It's been a long time since I've read The Chronicles of Narnia. I mean a loooong time. But I've been remembering those books lately, as it happens. Specifically regarding the ninth chapter of 2nd Samuel.1
But as usual, I'm skipping past myself again. Let me tell you about Aslan for a minute.
The Lion
I think Aslan the Lion is by far one of the best Narnian figures.2 You may be aware that he's the God-figure of Lewis' small stories. But I wonder if many of us can get lost in the obvious allegory and miss the finer touches that bring the clear parallel to the foreground.
Take this excerpt from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, for example:
"...Aslan is a lion — the Lion, the great Lion."
"Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he — quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs Beaver. “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
From this short discussion alone we learn three things about Aslan before even meeting him. Firstly, he's revered in the world of Narnia. He is "the great Lion" and the king. The Beavers here clearly speak with great respect for the Lion. Secondly, he's dangerous. That ought to go without saying for a lion, yet nonetheless, the emphasis is there. He'll leave your knees knocking.
Thus, we've heard of the Lion's status and ability. Finally, however, we get a glimpse of his character. "...'Course he isn't safe. But he's good."
There's the key.
Lion or no, meeting a king must be a nerve-wracking prospect. Here's a ruler with all the power in the land to make your life a misery, and you have to face him. But if you know that the king is of good character you can approach with the hope that he won't unjustly tear you down. This ties us nicely back to 2nd Samuel.
The King
In 2nd Samuel 9:1-5, we're given a bit of insight into the character of another king. This time David, king of Israel, is the point of focus.
Shortly after the death of Saul, the previous king he served and was hunted by, and his son Jonathan, David ascended to the throne of Israel and is looking for any relatives of Saul that are left. Not an unusual action from a new king in ancient times, but it's David's motivation that’s the outlier here. Verse one gives us a clear view of it:
And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”
You see, David's relationship with the previous king, Saul, was rocky at even the best of times.3 But Jonathan, Saul's son, well that's a tale all on its own. But suffice it to say, David and Jonathan were brothers in all but blood. Sadly for the newly crowned David, however, Jonathan died by his father's side in an ailing battle with Israel's enemies.
So for the sake of his friendship with Jonathan, David seeks out any remains of Saul's lineage. Not to eradicate them and thus solidify his seat on the throne from potential counter-claims. No, David seeks them out to be kind to them because he's a good king.4
Much to our good king's pleasure, too, there is a son of Jonathan who still resides in his kingdom, Methibosheth. So he sends for Methibosheth to be brought to the palace. I can only imagine that the poor man was terrified.
The Lame
We're not told very much about Methibosheth himself, other than the fact that he's Jonathan's son and that he's "crippled in the feet" which means he can't walk.
Imagine yourself in Methibosheth's place, things wouldn't be looking very good for you. In summary, your father and grandfather have died in battle. Now the runaway, folk-hero general has taken the throne and claimed kingship. You're unable to walk, making any chance of escape vastly more difficult, and today you've been sent for by the palace.
I'm no gambler, but I wouldn't bet on the odds of things turning out well.
Of course, we know what David has in mind with all this, and so does he. But Methibosheth doesn’t have a clue. He doesn't know the king's character yet. But he knows that he's the king and that he's dangerous.
So Methibosheth, faced with the powerful ruler who had a bit of previous "history" with his grandfather, did the only thing that he could. He paid homage. What he got in return must've surprised him.
Mercy
Methibosheth!...Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.5
Once again, the good king's character is shown. In the face of the ruler, Methibosheth regains his inheritance and is given a seat at the table. Thus David shows his colours. King, dangerous, merciful.
As we mentioned earlier, Aslan the lion is the allegorical God/saviour figure in The Chronicles of Narnia series. A similar typology also applies to King David. Many a theologian has shown how, at his best moments, David is a foreshadowing of Christ the good king. What are we to take away from these figures and allegories?
Fear of the Lord
Primarily I think these examples help us to properly grapple with that tricky biblical phrase "...the fear of the Lord."
The temptation for some is to water the phrase down to be a mere "respect for God" that doesn't quite fit the translation or intent of the phrase very well at all. The flip side of that coin, however, is for others to be hell-fire-and-brimstone about how scary and omnipotent God is in all his glory. We all ought to have our knees knocking at the very thought of God!
As with many of these debates, I think the actual answer is somewhere in the middle. In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read this:
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.6
You don't necessarily think of drawing confidently toward, nay, near something you ought to fear. But again the key is knowing God's character. Yes, he's God. The great God, the king of all creation, in less than a moment he could make you cease to exist. That’s all very true, and the vast infinite possibility of his omnipotence ought to strike awe in us in some way.
But he's also revealed himself and his intent to us, through word and sacrament. King Jesus has shown us his character.
Word and Sacrament
In his own words, he said of himself: "...I am gentle, and lowly in heart; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."7 And further, the Apostles in their writing of Sacred Scripture describe him in even clearer detail.
Then he makes present these telling of himself through the sacraments. Through Baptism and Confirmation, he brings us into new life in him with his people, the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit. Through Confession and Anointing of the Sick, he shows us mercy and restores us to health.8 Through Holy Orders and Matrimony, he shows us the road to Heaven by serving each other. And ultimately in the Eucharist he gives us himself, the very bread of life come down from Heaven.
Our king is good, we need not knock our knees when he calls.
Hope
I've written before about our need for virtuous hope. Perhaps the deeper we understand the character of God, the more we can approach boldly that throne from which we receive such mercy.
Aslan and David are but shadows compared to the depth of the character our actual king upholds.
Bonus points if you read this ahead of time for extra context.
Not just because he was voiced by Liam Neeson in the movies.
A definitive understatement if ever there was one.
Well, most of the time.
2nd Samuel 2:6b-7.
Hebrews 4:16.
Matthew 11:29 & John 10:10 respectively.
Even if not in the ways we ask or imagine.