bible Prophets were unique in their approach on viewing society.
The Prophets’ Sensitivity
Not only do the principles need to be defined, the application of them is also important. The level of sensitivity must be assessed. Prophets were unlike other citizenry. Heschel speaks of prophets seeing the world from a different perspective. Thus, there are passages from the prophets involved in extreme observation.
An example of this perspective comes from Isaiah: “Thus justice has been withdrawn and righteousness stands at a distance; because the truth has stumbled in the street, and integrity cannot enter. Truth became lacking and refraining from evil became foolish. The Lord saw all this and it was evil in His eyes that there is no justice.” Isaiah 59:14.
For prophets, the societal excesses could be viewed as problematic. Time, effort and expenses employed for the benefit of the few might register upset.
With this in mind, one must compare principles to societal goods.
Principles and Societal Goods in Juxtaposition
The big reality is that a nation’s pursuit of wisdom, wealth, and might can conflict with principles. Nations confront both internal and external challenges. Not only are citizens jockeying to obtain wisdom, wealth, and might, the surrounding nations and their citizens are also competing.
Heschel cites a particular passage in which the Prophet Jeremiah weaves three societal forces and juxtaposes them. “Let not the wise man glorify himself with his wisdom, and let not the strong man glorify himself with strength, let not the rich man glorify himself with his wealth. For only with this may one glorify himself- contemplating and knowing Me, for I am the Lord Who does kindness, justice and righteousness in the land, for in these is My desire- the word of the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:22-23.
Wisdom, wealth and might are regulated by truth, justice, and righteousness. If there was no truth with so-called wisdom, would the ideas fail to produce results? If money for charity was squandered, would there still be people in need? If power was unrestrained, would there be justice?
Given these concepts, there are many events and phenomena within modern society that are worthy of analysis. The selected three items essentially address one specific societal good.
A Modern Analysis
1. Wisdom: What is a Woman?
The question of “what is a woman?” arose out of pseudoscience, law, and politics and abandonment of biology. Academia is responsible for creating this societal confusion. With certainty it can be said that the field of medicine, at this point in time, cannot change human biology.
From so-called wisdom, there has been societal disruptions. Who is allowed to use a woman’s restroom has become an issue. Whether biological boys can compete in school sporting competitions against biological girls has become an issue.
The assault on a biological truth was made possible for some to pursuit wealth and might. This hot button issue created money making opportunities as well as created opportunities for political advantage. Medical facilities created industry related to gender care; politicians used it to gain both a support base and contributions.
2. Wealth: You Will Own Nothing and Will Be Happy
The phrase “you will own nothing and be happy” is increasingly well known. Computer programs, video games, movies, and music are being pushed to be subscription based. In doing so, the wealthy prevent others from acquiring anything. Wealth is being monopolized by the wealthy.
The reality is that physical medium has value. In the hands of individuals, they are able to sell or collect them.
3. Might: Mostly Peaceful Protests
Might in modernity involves politics. The politically motivated and promoted “mostly peaceful protests” after the George Floyd riots resulted in the estimated 32 deaths. According to AM Best News, they also resulted in $2 billion in insured property damage losses.
The pertinent question is: Why did politicians put their citizenry’s life and property at risk? Was this a message to citizenry as to how politicians can exact punishment?
Conclusion
The principles of truth, justice and righteousness from the Hebrew Bible Prophets can be applied to judge modern society. These principles often collide with a nation’s or individual’s pursuit of societal goods. These societal goods include wisdom, wealth and might.
The true issue is whether adherence to principles constitutes a bellwether for a nation’s wellbeing. These biblical principles serve as excellent tools to dissect societal pursuits. Societal pursuits should not be considered as an isolated goal. Often, societal goods interplay off of each other: wisdom can drive wealth; wealth can drive might.
This overall principle-based analysis is important to identify as to whether societal resources and policies are employed in an efficient and effective manner to benefit society.
Be well!!
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