Monthly Archives: July 2015

Cook-the village and the nation-state

Posted on July 31, 2015 by theoutwardquest

“It takes a village to raise a child” (African proverb). “Government is just things we decide to do together” (Barney Frank). These two sayings get combined today as though the nation-state was a village and as though the things that … Continue reading →

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Cook-sacred interruptions

Posted on July 30, 2015 by theoutwardquest

I have come to Deuteronomy 15:1-16:17 in Stephen Cook’s Reading Deuteronomy. This divides into four sections that seem quite different. In 15:1-11 the topic is debt relief. In 15:12-18 it is the release of indentured servants. These at least have … Continue reading →

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Cook-defying Sheol

Posted on July 29, 2015 by theoutwardquest

The main feature of Stephen Cook’s interpretation in Reading Deuteronomy is his refusal to interpret the book at face historical value. In other words, the literary time of the text is the days of Moses as the people camp just … Continue reading →

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Cook-eschatological totalitarianism

Posted on July 27, 2015 by theoutwardquest

Is Deuteronomy 13 totalitarian? In totalitarian states loyalty to the party is everything. Family members get recruited to spy on other family members. Any deviation from the party line is reported. Those deviating are labeled as reactionaries or enemies of … Continue reading →

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Cook-centralization

Posted on July 24, 2015 by theoutwardquest

I am reading the new commentary on Deuteronomy by Stephen Cook, Reading Deuteronomy.  I have reached the crucial 12th chapter. Deuteronomy 12 centralized worship in the temple at Jerusalem. This was a revolution. Before this there were many shrines around … Continue reading →

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Cook-a way, not a law

Posted on July 23, 2015 by theoutwardquest

Stephen Cook in Reading Deuteronomy makes something of the differences in the Golden Calf story between Exodus and Deuteronomy. According to Exodus–the E account, which is a source for Deuteronomy in Cook’s analysis–Moses pleads with God for mercy upon Israel … Continue reading →

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Cook-testing and spiritual formation

Posted on July 21, 2015 by theoutwardquest

Stephen Cook’s new commentary on Deuteronomy, Reading Deuteronomy, is my topic for this series of posts. Cook saw the Assyrian and Babylonian threat in the late monarchy as the actual historical setting for Deuteronomy–though it deals with Moses and the … Continue reading →

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Cook-mythic annihilation

Posted on July 20, 2015 by theoutwardquest

In Reading Deuteronomy, Stephen Cook has already shown how the Israelite occupation of the Transjordan was conceived in Deuteronomy as a battle, not against actual Canaanite people and tribes, but against mythic, even occult, forces. In Deuteronomy 7:16 we have … Continue reading →

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Cook-the integral God

Posted on July 16, 2015 by theoutwardquest

My blogging schedule is very light this week. This is because, among other things, I have been invited to be in the pulpit at one of my former parishes this week.  Summer means conferences and vacations for working pastors. There … Continue reading →

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Cook-umbilical theology

Posted on July 13, 2015 by theoutwardquest

Once again I am posting about Stephen Cook’s commentary on Deuteronomy, Reading Deuteronomy. The longest of the three discourses of Moses in Deuteronomy take up most of the book, 4:44-29:1. It is the heart of the Torah or instruction that … Continue reading →

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