{"id":6221,"date":"2010-05-01T16:17:01","date_gmt":"2010-05-01T16:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/saturday-afternoon-book-review-11.html"},"modified":"2010-05-01T16:17:01","modified_gmt":"2010-05-01T16:17:01","slug":"saturday-afternoon-book-review-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/saturday-afternoon-book-review-11.html","title":{"rendered":"Saturday Afternoon Book Review: Keith Clark"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we have one available, we post book reviews on Saturday Afternoon. This review is by Keith Clark<\/b><\/a>. If you’d like to submit a review to us, speak up…<\/font><\/p>\n

Few texts are as pertinent as Exodus to the socio-cultural situation of many American Christians (of which I am one) these days. If, in fact, part of the goal of narrative as a genre is to draw readers into the story, Exodus poses significant challenges for readers like me. Unfamiliar geographical references, unpronounceable names, tediously over-descriptive language, and foreign customs can at times impose a seemingly insurmountable distance between the story and its readers. The tendency of westerners to identify with the hero(es) of the story at times creates a false sense of identification between the narrative of the text and the narrative of its readers. It is of paramount importance, then, for those of us who are readers to find a trustworthy guide to lead us through an encounter with the text so that we may be appropriately drawn into the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

While there are certainly a number of qualified guides to follow, one of the best I’ve found is Mark Hamilton. In On the Mountain with God: Freedom and Community in Exodus<\/a>\"\"
\n<\/strong><\/em>(Abilene, TX: Leafwood, 2009), Hamilton carefully navigates readers through the treacherous terrain of the Exodus story. What makes Hamilton such a noteworthy guide is his ability to balance his commitment to lead readers to the edges of some dangerous cliffs which provide glimpses into incredible scenes of life-changing beauty while avoiding the spots too risky for all but the specialist to traverse. As such, On the Mountain<\/span> is a paradigmatic example of world-class scholarship bearing fruit for the sake of the church.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

Hamilton begins this
\ntour with an orientation session (chapter 1) to familiarize readers with the
\nterrain to be traversed. Acknowledging up front the apparent tension between
\nthe seemingly opposing themes of covenant and freedom, he succinctly summarizes
\nthe story of Exodus as “a story of freedom from<\/span> the shackles of oppression, in which only the powerful
\nhave names, and freedom for<\/span> a
\nrelationship to the true and living God” (15). Additionally, the
\norientation session covers both the key figures readers are likely to encounter
\nalong the journey (Yahweh, Pharaoh, Moses, and the people of Israel) and the
\nthemes that will occupy the discussion along the journey (the identity and
\nnature of God, justice in community, worship, and election).<\/span><\/p>\n

The first phase of the
\njourney (chapter 2) guides readers through a lengthy tour of reflections on the
\nnature of God, wrestling with the pros and cons of polytheism and monotheism,
\nquestions about the apparent absence of God, doubts as to God’s covenant
\nfidelity, and the knowledge, actions, and values that can appropriately be
\nascribed to God. Of particular benefit in this chapter are two special features
\nof On the Mountain<\/span>. First,
\nthe inclusion of textboxes highlighting excursuses is particularly helpful in
\nthis phase of the journey, as Hamilton addresses the recurring theme of
\n“the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart” in such a way as to dispel common
\nmyths as to God’s role in this heart-hardening. Second, the incorporation of
\nimagined dialogue between the author and a reader allows Hamilton briefly to
\nsidestep the primary discussion to address questions and concerns likely to arise
\nin the heart and mind of engaged readers, while not interrupting the flow of
\nthe broader discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Intent on modeling for readers
\na manner of reading Exodus in which truth is sought while its frequent
\nelusiveness is acknowledged, Hamilton begins the second stage (chapter 3) with
\na look at one of the more bizarre episodes in scripture: Yahweh’s attempt to
\nkill Moses (Exodus 4:24-26). This stage is replete with challenging terrain as
\nthe expedition no sooner departs the roadside where God tried to kill Moses
\nthan it arrives in Pharaoh’s temple, attempting to take in that most famous of
\nshowdowns: the plagues. Finally, this part of the journey comes to an end with
\nan exploration of the contrast between God’s way of relating to the Israelites
\nand Pharaoh’s way of relating to the Israelites. While God certainly acts
\nunpredictably and inexplicably at times, God is not a tyrant in the mold of
\nPharaoh, but one who is committed to true relationship, however messy it may
\nget.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the recent
\nresurgence in attention toward issues of “social justice” the next
\nstretch in the journey (chapter 4) might be of the most interest to many
\nreaders. Beginning with a dexterous exposition of Exodus 12:30-36, Hamilton
\nbriefly spotlights the thread of “justice” running throughout the
\nentire Old Testament. Of particular importance when reflecting on justice,
\nHamilton asserts, are its social or communal dimension and its intricate
\nconnection to the very nature of God. Additionally, a glimpse into the
\ninteraction between Jethro and Moses in Exodus 18 provides an opportunity to
\nreflect on the importance of a commitment to justice and a willingness to seek the
\ncounsel of others on the part of spiritual leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n

