BRING PEACE TO A WARRING WORLD, Skit by j.Snodgrass
March 20, 2008
PRESENTATION – BRING PEACE TO A WARRING WORLD
By j. Snodgrass
Sadly, war in the East is nothing new – some of us may remember Operation Desert-Storm. Some of the older ones among us may remember…the Crusades… There might even be a person or two in the room who remember the Hebrews invading Israel some thirty-three hundred years ago, and how they were in turn attacked by the Philestines, the Persians, the Babylonians and the Romans… And those who remember all that – what are you still doing in the 20’s/30’s group? You know who you are…
With all this history of conflict, the question is…How do we bring peace to a warring world? And to answer the question, I’ve opened the lines for some Biblical figures to give us their unput. Hello?
GOLIATH : Urrrrrr…
NARRATOR : Ur to you too. Who may I ask is calling?
GOLIATH : I am Goliath.
NARRATOR : And where are you calling from?
GOLIATH : Gath.
NARRATOR : And how is Gath this time of year?
GOLIATH : Urrrrrr…
NARRATOR : Same here in New York, I hear ya. So we’re wondering. How would you bring peace to a warring world?
GOLIATH : I would stand against the enemy forces, wave my spear at them and shout out “Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us… Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and [your bones] to the wild animals of the field.” (1 Samuel 17:8-9, 17:44)
NARRATOR : …Well yes, that’s one way of bringing peace, but…
GOLIATH : Also I would call them cowards. And fools. Foolish cowards.
NARRATOR : Alright, thanks. And I see we’ve got another caller. This is..?
SAMSON : This is Samson. You can tell that fool Goliath I killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey, so I bet I could take him down with the beak of a sparrow. (Judges 13:15)
NARRATOR : Um… We’re talking about peace here. How would we bring peace to a warring world?
SAMSON : Oh yeah, um… Well, you let me know how that works out. But if it doesn’t, all I ask is a fresh supply of jawbones and I’ll take on any army.
NARRATOR : Thanks. Okay. Alright. Um. So. Are there any callers who’d like to tell us something about bringing peace to a warring world? Hello?
JAEL : (Pronounced “Yah-El”) Hi, this is Jael. I think, with these men always so hot to clash against each-other on the battle-field, it’s no wonder we never have peace. If you want war, ask men. But if you want peace, you should be asking the women.
NARRATOR : And how would you bring peace about?
JAEL : Well, I remember when there was a terrible battle near my tent, the Canaanites attacked, our men fought bravely, and the Canaanites went into retreat. Their commander, Sisera, snuck into my tent to hide. And even though he was the enemy of my people, I let him in, gave him some water and a place to sleep. (Judges 4:17-20)
NARRATOR : And did your kindness change his disposition?
JAEL : I don’t know if my kindness changed him…because while he was sleeping I took a hammer and drove a tent-peg through his head till it sunk into the ground. (Judges 4:21, 5:24-27)
NARRATOR : Ow…
JAEL : But things definitely got more peaceful after that.
NARRATOR : Um, you know? While we’re on the phone, I think maybe I should…cancel my reservation at your Bed-n-Breakfast, I, um… Something…came up. Urgent.
JAEL : I understand.
NARRATOR : What about prophets? Any prophets out there with a word about peace? Jeremiah, is that you?
JEREMIAH : “The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.” (Jeremiah 28:8-9)
NARRATOR : And how likely does that seem?
JEREMIAH : Not very.
NARRATOR : Is there no-one who will speak for peace?
ZECHARIAH : Hello? Hello?
NARRATOR : Hello?
ZECHARIAH : Got my voice back just in time! You see, I’d lost it for a while. This is Zechariah, husband of Elizabeth, father of John the Baptizer.
NARRATOR : Quite a resume. And do you have some words of comfort for us?
ZECHARIAH : “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us…that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant…that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days… By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:68-79 Abbreviated)
NARRATOR : Thank you, Zechariah. And our other callers, you were…helpful too. And now, rather than a word from our sponsors, I’d like to share a passage from Isaiah, chapter fifty-seven.
“It shall be said, ‘Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s [path].’ For thus says the [Lord]: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made. Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid… I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for mourners the fruit of [song on their] lips. Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them. (Isaiah 57:14-19, Abbreviated)