King Alfred: Tobit

Readers who may only be familiar with the Protestant Bible, may not be aware of the Book of Tobit. It appears in both the Catholic and Orthodox canons. It tells the story of Tobit, a father who sends his son out, firstly to bring a poor man to a feast and then the second time to get a treasure. Tobias, the son, then meets his future wife and they marry.

In the writings of John of Wallingford (13th Century chronicler), he states how this particular book helped King Alfred in his darkest time. And on the face of it, this seems strange.

Though, in the 13th chapter, Tobit writes a prayer of rejoicing.

Tobit 13 v 2, 5-6

For he does scourge, and has mercy: he leads down to hell, and brings up again: neither is there any that can avoid his hand.

And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy again, and will gather us out of all nations, among whom he hath scattered us.

If you turn to him with your whole heart, and with your whole mind, and deal uprightly before him, then will he turn unto you, and will not hide his face from you. Therefore see what he will do with you, and confess him with your whole mouth, and praise the Lord of might, and extol the everlasting King.

In the land of my captivity do I praise him, and declare his might and majesty to a sinful nation.

Maybe Alfred saw this prayer was applicable to him and Wessex. Whatever the reason for the demise of the kingdom, he had to trust that this was part of God’s plan. He had to have faith that God would bring him out of this predicament.

I suspect during this time, he confessed not only his own sins, but the sins of the people. I wonder if he carried out penance and periods of fasting too. Humbling himself to God, and opening his heart up to hear what God wanted him to do next.

The prayer goes on to talk about how Jerusalem would be rebuilt. But more beautiful than ever before. Maybe King Alfred looked towards God not only to reestablish Wessex, but also rebuild it as a bejewelled Jerusalem like the one mentioned in Tobit’s prayer. A place where God would reside.

I wonder if this symbolic thread filtered through the centuries into William Blake’s mind. And if it influenced him to write the famous poem, Jerusalem.

In our times today, the poem has become the unofficial national anthem of England and I wonder if its popularity is in some way due to how it reflects the emotional feelings the English have toward King Alfred and his time in the marshes. Where Blake regales against the satanic mills in the poem, Alfred fights against the Great Heathen Army.

When we look at the tapestry of our own lives, we see the highs and lows. And sometimes we get a glimpse of God’s hand weaving them together, to make a story which ultimately glorifies Christ.