habakkuk: a midrash [week four]
well, gang - here we are at the end!
as i review the series, i truly believe there is so much to chew on - things that we ought to wrestle with and be shaped by.
in particular, i think of the ideas of...
...salvation rhetoric, that god speaks in a certain voice that recalls his prior promises
...the burden of a prophet, that it can be a heavy thing to carry god's word
...trust in god, in his character and his dominion
...debunking a theology of happiness, without deteriorating into an infatuation with UNhappiness
...the freedom to argue and speak openly to god about our struggles
...giving god the freedom to say 'enough is enough' pipsqueak :)
these issues rarely come up when we engage the new testament, and spending time in habakkuk has given us access to levels of faith i think we would otherwise ignore if we chose only to focus on the didactic bits of paul's letters. truthfully, i'm personally challenged by the text in a way that's more specialized than what's typical.
it's been a very good experience for me, so thanks for participating in it :)
now, for week four, let's try and engage the following things
#1 what does the text of chapter 3 mean after spending almost a month in chapters 1 and 2? do you feel like habakkuk's "response of praise" is more meaningful because of the time we've spent in the bad bits? do you feel like it's a more character-driven response? or, do you feel like he "rolled over" so-to-speak and just tried to placate god? what would you have done at that point? what have you done at similar points?
#2 james armstrong is joining me for wk.4. he's a very different voice than myself, or john, or randy, or ben, or lori - what does he bring to the text that is fresh? how does this "outside" perspective challenge our "westwinds" perspective? in what ways is it healthy for us to hear a totally unfamiliar voice?
#3 would there have been a better response from habakkuk at the end? a more true response? do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that habakkuk wrote/spoke the whole book publicly - in front of a nation - rather than privately before god? how honest/confident in your words/responses would you feel if you had to do your god-arguing that way?
i'm excited to hear your thoughts!
as i review the series, i truly believe there is so much to chew on - things that we ought to wrestle with and be shaped by.
in particular, i think of the ideas of...
...salvation rhetoric, that god speaks in a certain voice that recalls his prior promises
...the burden of a prophet, that it can be a heavy thing to carry god's word
...trust in god, in his character and his dominion
...debunking a theology of happiness, without deteriorating into an infatuation with UNhappiness
...the freedom to argue and speak openly to god about our struggles
...giving god the freedom to say 'enough is enough' pipsqueak :)
these issues rarely come up when we engage the new testament, and spending time in habakkuk has given us access to levels of faith i think we would otherwise ignore if we chose only to focus on the didactic bits of paul's letters. truthfully, i'm personally challenged by the text in a way that's more specialized than what's typical.
it's been a very good experience for me, so thanks for participating in it :)
now, for week four, let's try and engage the following things
#1 what does the text of chapter 3 mean after spending almost a month in chapters 1 and 2? do you feel like habakkuk's "response of praise" is more meaningful because of the time we've spent in the bad bits? do you feel like it's a more character-driven response? or, do you feel like he "rolled over" so-to-speak and just tried to placate god? what would you have done at that point? what have you done at similar points?
#2 james armstrong is joining me for wk.4. he's a very different voice than myself, or john, or randy, or ben, or lori - what does he bring to the text that is fresh? how does this "outside" perspective challenge our "westwinds" perspective? in what ways is it healthy for us to hear a totally unfamiliar voice?
#3 would there have been a better response from habakkuk at the end? a more true response? do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that habakkuk wrote/spoke the whole book publicly - in front of a nation - rather than privately before god? how honest/confident in your words/responses would you feel if you had to do your god-arguing that way?
i'm excited to hear your thoughts!
posted by david mcdonald at 8:19 AM
7 Comments:
Before I respond to David's specific prompts, I want to share something that I've neglected to up to this point. I want to applaud David and the team for tackling Habakkuk. I'm not a gambling woman, but I'll bet a lot of people who have presuppositions about the postmodern church would assume that we'd focus solely on what's easily digested, readily accessible and "popular" in order to appease or draw newcomers. Even long time believers (up until just a few years ago, myself included)mistakenly equate the minor prophets as "minor league." For shame! And hurrah to the Coriolis team for highlighting Habakkuk!
#1 I don't think "H" rolled over to placate God. I think he was seeing God for who He is, remembering what He's capable of, what He's promised, what we actually deserve, and he's genuinely grateful. It's difficult to fully appreciate mercy until we've witnessed wrath.
#2 I like the way James connected H's covenantal perspective on prayer and our relational perspective. He connected some dots for us and made a very old book relatable. I think it's healthy for us to hear an outside voice because it's good to be reminded that God speaks to and through all believers regardless of our background or denomination. It challenges us and opens our ears.
#3 It seems to me that by the end of the book, H has been humbled to the state of dry toast, and somehow, that has refreshed and freed him. If I had to pray and argue with God in public, part of me would be very tempted to "sound" right. I'd feel self-conscious. But eventually (I hope) I'd realize that what I'm saying out loud had better match up with what happens in my life when I get up off my knees. And (perhaps) I would be more authentic and more focused in my prayers.
I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your questions David & the thoughtfulness each of the presenters has brought to this series.
#1 H (to borrow from Vicki)seems to have become enlightened from God's original herald that He will do amazing things. As H comes to terms, thru the process of wrestling,he reaches a point of surrender. This surrener is distilled from his covenant prayer of remembering all God has done. I love the acceptance he finds in accepting the sovewreignty of God. All that can remain is to offer praise. His hymm was genuine, yet humane.
#2 He used some unique contemporary lingo, unfamiliar to me, which seemed to prompt attending with clearer listening (subjectively). I was kind of struck by how the word can be seamlessly spoken from James, speaking the truth, without arousing any defensiveness for Westwinds. Even his shots at David were fu, yet harmless (I hope). Different preacher, same truth = solid faith production.
