
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels

Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom

From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John

Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture

1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary

The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter

A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons

Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism

A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel

From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution

Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper

A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament

Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature

Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life

The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Words are central to human relationships. We can see only the outside of other people, but words bring out things from within. But relationships are not just words, but an exchange of words, offering our words and getting words back, giving and receiving words. A one-sided conversation is no conversation. A one-sided relationship is no relationship.
But it often seems that we carry on a one-way conversation with God. We pray, and He’s silent. We sing, and He might give us a slight smile, but we can’t know because we can’t see Him. We pour out ourselves before Him, and what secrets does He disclose to us?
He seems to be cheating. He encourages us to talk to Him, but doesn’t return the favor. How are we supposed to know a speechless God?
But every week in our worship, we’re reminded that, however we may feel, God is not silent. He invites us into His house not only to feed us but to speak to us. We climb to peak of heavenly Zion so we can overhear His tabletalk.
His words are not superficial. He pours out the secrets of His heart to us, the living Word who is the deepest of His Words, the Spirit who searches the deep things of God. He gives us His word so we have something to say, and His Sprit as the breath of our words.
God is an eternal conversation, and in worship He unveils Himself in words, and invites us to join the conversation.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 5:27 am
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