| We will look at three verbs of great worth and interest to God's people in "YHWH's Originary Love for Israel" - Walter Brueggemann. We will do this by looking take a look at love.
Israel characteristically uses three verbs, love, choose, and set one's heart to express its awareness that its existence as a people in the world is rooted in YHWH's commitment. The first is love ('ahab). YHWH is the one who loves Israel, who loves what was not-yet-Israel, and who by the full commitment of YHWH's self causes Israel to be. We may identify three clusters of uses of the term in this context of YHWH's generative inclination toward Israel. Deuteronomy is the theological tradition that ponders in most sustained fashion Israel's election by YHWH: "It was because the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Deut. 7:8); "the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord you god loved you" (Deut. 23:5). This testimony is impressed not only with the sheer grace of YHWH's love for Israel, but by the recognition that this love of YHWH has singled out Israel, who is treated by YAHWEH as no other is treated.
A love that is direct and to the point. This is the way it is and will be. This is what I am doing - that is the way I do what I do as "I am who I am." Whoever says that the Old Testament is Law and the New Testament is grace forgets that God actions toward Israel are as full of grace as we can find anywhere. No consideration is given to who Israel once was or what they did or did not do. God acts and the story begins in the midst of grace upon grace. We have here a foundational statement. This is important because no matter where you are in time or place, Israel is reminded of this God whose love rescues and redeems - no matter what. When you are a people who question where you are and where you are going and you strongly doubt that there is any future for you - remember whose you are. Nothing - no power, no situation, no feeling - can separate you from the love of this God. Almost sounds like Paul in the letter to the Romans - doesn't it!?!
Connection: How do you hear this word of assuring love? In touch - in a voice - in a memory that jumps out at you - in the company of others - in time alone? This love is always waiting for us to rest in its presence.
O God, whose love become the power to shape us, keep our memory clear so our hearts can once again be ignited by joy. Amen. |
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