#3 For me, speaking this in public is hard to grasp. I, too, think I would try to pick my words more carefully. However, this would be less genuine for me. That is, being transparent, personally with God, would be easier for me than sharing it in public, my ego needs would muddle the dialogue - I think.
1. Its definitally a character driven response. He has gone through a lot of internal termoil and fighting with what is going on. He seems to becoming back full circle to what i think a lot of us experience when we are in a hole for a period of time and later emerge with a thankfullness of what God is doing.
2. It was a really good point to bring out the differences in OT prayers verse NT prayers. It's always good to get another perspective. It is easy to get used to the same speakers but bringing in a fresh perspective wakes people up. He talked about resting in god's covenant verse resting in today. As Habakkuk speaks in chapter 3 rejoicing in the midst of his suffering we can also rejoice in the promise God has made us.
3. no i dont think there is a better response from Habakkuk at the end. He is so raw and real throughout all three chapters. I think its a good thing he wrote the book publicly. Anyone who reads it can relate and find encouragement in what Habakkuk is going through. Speaking personally i think honesty would come out more naturally but maybe not done so confidently. A lot of my thoughts, struggles, prayers do come out on paper but to expose this to a whole nation is a little harder to imagine.
So to be perfectly honest, I have no idea how to respond to this weeks questions.
However, I did have a little personal insight yesterday that I know stems from this series on Habakkuk.
I was talking to some 11th and 12th graders getting them ready to come to camp as cabin leaders for 5th graders. Part of the training was making sure they know not ever to be alone with a 5th grader while at camp. I was explaining that in today's society, it doesn't really matter what your intentions are, it only matters how your actions and words are interpretted. As I was driving home, it dawned on me that the wonderful thing about interacting with God is that he really does know our intentions. He knows our heart and he knows what we mean even when we don't.
So I guess I really don't know what the intent behind Habakkuk's response was, but God does. That's good enough for me.
#1 This series has reminded me so much of where I have been with God on many occasions!Yet, I too like H come back around to accepting God for who he is, and falling down on my face before him in a more real and raw worship than before the struggle! I also realized that there are still "issues" that I am wrestling with God over, but know that it only strengthens my relationship with him in the end....it will all be resolved one day....
can we imagine a day without any issues :-)H response to me, is a character adjustment response...not a rolling over and wimping out kind of thing! I know that my personal character growth has been painful and a battle, yet it has been worth it.
#2 Captain James brought a completely different voice to our midrash. I enjoyed the "verse by verse" approach and his dscription of "Redemption Memory". The reflecting back on all of the awesome things that God has done for me personally...like a spiritual marker exercise! Definitely an exercise in thankfulness and gratefulness.
I have opportunity to counsel many youth from our church and I got some pretty specific feedback from that age group this week.....some said that they were "bored" by the guest speaker "He was not exciting", "not Westwinds enough." Many of the adults I spoke with really liked being "....in the word." I enjoyed his approach, because it has not been a book I have spent a lot of time in and I liked his style.
#3 H was soooooo real. Seeing that kind of authenticity in our culture today would make most of us very uncomfortable, yet isn't that kind of authenticity, rawness, honesty what he wants from us? Public or private...I would certainly in my humanness lean toward private...no one would really want to see me crying ugly!!!! Yet, when I have experienced this...and I have, something beyond ourselves takes place and it can be so therapeutic to those who are present. I am still wrestling with this issue, so I am going to land on "I don't know yet :-)"
Thanks Dave and everyone who participated in this series. I have learned so much and have had great discussions with my kids and others and continue to wrestle with the very issues we have tried to explore together. The comments this week have also gone to "the next level" and I appreciate that!
great interaction, gang - this has been a very challenging series [both to teach and to engage as the people of god] and i'm really glad we've taken the time to hammer through.
kudos on your fine efforts!
Guys,
Sorry I’ve been off-line for a bit here… Have been a bit slammed lately and currently on a long weekend with Delores out-west, but grabbing some early am time. We’ve also been rather enveloped by the news that we finally do have our adoption referral and will likely be headed to China in a few weeks… God bless!
#1 what does the text of chapter 3 mean after spending almost a month in chapters 1 and 2? do you feel like habakkuk's "response of praise" is more meaningful because of the time we've spent in the bad bits? do you feel like it's a more character-driven response? or, do you feel like he "rolled over" so-to-speak and just tried to placate god? what would you have done at that point? what have you done at similar points?
>> Seems a bit reflective of how we as God’s creation are “wired”. The grieving process for instance is a journey not unlike H’s, but again ya gotta love his litany of reminders & remembrances. For me it is show us that God understands how we are made and allows us in our limited understanding to blow-off steam…
#2 james armstrong is joining me for wk.4. he's a very different voice than myself, or john, or randy, or ben, or lori - what does he bring to the text that is fresh? how does this "outside" perspective challenge our "westwinds" perspective? in what ways is it healthy for us to hear a totally unfamiliar voice?
>> Really like James’ section on prayer the metaphors. There were also some challenges worth noting as well (I think), principally that James inserted many very brief & related scenarios into this portion, but too much of this can distract from the core “cognitive thread” and also cause a challenge for folks who may not have the context of the snippet used… all in all it was a mixed review.
#3 would there have been a better response from habakkuk at the end? a more true response? do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that habakkuk wrote/spoke the whole book publicly - in front of a nation - rather than privately before god? how honest/confident in your words/responses would you feel if you had to do your god-arguing that way?
> NO. He know who God is and I think he grieves his emotions & situation and then follows his heart by trusting & praising God.
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