Prophets: Words of Fire
Spring 2005 Bible Study

Chapter 1

"St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us."

Greetings

It is with a tremendous amount of gratitude for Bob's effort that we pass along the notes from last nights scripture reading gathering. As Bob notes...

Bible study was blessed with the magnificent voices of Robert Robinson and the Joan of Arc choir rehearsing overhead - we felt like the angels in heaven above were gracing our endeavors. The Easter liturgies will be great.

Our table fellowship was graced with homemade snickerdoodles, lovingly rolled out by four-year old hands. We had to sample several to be sure the first was really as good as we thought we were tasting. It was - yumm!

Here is the over view. Thanks Bob!

ST. JOAN OF ARC SCRIPTURE STUDY
Megan McKenna Prophets: Words of Fire
Chapter One The Prophets
March 22, 2005

This chapter is either an outline of what we are about to read about each of the Hebrew Testament prophets and some contemporary prophets, or it is a conclusion derived after studying each of these prophets. There are only 5 footnotes, and there are no examples or evidence from any named prophet. These are set out as universal principles or characteristics. At this point, we must put as much faith into Megan McKenna as we do into the words of the prophets. We should plan to return to this chapter when we finish the book to see if our faith was justified.

Prophets capture our imagination at the same time that they repulse us. Read first paragraph p. 13

The story of the rabbi's students, attributed to Rabbi Nachman in The Empty Chair, seems a little strange because we don't think of God anymore as the wrathful divinity who hurls bolts of lightning at those who offend God, nor as the tit-for-tat dispenser of justice. Other than the irony of "be careful what you wish for, you might get it", what is the point? Read last full paragraph on page 15 to see if the answer is there.

Prophets are not "saints" whose spirituality we might try to emulate, such as Julian of Norwich or John of the Cross. The prophets are carriers of a message, and that is their whole life. We don't know how they prayed or worshipped or meditated - all we know is what they said about what God said.

The message is the word, in Hebrew dabar, which can stand for word, gesture, action, presence, pattern of repetition, or liturgy. The Hebrew word for prophet is navi/n'vi-im, which means to speak for someone else. They speak for God in many creative ways. Read paragraph 3 on page 16 "The validation..."

The method of the prophet is the message. Even the appearance of the prophet shouts out the message. Read the last paragraph on page 17.

The prophet is a collaborator with the divine. Andre Gide says "Art is the collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does, the better." That's what Stephanie's works on display at Concordia are like. She even dispenses with brushes many times, using her fingers to apply the acrylics directly to the surface so she can be in touch with the earthy sensuousness of the paint and the canvas.

Prophets are known by what they resist. Read the last paragraph on page 18.

The prophet is one who sees clearly and sees far when the rest of us are in a fog and nearsighted.

Probably the most important message of the chapter is that prophets address the community or nation as a whole; they are not speaking to individuals. Read paragraph 2 on page 19 and the next 2 paragraphs.

The prophet reveals and conceals, both of the divine and of the human. The prophet shows us facets of God we have been unable to see, and brings out some of our human characteristics we might not want revealed. Read paragraph 2 on page 21.

Then read the next paragraph. Does God really "rule intrusively, abrasively..."? Is God really "jealously intent on displacing any idolatrous order" ?

Then read the next paragraph at the bottom of page 21 for a summation of the prophetic message of justice.

Listening to the message of the prophets is as critical to their shouting out and living out the message. It's not enough to be a "prudent, impartial observer". Read the quote from Heschel bottom of page 22.

The prophets are not relevant only to the epoch of their respective lifetimes, for they "belong to all times and to all of us".

The whole chapter seems to be summarized in the first paragraph at the top of page 24. Let's read it.

How do we distinguish true prophets from false prophets (of whom there are many)? One criteria is "by their fruits you shall know them". Read the first paragraph page 25. The second is that their association with victims elicits rage, resistance, and persecution against the prophet., e.g., Oscar Romero and the other prophets in El Salvador.

Prophets appear through 3 traditions: oral, written, and living.

The author tells us "We will look at those who have gone before us in faith through the eyes and the words of Jesus, the prophet of God, the word made flesh among us."

Let's finish with a reading of the poem "The Prophet", page 26.

At the end of the evening, one member suggested a holy week reading: chapter 9 of Marianne Williamson's book "The Gift of Change".

Next week: March 29 Chapter 2, Moses.

• Facilitator: Rita
• Opening prayer: Vi
• Treats: Heather
• Closing prayer: Glenn