Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone

by John Goldingay

Publisher:

Westminster John Knox

, 2016

Overview

In this volume on Lamentations and Ezekiel, Goldingay explores these two prophetic books. Lamentations is considered one of the most tragic books in the Bible, with graphic and blunt language about the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians and the people’s feelings of loss and despair amid God’s silence. Ezekiel contains the prophet’s thoughts after a tumultuous political time that saw many taken away from their homes and sent into exile. Where is God, Ezekiel asked, and what must we do for God to return?

Contents

Top Highlights

“Both evil things and good things (that is, trouble and blessing) come from the one God (v. 38). Yet whereas people sometimes picture God as equally balanced between love and justice, Lamentations makes clear that God isn’t balanced in that sense. God’s heart, God’s dominant or major side, is commitment, compassion, and steadfastness. But God has a shadow or minor side, the capacity to make himself act in judgment. It doesn’t come from God’s heart, from the center of God’s being, but it does just as truly come from God, from somewhere nearer the edge of God’s character that God is able to access and express (like introvert professors or pastors who can call on their shadow-side capacity to ‘perform’).” (Page 23)

“Lamentations is both scared and not scared of God’s anger” (Page 16)

“Lamentations knows that this time the city cannot claim innocence.” (Page 11)

“Most of what God lets Ezekiel see is his carriage pulled by four creatures—not mere horses but combinations of human being, animal, and bird (so they can fly and transport God through the heavens). They’re subsequently called cherubs. Their combined features give them great maneuverability, as do the crisscross wheels on the carriage that can go this way or that at will. But they’re driven by one will.” (Page 34)

“Ezekiel is warned that he’ll be held responsible in this way if he fails to warn people of the fate hanging over them. The fate isn’t inevitable. While in a sense God’s intentions are fixed (if people carry on as they are, the trouble will come), in another sense they’re flexible (their implementation depends on people’s response). Ezekiel’s task is to work himself out of a job, to prove himself wrong.” (Page 38)

Product Details

• Title: Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone
• Author: John Goldingay
• Series: For Everyone Bible Study Guides
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2017
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. Lamentations › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Ezekiel › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9781611647761, 9780664233891, 1611647762, 0664233899
• Resource ID: LLS:EVRY25LA
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-12-18T20:36:59Z

About John Goldingay

John Goldingay has been at Fuller Theological Seminary since 1997 and currently serves as the David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament in the School of Theology. Before coming to Fuller, Goldingay was principal and a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at St. John’s Theological College in Nottingham, England. He is the author of several books, including Old Testament Theology vol. 1, After Eating the Apricot, and Models for Scripture, as well as commentaries on Daniel, Isaiah, and Psalms. He holds membership in the Society of Biblical Literature and serves on the editorial board for the Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies.