Over the Thanksgiving weekend I took our four teenaged grandchildren into Osage Reservation country to visit Woolaroc, the museum and wildlife preserve of Frank Phillips, a founder of Phillips Petroleum. He was one of the good guys one hundred years ago. We encountered the rich history of the Osage nation, the cowboy, and oil. Even taking the back roads, it’s only an hour from Tulsa. The Killers of the Flower Moon movie was filmed just northwest of Tulsa in the actual locations of much of the true story, between Fairfax and Pawhuska. Along the way we saw many pump jacks still pulling oil out of the ground.
In the film, Robert De Niro portrays William Hale, “just call me King.” This community benefactor consoles the tribal people with words of God as their family members are dying mysteriously, praying in fluent Osage at the funerals. Most villains see themselves as justified in their ways, even to the point of killing people, for they assume they are righting a perceived grievance. In the story, covetous white people wanted the oil money of the Osage. De Niro’s character symbolizes all that the prophet Micah condemned: Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! … They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. (read Micah 2:1-13)
Micah was addressing God’s people living in Judea and Samaria. Those who cloak their evil ways in robes of righteous acts are truly wicked. Micah issues a call of judgment from on high for those who richly promise what the wicked want to hear. Disaster is at hand for God’s people who succumb to the seductions of greed and pride.
What about today? Are we wrapping our desires, politics, and pride in righteous garb to manipulate others? Are we listening only to what we want to hear? Are we secure enough to humble ourselves before the Lord in these matters? Micah proclaims a promise of a remnant of the faithful. A faithful people will see protection, justice, and salvation for the true King is coming to lead the way.
Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. The King is coming. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.
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