I just finished Walter Brueggemann‘s David’s Truth in Israel’s Imagination & Memory. I enjoy reading Brueggemann because of his insights into power dynamics as well as his skills and insights in narrative, literary, and textual criticism. There’s always a lot of pretty powerful insights that I’m challenged by. I’m not sure I’m going to recommend this book “as a great book about David” because in some ways it’s not really about David the way we think about him. It’s really more about getting into the mind and psyche of the authors and communities that the Davidic narratives were written by and for.

He writes that his analysis is a “convergence of social context, literary articulation, and theological claim, for none of the three will stand without the other two.” (17-18) This really does capture his approach. It’s a very technical book in many ways with much drawing on the original Hebrew and whatnot so I was slow moving through the book. I slowly made my way through the 115 pages over a period of a couple months. But there is some great analysis of some of the key passages in David’s history – David’s anointing at the hands of Samuel at Bethlehem, his defeat of Goliath, his sin and the prophetic word from Nathan, and the David covenant chapter (2 Sam 7). The book is worth it just to hear him “teach” through these sections of Scripture.

The book seems to get more technical the more you go, but the conclusion resurrected me and brought me full circle to his intended point. His gives a really challenging summary anchored in the question of what is truth – and how is truth communicated. He quotes Pilate, “What is truth?” from John 18:38. I don’t think I could duplicate his expression of what represents grace and truth, but writes, “We know this meeting with “grace and truth” is the real thing, but we wonder about its reliability.” (115). He goes on to argue that narrative or story is the only venue in which truly deep “truths” can be communicated and captured. He concludes regarding David’s truth, “A flatter truth than that could not attest to this restless man. A surer truth than that would deny this man his eagerness for what is yet promised.” (115)

I think that captures the essence of what I take from the book besides some of the hermeneutic insights into specific passages. We have a culture that is drawn towards “flat” truth, but such truth neglects the whole human range of emotion and experience. So many are drawn to “story” today because there is a three dimensional perspective to truth that isn’t offered in very many places. This is why it is so imperative that followers of Jesus live and embody their story well.

If you’ve tracked my stream of thoughts over the months (or years) on power, there is great insight here into how the marginalized survive the abuses of the powerful, how the powerful seek to preserve or “frame” truth to fit their purposes, and how narrative and story can be used to subvert the authority of tyrants. Interesting stuff. However, if you are interested in reading any Brueggemann, I would recommend you start with The Prophetic Imagination first. It’s a little easier to get a handle on and it blew my mind.

I leave you with a quote that I deem to be prophetic from David’s Truth:

“Both awareness of rich diversity and of troubled uncertainty are needed for doing biblical theology. The lack of these two tends to turn the Bible into a closed, ideological statement.” (98)

If you want to read some thoughts on The Prophetic Imagination you can go here…

Prophetic Imagination 1
Prophetic Imagination 2

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