One of my favorite things to do when I teach confirmation class is to pull out Biblical truths that blow the students minds! First of all, it is always fun to see their astonished faces and second of all it helps them realize that they HAVEN'T already learned all they can learn about the Bible just because they have gone to Sunday school for years (a realization that I have had in my OOTLE class as an adult many times over too). One of the Biblical truths that always seems to rock the kids boats is the fact that there are two Genesis accounts of origin in the Bible. Did you know that? TWO! And, like we have discovered in previously... multiple accounts in the Bible are often not exactly synonymous. Further more, did you know that there are additional accounts of origin through out the Hebrew Biblical texts? And (you guessed it) they different from both Genesis accounts as well.
Today I am going to create a THIRD way to tell the creation story (just to add more confusion in the mix). It is a collective work of art, bringing together different passages and references to creation found through out Psalms, Proverbs and Job. I will site the scripture I used to support each sentence, from the NRSV translation.
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Oh Lord, your name is majestic in all the earth! (Ps 8:9) I look to the heavens and see the work of your hands (Ps 8:3) Ages ago, before the water and before the mountains, You created wisdom at the very beginning and everything was touched by the wisdom of the Lord. With wisdom the heavens were established, with wisdom the skies were set firm above and the sea was contained. With wisdom the foundations of the earth were laid. Wisdom caused the heart of the Lord to rejoice (Proverbs 8:22-31).
Wise in heart and mighty in strength, you command the sun and seals the stars, the moon is covered by the clouds of the Lord. (Job 9:4, Job 26:9). You made the sun to rule over the day and the moon in stars to rule over the night (Ps 136:8-9). But when the morning stars sing all together, there are shouts of joy among all the heavenly beings (Job 38:7)
The Lord does great things beyond understanding, marvelous things without number (Job 9:10). What are human beings? That you created and care for them? That you are mindful of them? You crown them with glory and honor (Ps 8:4,6). Oh Lord of Hosts, who is mighty as you? (Ps 89:8) How can I speak to you, or even begin to choose words when I think of the wonders you have done? (Job 9:14)
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Nice job with your creation story! You weaved the verses in so nicely and it greatly emphasized the power of God. I especially loved the last paragraph describing our relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your creation story. I loved the wisdom language in the beginning of the story! It's amazing how many different bits of creation and versions of creation we read throughout the Old Testament. It's actually astounding to me how many people see the Genesis story as absolutely definitive, but who dismiss the other creation bits in the scripture. I wonder why this is? Again, I love your creation story, it really does emphasize the goodness, the kindness, the love, and the compassion of God. Thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent synthesis of these biblical passages. As I was reading it, I imagine this could be read as a litany in church. The references to the different passages are a good introduction to the fact that there are references to creation in other parts of the Bible than Genesis. As you state, most of us either were unaware of these other creation passages or did not understand their meaning. Teaching this concept in the context of the Ancient Near East makes more sense and challenges us to think about God's creative acts in our modern scientific context as well.
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