EVERFIT Book Review : The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets - Then and Now

Nahum Ward-Lev changed my view on the Old testament from being the back story of the main event (Jesus coming to earth) to it's true intent of transforming us so that we might transform the world. Jesus's life simply adds to the rich deep stream of justice and compassion that is within the pages of the early books of the Bible. 

I hope that all leaders read "The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets". It's work of great clarity and loving justice and humanities future may depend on the wisdom bought forth on these pages. Nahum Ward-Lev opens the hatch for all, no matter what your belief framework to come together in facing concerns that threaten to tear apart our society. Nahum presents a biblically centred alternative to extreme individualism and materialism which when practiced together completely undermine our ability to treat each other as human beings. 

Nahum uses the term "the living presence" instead of God or the Lord. This is in keeping with what God told Moses at the burning bush"I will be what I will be" (Exod 3:14). God's nature cannot be defined by any limiting quality like a name. Over 2500 years ago the Hebrew prophets walked the earth in an era that is similar to our current state. A growing gap between the rich and poor creating unnecessary suffering, and political instability in many nations. Mega rich institutions were then; and are now, failing to protect people from the suffocating power of privileged elites. Political leaders who receive funds from the ruling elite, and large companies intent on profit over expansive wellbeing are incapable of averting the impending societal and biosphere breakdown.  This book sets about giving out wisdom, asking for courage to face our situation, to take bold action in the face of harmful core beliefs to bring about systemic change. 

The historical period of the prophets (740-520 BCE) was a time of social crisis and political instability ultimately leading to the breakdown of Israel and Judah. During these 200 years the small family run farm lots which were the backbone of Israelite society were losing their hereditary holdings to large rich landowners. Heavy taxes and harsh debtor laws made it easier for wealthy elites to take over the lands of smaller farmers who then became poorly paid workers on the land. The King profited from the creation of the larger blocks of land, and by the eighth century BCE a small group of wealthy elites had set themselves above the small family farmers who were the true economic backbone of the nation.  The prophets, who are consumed with love for creation and a passion for expansive justice; called upon individuals and the entire nation of Israel to "go forth" on a long liberation journey towards a "less oppressive and more just society." They proclaimed the economic injustice and the oppression of the poor was intolerable. The growing gap between the rich and poor an existential crisis.  Nahum looks at contemporary liberation thinkers such as Paulo Freire, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gustavo Gutierrez to back up a challenge to our current thinking and to give some guidance for how we can live in ways that promote human thriving and global wellness. 

In the middle of the eighth century BCE a Judean shepherd named Amos left his flock and set out for Beth El (cultic centre of Israel).  Amos had had visions of locusts and fire decimating the land and sea, so he felt compelled to warn society. In another vision Amos was shown a wall and plumb line, the wall depicting society being upheld with the plumb line of justice and righteousness. If justice is a little "offline" then society will eventually fall over.  Empowered by Gods love for creation and a distain for injustice to the vulnerable the prophets confronted the princes, and ruling elite pleading for change. 

Amos was first to try and create a shift in the way society operated in the northern kingdom of Israel.  Isaiah and Micah tried to change society in the southern kingdom of Judah at the height of it's power. The prophets also called out the judicial system with judges who were easily open to bribes from the wealthy and failed to stand up for the poor and vulnerable. The prophets also challenged the priests in the holy temple who let the suffering of the poor slip down the temples list of priorities. Amos, Isaiah, Micah, and Hosea are just four of the fifteen prophets whose words demanding change are written in the Bible. The earlier prophets (Amos, Hosea, Isiah, and Micah) never saw the destruction of the kingdoms and the enslavement of the people but saw the injustice within society that preceeded it.

The second wave of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the second Isiah* lived through the exile. The later prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi attempted to attempted to replant the shattered community after the return from Babylon. ALL of the prophets warned that poor treatment of the vulnerable in society would lead to collapse of that society. 

The simple message the prophets were relaying was God wanted liberation from oppressive societal frameworks. There is a calling upon society in the prophets time and in our present time "to share your bread with the hungry and to take the wretched poor into care" (Isaiah 58:7). If misalignment of justice isn't corrected an oppressive, unjust society will inevitably fall over. Endemic injustice will fester and create a rot that infiltrates all. If the gap between those that have and those that don't grows to breaking point then revolt, and a revolution will take place#. 

The response by the rulers, and rich elite to the prophets was to ignore the calls for change and hang on to the status quo. They maintained that the current way of doing things was the best way - when in fact it just served their interests. This entrenched system only allowed a few to flourish while most struggled just to survive. This is not too different from the way our world is set up today. We have almost 8 billion sharing the planet with 1 billion starving, and 2 billion eating so much in excess that they are obese. As Gandhi stated we have enough for everyone's need but not enough for everyone's greed.