OT Readings for jan. 8, 2012 Gen.1:1-5, ps.29

1) I realize that we've have covered some of this territory before. This blog started for some fellow pastors in Indiana. I note that the state Senate there may consider a bill requiring "creation science." May I suggest material from a former butler professor and now out west, Robert Zimmerman and his Clergy Letter Project.
Alos let me again commedn Brown's book Seven Pillars.

2) In mystical Judaism, we encounter zimzum. God makes a space for the world, so god withdraws some of the power/control over that creation. see Moltmann, God in Creation, for a good appropriation/discussion of the notion. In a way then, kenotic views of divinity start at creation, perhaps.
3) Notice that god evaluates from the start with the simple, good. Even if you accept the notion of the Fall of humanity, how do you square that evaluation with the evil in the world?
4) the void and darkness=tohu and bohu. some see this as primordial chaos always held at bay by the order of creation. See here Levenson's Creation and the Persistence of Evil.
5) The spirit/breath swept/hovered over the face of the waters. You can be literal about this or poetic. This would be a worthy image to explore for a sermon or class.
6)Creation's order is done with separation/distinction. The evaluation includes this distinction and calls it good, but it does not judge one distinction superior to another. Notice the Hebrew way of dividing time from sunset to sunup. For some, this includes a sabbath notion that God governs the world while we sleep, to induce a humility in our role in the world. One could play with the notion of how time itself takes on a different aspect with this arrangement.

Ps. 29 this is assumed to be lifted from the surrounding culture and applied to God.
1) Brueggeman's TOT p.284=5 and 238 notes the ancient notion of a contest between the gods of heaven and God is declared the victor.Some hear images of Baal being applied to god here as well.So, instead of seeing this as syncretism, one can marvel at the theological boldness of israel, where secure in the knowledge of god, they are willing to appropriate good prayers from other traditions and apply then=m to god. it is an interesting way to deal with inter-religious contacts.
2) Notice how nature is the signifier for power here.One could take natural points in one's own environment and declare points for that same voice.
3) After all of this hymn to natural power, when people finally appear it is in the temple, that microcosm for the natural world in a religious setting. then the blessing is for strength for people and then not power but peace, well-being, health, shalom.
4) Power is expressed in a voice, yet that same voice can be quiet as in the cave of Elijah. One could really explore this notion of hearing god in different "voices."
5) Glory=presence of God for me. It has a sense to me of gravitas, of being a weighty matter, the opposite of trivial, awe-inspiring.