Customer Reviews

Challenging Prophetic Metaphor: Theology and Ideology in the Prophets

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I read this book for a seminary class and found it very thought provoking. I believe it is a valuable addition to my library and intend to use it for future study and reference.

O'Brien opens a space in which we can candidly look at metaphors used for God in the prophetic books of the bible. In my personal experience I have found that many people in my congregation are uncomfortable with some of the biblical images of a vengeful, punishing, and angry God. O'Brien confronts these images head on. She provides stimulating discussion about how the authors of prophetic books use metaphors such as warrior, husband and father to describe God. She gives us her own insight and provides a starting point for us to discuss our own.

Challenging the Prophetic Metaphor is written in easily accessible language. While I would recommend it to any and all university and seminary students and faculty, I would highly recommend it to anyone exploring the Bible. I especially want to invite all who have ever read scripture and found themselves saying "this is not the God I know" to give this book a try. You may find it a blessing on your journey.

Many readers of the Bible feel frustrated by certain images of God, especially the metaphorical images employed in prophetic literature. These images include portrayals of God as an abusive husband, an authoritarian father, and an angry warrior. While the ultimate message of the prophets is as pertinent today as it was during the time of its composition, that message can be obscured by the images the prophets used to describe God. Some contemporary readers still use the violent language employed by the prophets to justify and perpetuate systems of violence and ideologies of oppression, making these very meaningful texts inaccessible or appalling to sensitive audiences. O'Brien confronts these metaphors in an open and honest way, challenging the traditional interpretations of these texts and inviting dialogue between all readers of the Bible in the hopes of beginning a discussion about new ways to experience God. Readers of the Bible who feel uncomfortable with certain images of God and the theologies they support will find validation in O'Brien's book. While O'Brien's book invites readers into a conversation about these important biblical texts, she does tell her readers that they shouldn't necessarily expect to resolve the dilemmas created by these images. As O'Brien proves, engaging in them is far more important, for readers could "find God not simply in the words of Scripture but instead in our wrestling with them."