Contested Hands: From Samaria to the White House
- Raymond Melendez
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
At TheGoodNewsCast.com, we believe that understanding starts when we look past the teacher and come to know God, the only one who is good.
Second Kings 17 offers one of Scripture’s sharpest ironies. After Assyria conquered Israel, foreign peoples were resettled in Samaria. When lions began attacking them, the settlers concluded that they had offended “the God of the land” because they did not know how to worship God properly.
The solution was unexpected: an Israelite priest, previously exiled for not following God's ways, was brought back to teach these foreigners how to revere the Holy One. He had a tarnished record, which led to his authority being questioned. Nevertheless, he was selected to instruct them on how to worship. The emphasis was not on the priest's reputation but on guiding the people to revere God. This reveals a common pattern: God's righteousness is frequently taught through imperfect individuals.
That same truth surfaces in the political realm. When President Donald Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025, he immediately exercised one of the presidency’s most controversial powers: the power to pardon. Issued within hours of his swearing-in, these acts of clemency were notable not only for their speed but also for their controversy (“Pardons by Trump and Biden”). Supporters framed them as overdue corrections to injustice, acts of mercy aimed at restoring balance. Critics, on the other hand, perceived a more concerning issue—an undermining of legal standards and an exercise of power that distorted the balance of justice.
The parallel between these two moments—biblical and modern history—is that authority is exercised by individuals whose credibility is often contested. In both cases, the action compels observers to shift the credibility from the individual to the intended outcome. Just as the priest's history doesn't undermine his capacity to teach God's wisdom, presidential power remains intact even when its authority is questioned.
Second Kings 17 instructed the people on the proper way to worship, but they failed to comprehend its teachings. Similarly, discussions about executive clemency highlight a nation grappling with a similar issue. This prompts the question: how do communities react when the guidance they receive is delivered by those whose authority is questioned?
Both Scripture and history indicate that teachers and leaders are flawed. What truly matters is not the righteousness of the messenger, but whether people can empathize with the message.
Know and Understand Thy God
In 2 Kings 17, a stark lesson unfolds about the danger of worshipping without understanding. After the Assyrian conquest, foreigners resettled in Samaria were instructed to worship the God of Israel—but instead, “each nation continued to make its own gods” (2 Kings 17:29). God’s command was clear:
“I am your God! Do not fear, bow down to, serve, or sacrifice to any other gods except for me.” 2 Kings 17
The tragedy of Samaria was an ineffective effort to equate God with inferior alternatives. This distinction is crucial, as worship without comprehension results in misfortune.
Centuries later, in a very different age of authority, a similar pattern plays out. On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued pardons for roughly 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol—a sweeping clemency action that captured global attention. Included among those pardoned were notable leaders of extremist groups (“Trump Pardons Nearly All”). Supporters viewed these pardons as a long-awaited correction for what they perceived as politically motivated prosecutions; for critics, they were a dangerous dismissal of accountability and a worrisome indication of democracy’s fragility.
On the surface, Samaria’s worship practices and the realm of American politics seem worlds apart. Yet both stories challenge the good we profess and whether our actions are grounded in a complete understanding of it. Much like the Samaritans, who worshipped God while also worshipping other deities, contemporary societies can proclaim God's goodness without grasping its core essence. Similarly, just as Samaria's lack of comprehension brought about misfortune, unchecked power can worsen societal divides if it is not thoroughly understood.
The Samaritans dishonored God due to their inability to comprehend the teachings, and in contemporary times, debates about presidential pardons reveal a similar trend that weakens the bonds holding a society together.
Understanding beyond Authority
Jesus asks in Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” With that one question, Jesus removes a common tendency to find righteousness in people instead of God. He does not deny his righteousness but affirms the truth: goodness does not stem from human character. It starts and concludes with God.
This surprising fact explains why the priest was returned to Samaria, despite his own questionable nature.
“There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3
God continues to send teachers, prophets, and messengers because their authority resides in the message and in those who understand it.