The geographically
\nclimactic phase of the journey comes in the next stage (chapter 5) when
\nHamilton guides readers to the summit of Mount Sinai to look on as Moses
\nreceives the law from Yahweh. The tour begins with some basics: a look into the
\nstructure of the commandments (commandments 1-4 “orient us to God,”
\ncommandments 6-10 “focus on human relationships and processes,” and
\ncommandment 5 “links the two”), reflections on the character-forming
\nintent of the commandments, insistence that the giving of the commandments is
\nrooted in a broader story and occurs with the intent of promoting human
\nflourishing, and an acknowledgement of the commandments’ educational import.
\nHamilton is particularly helpful in guiding readers toward an appreciation of
\nthe finer details of the law, while maintaining a focus on the importance of
\nthe overarching principles which provide the shape for the commandments
\nthemselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

The final phase of the
\njourney (chapter 6) takes readers on a circuitous tour in search of a better
\ngrasp of the importance of worship in the life of God’s people. After a brief apology
\non behalf of ritual, readers arrive back in Egypt for a glimpse at Passover, in
\nwhich it becomes clear that action and attitude go hand in hand in worship.
\nVenturing onward toward the Reed Sea, Hamilton highlights the “threefold
\nmovement (upward, outward, and onward)” of the song of Exodus 15:1-18.
\nFinally, readers return to Sinai where work (in the form of building the tabernacle)
\nis redeemed from its perversion in Egypt, so that the very act of work becomes
\nan act of worship to the God who desires to commune with humanity, and to whom
\nhumanity responds with worship.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the conclusion of the
\njourney, Hamilton guides readers in an extended reflection on the theme of
\nhuman dignity (chapter 7). He begins by recognizing it is toward the
\ndevelopment of dignity that Yahweh is calling the people of Israel throughout
\nExodus. After wrestling briefly with the question of why God would bother to
\ninteract with humans in the first place, Hamilton recaps the life of Moses,
\nnoting the manner in which his interactions with God throughout his life shaped
\nhim into a mature human being. Finally, Hamilton offers short meditations on
\nthree themes foundational to the pursuit of dignity to which God invites
\nhumanity: respect, transcendence, and hope, all of which draw humans out of
\nthemselves to focus on others and the Other in order that people might be human
\nbeings in the truest and fullest sense.<\/span><\/p>\n

In sum, Hamilton serves
\nas a well-trained and exceptionally skilled, yet highly accessible tour guide
\nfor anyone desiring to journey through the vast terrain of Exodus. While On the Mountain with God<\/span> does
\nnot thoroughly cover every episode recorded in the text or address every
\ncritical interpretive issue, it is a fantastic resource for personal study and
\nfor small group reflection (the included “Questions for Further
\nReflection” are invaluable in this regard). This is one of the finer
\nexamples of the benefits to be reaped by all as a result of an altruistic
\nrelationship between the church and the academy.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we have one available, we post book reviews on Saturday Afternoon. This review is by Keith Clark. If you’d like to submit a review to us, speak up… Few texts are as pertinent as Exodus to the socio-cultural situation of many American Christians (of which I am one) these days. If, in fact, part…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gospel"],"yoast_head":"\nSaturday Afternoon Book Review: Keith Clark - Jesus Creed<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/saturday-afternoon-book-review-11.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Saturday Afternoon Book Review: Keith Clark - Jesus Creed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When we have one available, we post book reviews on Saturday Afternoon. 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