Osama Bin Laden - how to respond?

When I got up this morning and turned on the radio it was difficult to believe what I was hearing. The man who ordered the event that has so far defined the global history of the 21st century was dead. It took some moments before I actually realised that they were talking about Bin Laden in the past tense and it will take me a lot longer to work out what my response to his death should be. Today I can only share some initial reactions.

My first response of disbelief was quickly replaced by a quiet remembrance of the lives lost nearly 10 years ago on September 11 2001. Then, if I am honest, there was a sense of relief that the man whose continuing threats have haunted so many was no longer around to be feared. That sense of relief did not last long, however, as the realisation sank in that not only are there already plenty of people prepared to take his place but that the very fact of his violent death may encourage and inspire a whole new generation of militants.

The exuberant crowds who gathered in the early hours in Washington and New York looked alarmingly similar to the crowds of Palestinians who cheered and celebrated the destruction of the World Trade Centre and I notice that in response to a Gospel Coalition blog one person who was there in the wee small hours has already wondered about whether it reflected a right response.

My mind turned to the response given by David when he learned that his arch-enemy Saul had been killed on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. Of course the situation was different. Saul was God's anointed king who David himself had refused to kill on at least two occasions. Nevertheless, you would expect David to rejoice at the death of his enemy even if that rejoicing was tempered by the death of his best friend, Jonathan. There is no such response from David. Instead there is a lament for both Saul and Jonathan. There is sadness and sorrow that it has come to this.

There will be few who will lament for Bin Laden and I don't think that it would be appropriate to lament the death of a man who caused such untold suffering for thousands of people. But neither do I think that we should rejoice. Perhaps our response should be calmly to reflect and remember and firmly to resolve to stand against evil and violence in whatever form it comes. Perhaps that reflection should be tinged with a sadness that the early 21st century seems worryingly similar to the 20th in terms of the prevalence of violence.

Maybe the right response is a lament at the state of our broken, violent world coupled with an unfailing trust in the God who judges evil and loves righteousness. Such a response is found in the middle of the book of Lamentations;
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
    Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
    They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
    I say to myself, The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.

I do not have hope because my enemy is dead. I do not have hope because my country is greater and stronger than yours. I have hope because of the everlasting compassion, love and faithfulness of God. I do not need victory over my enemies. I do not need vengeance or even the guarantee of earthly justice being done to the likes of Bin Laden. The LORD is my portion. He is enough. I will wait for Him.