History Has Its Eyes On You
Hamilton & the Gospel | Part 6 of 6
In honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, I want to share a few devotions based on the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Throughout this musical, we can look at the life of Alexander Hamilton and see themes of faith, forgiveness, grace, and redemption; and we can make connections to the gospel message.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NRSV):
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Toward the end of the musical, Alexander Hamilton (one of America’s Founding Fathers) and Aaron Burr (the Vice President of the United States) – find themselves in the midst of a dispute regarding the recent Presidential Election. Alexander Hamilton publicly endorses Thomas Jefferson (his nemesis) over Aaron Burr. This quarrel between Hamilton and Burr escalates more and more until eventually – on July 11, 1804 – Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr stand face to face, with their pistols loaded. As they join in this duel, Hamilton intentionally throws away his shot, but Burr fires directly at Hamilton – fatally wounding him.
In one of the songs in this musical entitled “The World Was Wide Enough,” Burr talks about this encounter with Hamilton, saying:
“I strike him, right between his ribs. I walk towards him, but I am ushered away. They row him back across the Hudson. I get a drink. I hear wailing in the streets. Somebody tells me, ‘You better hide.’ They say Angelica and Eliza –were both at his side when he died.”
As Hamilton lays on his deathbed, he shares an intimate moment with his wife Eliza. Historian Ron Chernow talks about this moment, writing, “To comfort her, Hamilton kept intoning the one refrain he knew would soothe her troubled spirit above all others: ‘Remember, my Eliza, you are a Christian.’”
In this dark and difficult moment, Hamilton reminds his wife Eliza of the importance of her faith. He points her to the power and identity that she finds in her relationship with Christ. Eliza is invited to remember, as our passage in Hebrews says, that Jesus is “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
This is a reminder to us as well– that despite our fears, grief, and pain – Jesus loves us, and God is still in charge. When we find ourselves in a dark and difficult moment, we – like Eliza – are invited to cling to our faith. When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, or struggling with anxiety – you can tell yourself, “Remember, I am a Christian.” Eliza’s identity as a Christian helps her to move forward in telling the story of her life.
In the final song of the musical Hamilton, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?” we see Eliza sharing, not only Alexander Hamilton’s story, but also her own story as well. Although Hamilton has died, Eliza works to make sure her husband’s legacy is not forgotten. She is able to continue on because of her strong faith. She lives fifty years after Hamilton dies; working non-stop, interviewing soldiers that served with him, publishing his writings, and her greatest achievement which is establishing an orphanage. In his book Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow talks about the powerful legacy of Eliza’s orphanage, writing,
“On March 16, 1806, less than two years after the duel, Eliza and other evangelical women cofounded the New York Orphan Asylum Society, the first private orphanage in New York. Perhaps nothing expressed her affection for Hamilton more tenderly than her efforts on behalf of orphans… For the next twenty-seven years, with a tenacity that Hamilton would have savored, she oversaw every aspect of the orphanage work. She raised money, leased properties, visited almshouses, investigated complaints, and solicited donations of coal, shoes, and Bibles.”
I like the way Eliza talks about it in the musical. She sings: “I help to raise hundreds of children. I get to see them growing up. In their eyes I see you, Alexander. I see you every Time. And when my time is up? Have I done enough? Will they tell my story?”
In this song, we see how Eliza’s love for her husband – who was orphaned at a young age – motivates her to reach out and make a difference for other young orphans. Perhaps the greatest thing in Eliza’s legacy is the establishment of this orphanage that makes a difference to so many children’s lives. And in the midst of all of her work, you get the sense that Eliza is still wondering how history might depict her and her husband Alexander in the future.
This leads me to another song entitled: “History Has Its Eyes on You.” In this song, General George Washington is singing to Alexander Hamilton saying:
“Let me tell you what I wish I’d known. When I was young and dreamed of glory. You have no control. Who lives, who dies, who tells your story. I know that we can win. I know that greatness lies in you. But remember from here on in, History has its eyes on you.”
I think this is an important reminder for all of us. History has its eyes on us as we live out every day of our lives. History has its eyes on us in the way that we treat others. History has its eyes on us in the way that we respond to those in need. We, like Eliza, are invited to contemplate: what will my legacy be? How will my actions be viewed in the eyes of history?
The ending of this musical is tragic and hopeful and beautiful. Each of the main characters come out and share a witness to Alexander Hamilton’s life. Thomas Jefferson says that Alexander Hamilton’s financial system “is a work of genius.” He even says, “I couldn’t undo it if I tried… And I tried.” James Madison says that Hamilton “took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity. I hate to admit it, but he doesn’t get enough credit for all the credit he gave us.”
We see how Hamilton really has left an incredible history, and this point is driven home through his wife Eliza, who sings of Hamilton saying, “Oh, I can’t wait to see you again. It’s only a matter of time.” And just then, Eliza sees Hamilton. He takes her hand and leads her to the edge of the stage. Eliza loudly gasps in surprise.
This gasp is a very important part of the story. Phillipa Soo, the woman who played Eliza in the musical, explains that she gasps because she is surprised to see her husband Alexander. But she is also surprised, because when she looks out, she sees the audience. This is what has been referred to as “the fourth wall.” Eliza sees beyond just inside the musical, and she is able to see a full audience, watching her and Alexander’s story. In his book The Gospel According to Hamilton, Jeff Hamling explains the importance of this gasp writing:
“Eliza gasps because she breaks the fourth wall and sees the audience. She has worried that Hamilton’s legacy will be forgotten, but when she sees the audience (representing the millions of people watching and listening to Hamilton), she realizes that his story is being told and celebrated far beyond her wildest dreams. She realizes that her life is also in the spotlight – visible to an audience that she normally cannot see.”
I’m reminded of our Scripture lesson from the book of Hebrews which says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…”
It’s as if Eliza realizes that she is, indeed, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. She realizes that she is not alone. Her and Alexander’s story is being told to the whole world. And this is an invitation to think about how we are telling our story in the way that we live out our lives every single day.
It might be easy for us to try to write ourselves out of the narrative of the story. It might be easy for us to say, “Well, there’s nothing I can do to change things.” It might be easy for us to ignore the needs of those around us. But this musical reminds us that “History,” Indeed, “Has its eyes on us.” We are invited to join God in bringing about hope, healing, and redemption. We are called to share in God’s mission for the world, as we seek to make disciples for the transformation of the world. In his book, Jeff Hamling writes:
“Just as Eliza preserved Alexander Hamilton’s story by telling it herself – from her own loving perspective – God also secures our story by telling it from his own loving perspective. Throughout eternity, your story will be told and celebrated by God (himself). (God) will forever declare that you are loved, rescued, cleansed, and redeemed. God will share about how you participated in building God’s kingdom and that your life was well-lived. God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:41).
