| is notices and es, Babylon has been an image in many discussions - again from Walter Brueggemann
I have already cited the major texts in the Old Testament portraying Babylon as a place of dislocation and as a place from which rescue will come. The name is much used in historical texts a well as in the prophetic-poetic texts I have cited. In addition I mention four other texts that show how helpful a reference can be: - In Habakkuk 1:6, Babylon is raised by YHWH to assault Assyria. This is in line with Jeremiah's identification of Nebuchadnezzar as "servant of YHWH.
- In Micah 4:10, in a later elaboration in the poetry, Babylon is both the place to which "you shall go" and from there "you shall be rescued." The double usage is a summary of the "scatter-gather" pattern in Jeremiah 31:10, and summarizes the entire narrative of deportation and restoration.
- In Zechariah the name occurs twice, In 2:7, there is yet again the declaration of rescue from Babylon; in 6:10 the oracle is addressed to those who have arrived from Babylon." The two uses are consistent with the recurring pattern of deportation and restoration, though the accent is on the reconstruction of the political economy of Jerusalem.
- In Psalm 87:4, we are offered a most remarkable use of the cipher. A safe, conventional reading is that Jews scattered in Babylon (and other places) should all look to Jerusalem as home.
Brueggemann takes a wider step by quoting someone who notes that not just the people of God are to call Jerusalem home - so are all the nation - the Babylonians. That - is the vision - the call of the people Israel: to draw all people to God's way. When we as followers of Jesus hear that, it is important for us to hear how wide God throws the net. We live in the way of Jesus - under Jesus' domain of forgiveness, justice, mercy, loving-kindness, serving love -- and then, the witness is seen and that life draws others to it. This is a powerful image. The power of the Reign of God is life it hands to us. It not only shapes us, it begins to shape others who may well be seen as far off from us. We can take these old texts and use them again - right here and right now. They all must draw the present into question just as they did in the days of old. Prophetic imagination continues to crack open the day with a call to life. Connection: I find that it is not always easy to listen to the prophets of old and make sense of it within the days of my life. And yet, as we read them, they speak to us - unless we, like the people who lived in the days of these prophet, turn them off and choose to go our own way. Again, through stories you call us into new life today, O God. Continue to tug on our lives and point again to the life you bring into the world for all your children. Amen. |
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