Another amazing insight on exile and God and hope - by Walter Brueggemann.
if this assessment of YHWH's decisive negativity toward Israel is correct, then one may draw a startling conclusion about Israel in exile. As a scattered community, terminated by YHWH, Israel refused to accept the scattering as its final destiny. Israel believed and insisted, in sadness and in protest but also in anticipation, that the God who scattered would also gather. If this is correct, then we may say that Israel hoped beyond the hope or intention even of YHWH, who had no such hope or intention for Israel. that is, Israel's courage and shrillness, its defiance of it present circumstances, talked YHWH into something YHWH had not yet entertained or imagined or intended. In its argument with YHWH, Israel moved YHWH to a new place of gracious intentionality toward Israel. Israel did so partly by appealing to its own need, partly by appealing to YHWH's sovereign fidelity, and partly by shaming YHWH as Moses had done long ago. It its earlier history, YHWH had taken all the initiatives with and for Israel in creating, covenanting, and judging. But now Israel in exile, in its abandonment and desperation, takes the initiative and evokes a turn in YHWH, creating a future for Israel where none had seemed possible.
I find so much of what is being here to be remarkable. Hoping beyond hope - sounds like stuff written by the apostle Paul and yet it is the living witness of Israel. It is as though they really do know their God. They know they have been put in a hopeless situation. They can come up with all sorts of good reasons why they blew it and how they mocked God and how they turned to other gods to make a life for themselves. And yet, they pick themselves up in exile and act as though God will revive them and the Spirit of the Lord will come. For some it is probably too big of a step to hear that Israel could talk "YHWH into something YHWH had not yet entertained or imagined or intended." Talk about hoping beyond hope! The Most Blessed, The Most Holy, the Most Gracious God - gets to see what is possible without planning on doing anything. God learns from a hopeful people in a hopeless situation. That is probably why the prophets can bring words to such people that say: Comfort, Comfort, Ye my People.
Connection: I must say, this is one of those readings I did not expect. It goes out to an edge that is refreshing and startling all at once. It is for me a true encouragement to live within hope. What a challenge.
O God, who watches how we turn away and follow other powers, be the power that keeps hope alive within us. Teach us again of your never-failing presence. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment