Washington On Your Side

In the musical Hamilton there is “a cabinet battle,” which kind of mimics a rap battle, that takes place between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson is trying to convince President George Washington to provide aid and troops to France who is on the verge of war with England. Hamilton, on the other hand, is trying to convince Washington to refrain from jumping into another war. Washington ends up siding with Hamilton on the matter. This debate leads Jefferson to tell his nemesis Hamilton: “You’re nothing without Washington behind you.”[1]

This leads us to the next song in the musical which is entitled “Washington On Your Side.” In this song, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison begin plotting against Alexander Hamilton. They are jealous of Hamilton’s close relationship with Washington. They begin searching for opportunities to destroy Hamilton. And as they plot, they sing: “It must be nice, it must be nice to have Washington on your side.”[2]

This phrase reminds me of a passage of Scripture from Paul’s letter to the Romans. Hear these words from Romans 8:31-39:

“If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
    we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[3]

This verse starts out, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Perhaps another way to say it is: “It must be nice, it must be nice to have God on your side.” The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the Romans, reminding them that whatever they face in life, God is always by their side. Through persecution and opposition, God is always on your side. Through grief and pain, God is always on your side. No matter what circumstances you may be facing in life, God is always on your side. Even in your mistakes, doubts, and fears, God is still always on your side.

In the days in which we are living, it is more important, now than ever before, to have someone on your side. Friendship, in this age of physical distancing, is a much-needed commodity. It is important to feel like you have someone in your corner; someone you can count on; someone who has your back.

Alexander Hamilton and George Washington had a very meaningful friendship. In his book Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow writes, “The relationship between Washington and Hamilton was so consequential in early American history… that it is difficult to conceive of their careers apart. The two men had complementary talents, values, and opinions that survived many strains over their twenty-two years together… As a team, they were unbeatable and far more than the sum of their parts.”[4]

Hamilton served in Washington’s military “family” as his “right-hand man” during the American Revolutionary War. He served as the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington’s cabinet. Even after Washington retired from government work, Hamilton continued to work for Washington from time to time. During the height of the scandal in 1797, where Hamilton’s affair with Maria Reynolds became public, Washington sent Hamilton a wine cooler and a letter saying, “Not for any intrinsic value the things possesses, but as a token of my sincere regard and friendship to you and as a remembrance of me, I pray you to accept a wine cooler for four bottles… I pray you to present my best wishes, in which Mrs. Washington joins me, to Mrs. Hamilton and the family, and that you would be persuaded that with every sentiment of the highest regard, I remain your sincere friend and affectionate honorable servant.”[5]

Throughout his entire life, Hamilton could always count on having Washington by his side. In fact, in response to hearing about Washington’s death, Hamilton wrote, “Perhaps no friend of his has more cause to lament on personal account than myself… My imagination is gloomy, my heart sad.”[6]In another letter, Hamilton wrote, “I have been much indebted to the kindness of the general… He was an aegis very essential to me… If virtue can secure happiness in another world, he is happy.”[7]

Perhaps in the friendship of Hamilton and Washington, we can think of people in our own lives who have offered friendship like this to us. Who are the people in your life who have always been by your side, offering encouragement, support, and friendship? And how can you be a friend to someone else? How can you offer encouragement, support, and friendship to someone else today?

In the end, we know that God offers us grace and love that we do not always deserve; But throughout our life, we can see that God is always on our side. As the Apostle Paul says,“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[8]

Thanks be to God. Amen.

[1] Miranda, Lin-Manuel, and Jeremy McCarter. Hamilton: The Revolution. Grand Central Publishing, 2016.

[2] Miranda, Lin-Manuel, and Jeremy McCarter. Hamilton: The Revolution. Grand Central Publishing, 2016.

[3] Romans 8:31-39 (NRSV).

[4] Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Press, 2004.

[5] Miranda, Lin-Manuel, and Jeremy McCarter. Hamilton: The Revolution. Grand Central Publishing, 2016.

[6] Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Press, 2004.

[7] Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Press, 2004.

[8] Romans 8:37-39 (NRSV).