In J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Hobbit,” a tale is told of a band of dwarves who set out to reclaim their ancestor’s mountain. It was once very much like a castle mined deep into the Lonely Mountain. But many years ago a dragon invaded the mountain, displacing and killing many of the dwarves who called it their home. He claimed all the treasure for his own and dwelt there for many years unchallenged. He struck fear in the heart of all who heard his name and even when he had not been seen for a long while, the tales of his fury were widespread. When the dwarves finally arrive at Esgaroth, the lake town in the shadow of the mountain, declaring that the king under the mountain has returned, the town immediately erupts in song, laughter, and feasting. But a curious few sentences caught my attention when reading this part of the story.

When the feasting is done and the dwarves set out to the far shore, their companions from Lake Town are not willing to spend more than a few moments with them on the shore for fear of the dragon. The people of the lake acknowledge the prophecy for the king under the mountain to return and take back his home from the murderous worm.  They do not, however, believe that this king stands a chance. “[N]one of the men of the town would stay with them even for the night so near the shadow of the Mountain. ‘Not at any rate until the songs have come true!’ said they.” It was easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts.” This brief exchange as the second act of the book comes to a close strikes me. 

Jesus on the cross cried out “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mk. 15:34, Ps. 22:1). We know, by divine revelation that Christ was come to save the world, this cross was the purpose for which he came into the world. It was prophesied hundreds of years prior. Even thousands of years before, God made a promise to the woman that her seed would crush the head of the cunning serpent. Those who feared and served the Living God were long awaiting the Dragon Slayer. It was the hope of their hearts and the centerpiece of their songs. When the promised King and Snake-stomper arrived there was glee and singing and feasting. Blind were given sight, the lame were told to walk, fish and bread multiplied on a country hill, and the dead were even raised back to life. Thousands thronged to this man, Jesus of Nazareth. But when it came time to come to the aid of the king, the people wouldn’t stay one moment longer than they had to at the base of the Lonely Mountain. The famed teacher and miracle-worker was, to them, nothing more than a cardboard cutout of the king they were hoping for. When the battle with his dragon came, the King’s people sided with the Dragon. They left him to die on a lonely mountain, shouting, “Crucify him!” He was sent to that mountain and upon that cross, he gave his cry. Those who heard it should have known the end of the song:

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Psalm 22:27-31

This is the song of a dragon-slaying King. Anyone who has ever read a story where a dragon has to be fought, knows you don’t come away unscathed. This dragon-slayer was bruised, crushed, and killed. But his inheritance was gained after the dragon was defeated. And now we are invited to share in the inheritance as well. Now, I want to loop back to the plot of The Hobbit because this is where some tension arises in the story. The people who didn’t want to go to the mountain, who didn’t want to go to battle against the dragon with Thorin and the dwarves were all too willing to march on the mountain and claim the inheritance as their own after the dragon was dead. They wanted to share in the inheritance without facing the peril of the dragon’s lair. Though here, I admit it was the man, Bard, in Esgaroth who brings down the beast, not Thorin, King under the Mountain.  But who’s treasure was it? The prophecy did not speak of the men of Lake Town, the Elves of Mirkwood, nor the Goblins of the Misty Mountains. Despite the fact that Bard was the one who finally felled Smaug, did not give him claim to the treasury. (Now, for those of you squirming at mixed metaphors and typological inconsistency, I know, I know, cool your jets for a moment. I’m not trying to make a one for one allegory, just illustrating some principles.) The right of the distribution of the treasured inheritance still belonged to the King under the mountain.

Now, I want to return to the original thought. Those who wanted to share in the joy, pomp, blessing, and celebration were not willing to face the dangerous dragon, they sent the king to do it alone. Our King fought the dragon willingly, but nonetheless alone. He defeated the dragon so we, unlike the people of Lake Town, didn’t have to. And he invites us to join him in his inheritance with no lust for keeping the treasure to himself. But, as the people of Esgaroth found out, there are goblins who want to lay waste to that great treasure just as much as the dragon. Not only are we invited to share in the inheritance, but we are also charged with fighting the enemies that come to steal, kill, and destroy wherever we encounter them. Those who desire to live a godly life will suffer persecution, but we are to do it with our heads held high, and a song in our lungs, we don’t fear the battle because our King has already slain the dragon.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4