When the Lions of Judah Will Roar Again, in Jamaica & Jerusalem

Lions are roaring in our ears this week - the prophets imagine them as wild beasts roaming the streets of the proud city that has been destroyed in the doomsday scenario of the future. And they hear the roar of the lion of Judah - one day in the future, victorious again. 

Today we mark International Women’s Day and also five months since October 7 unleashed so much horror on so many, and so many pains. The violent prophetic vision of war, empty streets strewn with bodies, women and men and children in the rubble of devastation are what many of us know is happening right now in Gaza and in Israel and in other parts of the world. The lions roar, the women wail, the world is stuck in sorrow -- so where does hope come in, and how do we get beyond this nightmare? 

Prophets like the ones we read about in the bible didn’t always have the answers for right now but they had a long vision for how things may turn out and how we must work for justice to happen. 

Among the list of modern day prophets who've  left us with such legacies of protest for progress, powerful social criticism or poetry that helps people rise above the troubles --  Bob Marley has a place of honor.  And he loved the lion of Judah. It was his signet ring. 

The recent movie that came out about him - ONE LOVE - was produced by his family so it may not be the most objective but it is an inspiring story about a man with a talent, a passion and a message who died too young but left his mark on Jamaica - and the world. I’ve never been a huge Reggae fan and didn’t fully get the full story of Rastafarian culture and religions but like many of you I know a few of his songs by heart and have respect for a tradition that is deeply spiritual, musical and counter-cultural at its core.  The Afro-Jamaican spirit resisted colonialism and embraced a deep sense of religion, not without sacred substance - that helped forge a sense of pride and purpose when that was not always possible. 

What I didn’t know about Marley was that he was a bible reading man and that many of his songs include verses and allusions to the biblical text. 

After I walked out of the movie I read this Recent article explores his spiritual legacy and started reading this book: The Bible and Bob Marley: Half the Story Has Never Been Told. 

For many in the world today, God and the Bible are symbols of oppression. And there’s plenty of good reason for that. Both the God of the Bible - the Rasta name is Jah - one of the oldest names for the hebrew divine and a shortcut for Jahwah -- have been used to justify misogyny, slavery, homophobia and imperialism.

 But for Marley the divine was the liberator - from both political and personal oppression. It’s how he fought his demons. 

In his huge hit “Exodus,” he sings: “Jah come to break down oppression, rule equality, wipe away transgression, set the captives free.” 

That’s the movement of the people. 

Or as he also sang -- 

“The Lion of Judah shall break every chain”

Today we mark the memory of prophets, old and new, ancient and young - we honor women everywhere, providers of life and prophetesses of better days, we pray so hard for peace and the return of hostages, end of the violence, bilateral ceasefire, hope to return, and a biblical redemption that will bring back pride and care, break down oppression and sorrow, so we can sing and dance again. Like lions in the wild. 

Next week below the bible belt -- two more prophets! 

May today bring some solace and healing. Shabbat Shalom.