Unlike the priest of Samaria, Jesus not only taught God’s ways; he forgave humanity even when they could not follow them. He came not to draw attention to his character but to reveal the will of his heavenly father. As the Gospel of John teaches, he was sent not to judge the world, but to save it from condemnation. The authority of his mission rested not on merit but on God's saving grace.
A similar pattern appears in the exercise of political power today. On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace. For some, Ulbricht represented a cautionary tale of excessive punishment in the digital age and a symbol of government overreach (“Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder”). For others, he embodied the harms of cybercrime.
Similar to Scripture, the pardon was not about the person in question but about God's glory, as seen by Moses. Is it possible for an imperfect president to justly pardon another flawed individual? It reminds us of Jesus’ question to the rich young ruler and Israel’s enduring struggle to comprehend God’s holiness.
The Bible consistently teaches that no one is the ultimate standard of God's righteousness; only God is truly good. Nevertheless, God chooses to work through flawed teachers, leaders, and institutions. This fact does not justify sin but highlights where true authority rests.
In the end, the Holy Spirit calls us not to place our hope in the righteous, but in the Holy One who alone is good.
Understanding an Imperfect People
Scripture is persistent about humanity’s limits. Jesus himself explains that many will hear the truth without understanding it:
“They will listen, but they will not understand… They will try to understand, but they will not comprehend” Matthew 13
This lack of understanding helps explain why the world so often responds to wickedness with judgement instead of empathy, making it seem almost impossible to forgive.
Even David wrestled with this reality, and in frustration he asked why God would be concerned with humanity at all or entrust creation to beings so inconsistent (Psalm 8). The question lingers: if humans are so prone to mistakes, why does God continue to use them?
The answer is that God does not remove the world's suffering to produce righteousness. The Book of Mormon affirms this truth: instead, support comes through imperfect individuals who teach spiritual principles.
“It is not expedient that humanity should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.” Alma 42
That same paradox appears in US history. On January 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued pardons to 23 anti-abortion demonstrators convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The decision positioned the presidency directly at the intersection of legal and cultural disputes. Advocates praised the pardons as a protection of religious freedom and free speech, contending that the demonstrators were wrongfully prosecuted. Opponents cautioned that it may weaken the FACE Act, jeopardizing access to legal medical services, and encourage future disturbances (“Trump Pardons Anti-Abortion Activists”).
Similar to Scripture, the answer is not always clear; nonetheless, the pardons highlighted the profound divisions in society regarding fundamental issues of life, rights, and authority. They also uncovered a profound truth: choices made by a higher authority are frequently beyond our understanding, even when driven by a straightforward gesture of goodwill.
Understanding: The Measure of Knowledge
“Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is the beginning of understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). This declaration unifies the testimony of Scripture throughout all generations. Understanding starts not with human nature but with knowing who God is.
Knowledge of the Holy One frees us to confront sin without judgment and to extend forgiveness without measure. It is this kind of understanding that allows us to support one another in faith, even while we are in sin. Like the priest sent back to Samaria, God’s people are often imperfect teachers, yet still called to point others toward Christ, who lifts us when we fall, strengthens us when we are weak, and secures our salvation despite our imperfections.
This saving grace offers a lens through which to view power and authority exercised everywhere. The early pardons of Donald Trump’s second term have made one reality unmistakable: this is a presidency marked by controversy and an unapologetic use of executive authority. To supporters, these actions reaffirm Trump’s identity as a leader willing to challenge well-established institutions and rewrite history. To critics, they raise profound concerns about legal accountability, democratic norms, and the public's trust.
Collectively, these pardons go beyond acts of kindness; they might indicate where Donald Trump's true loyalty lies.
With this, we rise once again, standing firm in our faith, knowing our salvation is secure in the name of Jesus.
Works Cited
“Pardons by Trump and Biden Reveal Distrust of Each Other and Wobbly Faith in Criminal Justice System.” PBS NewsHour, PBS, 26 Jan. 2026.
“Trump Pardons Anti-Abortion Activists Convicted Under FACE Act.” Reuters, 23 Jan. 2025.
“Trump Pardons Nearly All Charged with Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Riot.” Reuters, 20 Jan. 2025.
“Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht for Online Drug Scheme.” Reuters, 22 Jan. 2025.
