Today we continue with another look at the practice of grief in Israel - according to Walter Brueggemann.
In this utterance of protest and grief that acknowledges present trouble, Israel refuses to accept present trouble as final destiny. Even in this circumstance, Israel assumes YHWH's sovereignty, YHWH's capacity to override exile. Israel makes appeal to YHWH's fidelity, which now, in exile, moves to pathos. Israel believes that the sovereign God can be evoked and moved by petition. Thus, while Israel's judgment is a function of YHWH's sovereignty, Israel's grief and protest are a complement to YHWH's faithfulness and pathos. The grief and protest permit YHWH to move beyond sovereign anger and rage to rehabilitation and restoration. It is evident, moreover, in the ongoing life of the exile of Israel, that grief as candor and protest as hopeful insistence are effective. YHWH is indeed moved toward Israel in new, caring ways.
No matter what might be the conditions on the ground - Israel does not see this as the end. This is not where things will cease to be. Rather, Israel does what all of us are to do - we are to expect that our God will be the God who Reigns as the one and only God of love. We remain faithful - we turn around - we do that with the understanding that our God is the waiting one who lets us go off the handle and quite near destroy ourselves - but, God remains tied to us, forever. I love the reminder here about God's "capacity to override exile." That is, God can override the worst of worse situations - even that which is being experienced as the ruthlessness of defeat and shame and death. This is the God of resurrection power - that's how we put it. Even death on the cross, decomposition in the grave, hopelessness and fear sucking he breath out of the people - and yet, God overrides this power and brings life.
Connection: There is room for resurrection in our lives. We can count on that.
O God, who watches how we turn away and follow other powers, how wonderful it is that you remain faithful and expect that we will turn to you alone. It is your love that we know so well that is the power within our turning. Amen.
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