Like Fire in the Bones: Listening for the Prophetic Word in Jeremiah

No scholar of this generation has had a greater fire in his bones for communicating the word of God than Walter Brueggemann. These essays on Jeremiah exemplify his insistence that criticism should lead to interpretation and remind us again why prophets like Jeremiah still matter in the 21st century. - John J. Collins Holmes Professor of Old Testament Yale Like Fire in the Bones is a gift to the churches and to anyone interested in prophetic literature with its harsh rhetoric blazing visions and demanding yet merciful God. Jeremiah may have had fire in his bones but Brueggemann sets fires with his pen. He shows how Jeremiah speaks into the abyss of historical catastrophe with speech that matches experience. He underlines the disputatious political character of theological speech. He reiterates Jeremiahs call to covenant loyalty even in the face of religious and government forces that suppress and silence words of life. He illuminates Jeremiahs bare-boned hope for a world in the thrall of empire and social amnesia. If ever there was need for imaginative rereading of Jeremiah and of the texts of common life it is now. At this Brueggemann is a master. - Kathleen M. OConnor William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Columbia Theological Seminary Jeremiah the longest book in the Bible is neglected much too often by preacher and teacher alike. That neglect is due in significant part to the prophets often-sharp words that strike too close to home in his own generation and in ours. It is telling that the prophet Jeremiah the focus of these essays that span much of Walter Brueggemanns prophetic ministry has been in his head and heart for such a long time. Again and again Brueggemanns own words have mirrored Jeremiah to us and the times in which we presently live could profit from hearing them again. - Terence E. Fretheim Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament Luther Seminary