Truth Speaks to Power: The Countercultural Nature of Scripture Paperback – March 8, 2013

Walter Brueggemann is a most insightful commentator, drawing deeply from the biblical heritage of mercy and justice. He is a fearless critic of our upside values that place power in the service of the rich and powerful. Brueggemann details the ways in which this idolatry is subverted in scripture -- God's option being for the poor. "Truth Speaks to Power" is a powerful assertion of this bias. Brueggemann's writing is lyracal and revelatory, pulling back the curtain to expose the reality that undermines "official truth" of the powers and principalities. This is a most insightful work that allows the reader to look at scripture with fresh eyes. It liberates the Bible from a literalist reading to breath new life into scripture and into our stratified world. Be prepared for new insights into our current affairs by looking afresh at an old story we thought we knew. It is well worth the time. In Brueggmann's hands we see just how radically subversive the Bible is, and therein is liberation.

I loved this book because Walter has the ability to remind us of the devastating effects of Empire (Does not matter which one) while maintaining a positive solution and hope. Empire is about mankind overstepping it's bounds. We do not make very good divinity. The history of the world proves this over and over. The prophets spoke to this arrogance while calling the powers to return to their humanity and their God. We can speak to power because we are equal to them and our place in the universe makes it so. The book has no dualistic thinking (Something we forget about when reading the Bible because most of us have been trained in western dualistic, either/or thinking). The advantage of this for reading it today is the need we have of critiquing Empire while offering compassionate solutions. Prophets are often viewed as doomsdayers while in reality they simply calls us for return to wholeness, a life we were designed for. Walter proves his gift once again.

"Although the Bible may not endorse any particular political agenda, it places in question any agenda that protects the privilege of some at the expense of others." (from the Foreward). In this short book (167pp) which emerged from a series of conference lectures, the author, an acclaimed Old Testament scholar, examines the biblical stories of Moses, Solomon, Elisha and Josiah to reveal that "power that has been founded on something other than truth (e.g. deception, violence) is exposed as fraudulent, delegitimized." What I found most valuable about this book is Walter Brueggemann's reading of scripture which is at once surprising, enlightening and challenging of the naive, flat reading of scripture in which I was discipled and which is most common (when scripture is, in fact, read) in/by the church. Though not presented as such, this book is a fitting companion to Brueggemann's more recent "Reality, Grief, and Hope; Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks."

While I've heard Mr. Brueggemann speak and be interviewed on three or four occasions, I'd not read one of his many books until I heard his interview with Krista Tippet. He presented an approach to religious critical thought that caused me to want to learn more about his approach and his conclusions. Occassionally a bit ponderous in speech, I was expecting a bit of the same with his writing, but have been very pleasantly surprised at the open flow he accomplishes. This is an enjoyable and informative read about a subject with specifically current relevance.

Brueggeman, transverse the Hebrew scriptures with the confidence of the scholar that knows the text and the context intimately. He gives voice to those who are the poor and needy , a voice of power because it is the truth. He exposes the power of the existing establishment for what it really is plagued by anxiety even though they have abundance. The book read easily, but one must either be familiar with the text or work to become familiar with the text and context. The book is a must read for those seeking how to be critical of social life and an advocate for social justice. Five stars is a response to the literature of the book.

This is the book I've been looking for since Walter Wink's "principalities and powers" trilogy. Brueggeman knows his stuff, he applies a vigorous analytic frame of reference, and he draws persuasive conclusions. On completing my first read, I was already going back through the book to confirm my memory of his observations. What he says about prophets and "the powers" did not conflict with my own reading of the texts, but he brought me focus and clarity where I had inklings and notions. I suspect Truth Speaks to Power will shape my thinking on the Bible and political power for the rest of my life.

Dr. Brueggemann, in telling how truth was spoken to power in the Hebrew scriptures, made me think about our own time, nations today, and how that truth still needs to be spoken to the ruling powers we know. He has a way of getting more substance out of a single verse of scripture than any human should be able to do. I'm really glad I read this book. It makes me want to read these Bible chapters again, having been made aware of more truth than I ever realized was there.

We are using this book in a study group. There are few places where Brueggemann seems to overstretch trying make his argument. Those are little parts of the book now and then where he asserts a point but does not show us clearly how he arrived there. I still recommend this book for group study because he brings out several new ways of looking at these texts that will open fruitful discussion.

Brilliant.

Brueggemann at his best