Born
in 849 at Berkshire, Alfred wished to become a
monk. Instead he became king at the
death of his father and four older brothers in 871. At this time the Danes
controlled the northeast coast of what we call England today, which was called the
Danelaw. Alfred was able to defeat the
Danes, and as part of the terms of that defeat, the Danish King, Guthrum became
a vassal to Jesus Christ, and therefore so did his nobles. Obviously the baptisms that resulted from
this conversion may not have been heartfelt, but, because of this conversion,
priests and missionaries were allowed in the Danelaw and in Denmark (which at this time included a portion
of Sweden),
which in time resulted in legitimate heartfelt conversions.
After
defeating Guthrum, Alfred devoted his
time to rebuilding the kingdom of Wessex, fortifying it against attack, building
schools (including Oxford)
and libraries. Enamoured of the Torah’s
treatment of the poor, Alfred sought to put such protections in his laws as
well. He also translated books and fifty
of the Psalms into Anglo Saxon.
The
laws which Alfred promulgated are based very much on the Old Testament. In addition to his other talents, Alfred also
designed the ships used to defeat King Guthrum.
There
are many reason for calling Alfred the Great.
Among those not listed above was the protection of England from
the Vikings and restoring the peace, allowing British and English Christianity
to carry on unmolested. Once King
Guthrum had converted he received respect from his Christian subjects in the
Danelaw, leading to peace there as well.
King Alfred was a man who knew the Bible well, and sought to use it in
his life, in the laws and in all he did.
Would that our politicians would do likewise.
Collect:
Heavenly Father, as Alfred
rebuilt England
and restored the church, he also witnessed to his enemy Guthrum and persuaded
him to receive Messiah. Grant that we
too, would pray and witness to all the world, whether they be our friends or
our enemies. This we ask through Yeshuah
who lives and reins with you and Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. Amen. (white)
For more information see: http://www.dr-fnlee.org/docs6/alfred/alfred.pdf
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