Rev. George Miller
Oct 31, 2021
1 Kings 5:1-5
81 miles southwest of us is a place called Immokalee, where the soil is
rich, and the people identify as Haitian, Hispanic, and Native American.
Immokalee’s adamah, which is Hebrew for soil, is so good that beans,
peppers, cucumbers come from there.
But perhaps they are most known for their tomatoes. Juicy, ripe tomatoes grown in the Florida
soil, which is God’s nahalah, or inheritance.
It is not easy work that our Haitian, Latino, White and Native American
sisters and brothers endure, spending long hours in the fields, sometimes
without proper shade or water.
Verbal abuse and sexual harassment can be common, as well as workers not
being paid for the hours they work.
In some places, modern day slavery exists, just a 90-minute drive away.
BUT, fortunately, there is a national movement that has been going on for
over a decade, a movement that the UCC is a major player in.
It is called the Fair Food Program.
With offices in Sarasota and Immokalee, the Fair Food Program is one in
which local farmers, farmworkers and national retail companies come together to
ensure that those who are picking our food are getting paid a humane wage.
The Fair Food Program has created a 24-hour hotline in which employees can
report abuse and injustice.
This program has reduced the number of women being raped in the field,
the folk being verbally assaulted.
In 10 years they’ve addressed 24,000 worker complaints, got $273,000 in back
wages paid, and…they have put $30 million dollars of earned income into the
hands of the farm workers.
Over 12 national corporations have made a legally binding pledge to only
purchase produce that falls under the Fair Food Program.
Companies like Walmart, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King, Whole Foods.
Guess what the cost is to ensure that modern-day human beings working in
the fields just 81 miles can live an abuse and poverty free life?
1 extra penny a pound.
1 penny.
1 penny to ensure that fathers can feed their families, mothers don’t
have to worry about being inappropriately touched, and our Haitian, Hispanic,
White, Asian, and Native American sisters and brothers can know they will have enough
shade, water, and rest.
There are 2 holdouts to being part of the Fair Food Program. 2 corporations that say is not their responsibility
to tell their suppliers how to pay their employees.
Those 2 corporations refusing to pay an extra penny a pound are Wendy’s
and Publix.
May we pray that eventually their hearts will be changed.
So instead of Publix and Wendy’s purchasing produce that is literally right
down the highway from us, they buy overseas and other countries…and then we act
surprised when foods like onions can’t be eaten because of a salmonella outbreak.
What is justice, what is kindness, what is humility if it is not paying
people fair wages and empowering folk to live their best possible lives?
We share this today, because it ties into today’s reading.
Much time has passed since Hannah stood before God in the Temple. Her son
Samuel grew to a great leader.
He appointed Saul and David as Kings.
And now David’s son Solomon has taken over the monarchy.
Solomon doesn’t waste a moment. He
gets rid of anyone who was a traitor to his dad, he executes all who rebelled.
After tightening loose ends, he marries the Pharoah’s daughter, ensuring
that Israel and Egypt get along.
And although Israel, like Immokalee, was agriculturally based, it controlled
the trading routes that linked Europe, Asia, and Africa.
…Interesting…
So, with no traitors, no rebels, no threat of war, and a steady supply of
cargo coming through, the nation gets to rest and just be…
That’s when Solomon decides it is time to finally build a Temple for
God.
Not just any Temple, a Temple to end all Temples, and to do so, he’s
going to need a lot of supplies and an abundance of workers.
But Israel isn’t known for their lumber.
So, King Solomon reaches out to the King of Tyre, an emerging leader of
the ancient world, and he strikes a deal.
“Listen,” Solomon says to the King, “My pops was too busy fighting wars
to build a temple. But now all is chill. I’m going to build the Lord a home, and
everyone knows that Lebanon has the best lumber.”
“So, let’s make a deal. What if
your citizens and my citizens come together and cut down the cedars? I will pay your people a fair wage, and I’ll
give whatever you ask, because everyone knows that no one can cut wood like
your people.”
Do you hear what’s going on?
Solomon is tying his nation’s economy to the economy of another. He’s buttering the King up with
compliments.
The King of Tyre is overwhelmed with joy.
“My servants will ship you the supplies you need, and you will supply
our needs by making sure my people have food to eat and a fair wage to live a
good life.”
To which King Solomon agrees and as a sign of good-will, gives the King
of Tyre 7 and half million pounds of wheat and 115,000 gallons of fine oil.
It’s interesting what is going on here.
The King of Israel has entered into a time of peace and prosperity.
And what does he do?
He builds a House for the Lord.
He strikes an agreement with a neighboring nation.
He offers to pay everyone a fair wage, even though they are foreigners.
He guarantees that the workers can feed their families and take care of
their homes.
And did you notice the gifts? Not
only did he give an abundance of wheat and oil, did you hear what kind of oil
it is?
Fine oil.
King Solomon didn’t just give the King of Tyre 115,000 gallons of Wesson
or store brand oil.
He gave them fine oil. The Colavita. The Montebello. The E-La-Won.
He gave them the olive oil that only the best of the best could afford.
In fact, in the original Hebrew, what he gives them is “beaten” oil.
Regular olive oil was processed on stone presses. But beaten oil- that was done via a process in
which olives were beaten in a mortar with a handheld pestle.
Which meant that instead of giving the King of Tyre the kind of olive oil
that is self-serve, it’s the kind that required paid labor to do.
Can we hear what is going on here?
The construction of the Temple is not just a worship-based event, but it
is also one that’s creating jobs, creating alliances, and blessing the economies
of 2 nations.
It is amazing to see, and so different than what we experience in modern
times.
This is not King Solomon saying he won’t pay an extra penny.
This is not two leaders trying to exploit their citizens to get the
fastest, cheapest labor.
This is an example of how nations, economies, citizens can all benefit by
following the teaching of the commandments and embracing what it means to do
justice, love kindness, and to walk ethically with the Lord.
Is King Solomon completely perfect?
No. Are his actions completely
ego-free? Probably not.
Does he forgo bearing arms and engaging in scandalous relationships? Heck no.
But here, for a moment in time, we witness what happens to a nation, a people,
and a work force when it is about the glory of God and the opportunity to
praise.
So, if King Solomon could give the people of Tyre a fair wage and the
finest oil, what’s the chances that places like Publix and Wendy’s can pay an
extra penny?
Would you be willing to pay an extra penny if it meant you knew your
sisters and brothers were being treated fairly?
This is something for all of us to think about. Amen and amen.
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