The brilliant narrator of the long story of Samuel, Saul, and David has given to us the very pinnacle of story art in this fabulous tale of David and his dalliance with Bathsheba and his calloused murder of her husband, Uriah. There is no better example of the genius of the Hebrew Bible narrative than this one.
It strikes me that after reading and evaluating the picture of David we have seen from his introduction to us in 1 Sam.16 that he is in need of a more straightforwardly traditionally pious portrait, and such is given to us in 2 Sam.7.
I suggest that this tale in 2 Sam.6 indicates that any sacred object, connected to God, is not some plaything for any king to employ as he desires or thinks he needs. There remains something mysterious and uncontrollable about our God, and we, who tend too often to want to bring God into our way of thinking or doing, to sanctify in the name of God, what we already wish to do, need never to forget that strangeness in our God.
It is occasionally necessary to look closely at the omissions that appear in the lectionary collector’s choice of texts. In this Sunday’s text, there is a small series of verses that have been left out: 2 Sam.5:6-8. To be sure, they are certainly odd and troubling lines, difficult to translate and understand. And yet, there is something about those omitted verses that are intriguing and potentially important. Hence, I will focus my attention there in the essay and see why they may be worth a second look.
The story about the astonishing choice of David—8th son of 8 sons of the shepherd, Jesse—is rightly focused on here, since David will become Israel’s undisputed greatest king, despite his wanton and cruel behaviors later in his life.
Strangely, I am thinking of that classic “Seinfeld” episode about the “Soup Nazi,” who only sells soup to those who follow the strictest of protocols. Of course, Elaine does not do so, and he bellows at her, “No soup for you!” In a similar fashion, Samuel, the chief priest and prophet of Israel is confronted by a restive people who demand a king for them.
From June through August, the enterprising and imaginative pulpiteer has the chance to give to her congregation a careful look into a truly great writer’s insights into the dangers of power, the zeal and trouble of single-minded religion, and the dark and dismal actions of politics as they are played out against the backdrop of an emerging Israel, moving to a full nationhood out of a scattering of hill country tribes.
On April 16, 2024, the Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence at SMU sponsored an in-person workshop entitled “Preaching and Conflict Transformation.” This event, co-led by homiletician Dr. Joni Sancken and conflict transformation expert Dr. Regina Stoltzfus, was designed to equip preachers with the tools and wisdom needed to address conflict from the pulpit. It focused on the idea that while conflict is an inevitable part of life, it can also be a powerful vehicle for sanctification and growth, both for individuals and communities.
In this episode of Must Reads Classics, Dr. O. Wesley Allen, Jr. interviews Bishop William Willimon - the Dean of Duke Chapel and professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, about his book “Peculiar Speech: Preaching to the Baptized.”
Because for Isaiah, contemplating and experiencing the awesome YHWH, as well as witnessing those terrifying seraphim flying about and screaming “holy,” the encounter with YHWH is no intellectual event, but an event that alters his understanding of his role as YHWH’s prophet, a role that appears to him to be one of enormous difficulty, not to mention one rife with scary implications.
Dr. McKenzie served as a speaker at the latest Office of Enrollment Management “Lunch and Learn!” an event for prospective Perkins students.
John C. Holbert, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics Emeritus, Perkins School of Theology, earned his B.A. degree from Grinnell College, the M. Div. from Perkins and a Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies from SMU.
© SMU Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence
