Doxology in the Midst of Perceived Abandonment

Flipping through my notepad this morning I came across a statement on the practice of doxology that I copied down from Walter Brueggemann's book, Prophetic Imagination. This statement caught my attention back when an older friend was dying and the small congregation I was serving was grieving. I was helped and encouraged at that time, and this morning I was blessed again by the reminder!

Brueggemann declares..."I believe that, rightly embraced, no more subversive or prophetic idiom can be uttered than the practice of doxology, which sets us before the reality of God, of God right at the center of a scene from which we presumed he had fled."

By the uplifting power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to rise up on the midst of our grief and sorrow to SING...

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

and 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, tis now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Doxology in the Midst of Perceived Abandonment

Learning How to Cry Out to God

One of the most helpful tools for learning how to pray is the book of Psalms.  Not only praying through the Psalms but also taking the time to understand the form and function of the various types of psalms is an excellent practice.  (For an overview of studying the Psalms see my series of posts beginning here.)  The most numerous type of psalm is the prayer for help, or as it is more commonly called, the lament (Mays, 21; Miller, 55).  Both James Mays and Patrick Miller have been a tremendous help to me by way of explaining the common structure of the lament psalms. Honorable mention goes to Walter Brueggemann (see bibliography below).

These are the most common elements of prayers for help: 

1. Direct Address
2. Petition
3. Motivation
4. Lament or Description of Trouble
5. Expressions of confidence or trust
6. Offer or vow 

These elements will vary in the order of their appearance, and one or two (in particular the offer/vow) may not appear at all in some instances.  When working through a psalm I find that identifying these elements proves to be extremely helpful.  The various elements are pregnant with implied meaning and purpose.  For instance, the typical address in the prayers for help is brief and distinctly personal.  This implies an urgency and a familiarity with the one addressed.  The use of motivation, or reasons to hear and answer the petition(s), typically draws upon an intimate knowledge of the one addressed, and/or a distinct history between the pray-er and the addressee.  At times the motivation is cloaked in praise which may appear at times to border on coercion.

Something that Patrick Miller points out in They Cried to the Lord, is that even outside of the Psalms the Old Testament is filled with prayers for help.  I'm sure I knew this, but my focus on the Psalms has been so narrow that I overlooked the value of considering the prayers for help throughout the rest of Scripture. Miller identifies and outlines these laments in Appendix 1: A Structural Outline of Prayers for Help and Intercession in Prose Texts (pp. 337-357).

Well, the New Testament also includes prayers for help, especially in the passion narratives.  I am currently studying Mark 14:26-52 which includes Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.  This is an astounding example of a prayer for help.  It is also significant in that it puts the Old Testament laments into perspective.  Jesus fulfills and answers the deepest cries of the soul.*  Here's how I would outline Jesus' prayer in the garden according to the elements listed above:

ADDRESS                                     Abba, Father

MOTIVATION                                All things are possible for you.

PETITION                                     Remove this cup from me.

DESCRIPTION OF TROUBLE        [My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.]

CONFIDENCE                               Yet not what I will, but what you will.

It is worth noting that this particular address is far more intimate than the typical, "O Lord," "O God," or even "My God."  There is an aspect of motivation coupled with the address that is absolutely stunning and beautiful.  Also, the description of trouble is pulled down from verse 34.  It seems appropriate to include it here, because it clearly identifies the circumstance from which this prayer arises.  (The English text is that of the ESV.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

James L. Mays, Psalms. Interpretation. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1994.

Patrick D. Miller, They Cried to the Lord: The Form and Theology of Biblical Prayer. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.

Walter Brueggemann, Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. Winona, MN: St. Mary's Press, 1982; 2nd Edition. Cascade Books, 2007.

_____, The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.

Note* - Today I stumbled across the abstract for Rebekah Ann Eklund's dissertation, Lord, Teach Us How to Grieve: Jesus' Laments and Christian Hope. unpublished (Duke Divinity School), 2012.  Eklund notes that, "lament has a dual function in the New Testament: it points to Jesus as the beginning of the fulfillment of lament’s cries, and it points forward to the consummation of God’s kingdom as guaranteed in Jesus’ resurrection" (iv).  With this I am hooked.  I downloaded her complete dissertation here, and am looking forward to reading more.

Learning How to Cry Out to God

So, What's on Your "iPod"?

Well, I don't use an iPod; they're too pricey. Rather, I use a Sansa Express and I've really liked the way that it works. If you don't have one already I would recommend the Sansa product line.

Anyway, what I've seen and read on a number of blogs, lately, has to do with online sermons and lectures by well known preachers and teachers. Actually, this is a great way to learn about authors whom you've heard about but have not had the opportunity to read their works. I'm thinking in particular of theologians such as N. T. Wright, Ben Witherington, III, D. A. Carson, Gordon Wenham, and others. I've learned a lot about these men by hearing from them first-hand. On top of that, conferences are expensive so it is a great service to the public that many of these sermons and lectures can be downloaded from the internet.

I try to listen to something on my way to and from work, and while I run. This has been a great way to redeem a lot of dead time. Sure, peace and quite is often invaluable, but when I can I try to listen to good sermons or lectures.

Here's what's on my Sansa...

1. Dr. Bruce Waltke [These are fantastic lectures on the Book of Psalms.]
   
1. Introduction to the Book: The Theological Setting
2. The Cultic Background of the Psalms
3. The Historical Approach to the Psalms - I
4. The Historical Approach to the Psalms - II
5. The Literary Background of the Psalms
6. The Individual Lament Form of Psalm
7. Penitential Psalm of Lament
2. Dr. Gordon Wenham [I have found these to be helpful.]
1. Reading the Psalms Ethically
2. Reading the Psalms Messianically
3. Reading the Psalms Canonically
3. Walter Brueggemann [I was disappointed by these lectures.]
1. Introduction to Wisdom Literature
2. Wisdom Writings
3. Proverbs
4. Job
5. Psalms
4. Dr. Ben Witherington, III
1. Background Issues to the Study of the New Testament
2. Where is Jesus in All This? A Review of the Work of the Jesus Seminar [NOTE: This is fantastic!!!! You ought to listen to it.]
5. Dr. Robert Reymond
1. Winning The War For The Souls Of Men
2. The Perfections Of God - His Omnipresence
3. The Perfections Of God - His Omniscience
4. The Perfections Of God - His Justice
5. The Immeasurable Greatness Of The Love Of God
   
6. Where Can This God Be Found?
   
7. God's Patient Longsuffering
   
6. Richard Baxter
1. The Reformed Pastor [Downloaded for free a couple of months ago from Christian Audio.]

So, what's on your "iPod"?

So, What's on Your "iPod"?