The third literary voice that speaks to Israel when they are being dominated by Assyria is from Deuteronomy - again from Walter Brueggemann. He argues that this book is considered as being written quite later than originally thought. In that, references to the "Canaanites" may well be the "Assyrians." It is widely recognized that covenant receives its definitive voicing in Deuteronomy, the covenant tradition par excellence. "Covenant" is not to be understood as simply a religious slogan, nor as one model among many for Israel's faith. Deuteronomy offers covenant as a radical and systematic alternative to the politics of autonomy, the economics of exploitation, and the theology of self-indulgence. The model of social reality offered in Deuteronomy is that this community - in all its socioeconomic, political, and military aspects - is relational, with members taking responsibility for their neighbors. This notion of social reality touches every phase of social interaction and every exercise of social power. The pervasive disciplines to which Deuteronomy summons Israel is precisely to give up autonomy for the sake of committed, neighborly relatedness. Israel will be Israel only as it is what God has called it to be. Otherwise, it will be nothing more than any other power in the world. The lose is both to Israel and to the whole world. This covenant is the creation of an order that is inspired by the God who calls the people into this special relationship. The relationship is not merely between God and God's chosen, relationship become the very essence of the community as it exists in the midst of the power of the Assyrians. The covenant is a statement of being. This is who we are. We live in this kind of way. We will concerned about the well-being of others in all the various realms of community life. Such a covenant, transforms the entire life of the people. By doing that, the rest of the world powers look on and wonder why it is they are like this. That is the witness of such a covenant - the world takes not of another way of being a community. This is as radical as anything we see in the life of the church. In both cases, it is not meant to be a mere story that is not brought to life as the story of the day. Connection: I am always encouraged by Brueggemann's work because it makes me look at what can be and is real among us. It also makes me remember that the Scriptures paint us a picture of a community in distress - just like ours. From there, we walk by faith. God of Liberation and All Hopefulness, help us to reach out into the promise of your life. Help us to step beyond what we call our own and become drenched in the water of new life that is your Reign. Amen. |
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