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Faithful Exiles Reading the Exilic Theology of Isaiah 40-55 in the Context of Post-Church Australia

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Faithful Exiles Reading the Exilic Theology of Isaiah 40-55 in the Context of Post-Church Australia Faithful Exiles Reading the Exilic theology of Isaiah 40-55 in the context of post-church Australia by Angela Sawyer BA (SocSc), Grad Dip Ed, MDiv A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Divinity 2016 Abstract Deutero-Isaiah’s theology of exile is contextualised in this thesis in the light of post- Christendom Australia, with a focus on post-church people. The secular, post-modern environment of broader Australian society is experiencing a decreasing of the ‘church-in- power’ model. To suggest that the church is in crisis in this era is an understatement, but the interpretation of that crisis as ‘end’ rather than opportunity may be false. An exploration of the reframing of faith that is observed in a study of Deutero-Isaiah, via the lens of exilic theology, is pertinent to Australian evangelical Christians who are leaving the church, but generally retaining faith. The methodological approaches to Deutero-Isaiah that I utilise include: historical-criticism, rhetorical criticism, and sociological insights, particularly trauma studies. Feminist and postcolonial studies provide useful conversation partners to the topic. After establishing the literary and social context of Deutero-Isaiah in general, the key chapter for the thesis is Isaiah 49:14-26, focussing on personified Zion’s accusations to YHWH regarding her abandonment (forsaken/ forgotten terminology). I explore the concepts of hope, doubt, the nature of the salvation offered by redeemer God, gathering and return in contrast to exile and dispersal. This chapter is followed by shorter comparative chapters looking at Isaiah 50:1-3 (imagery of divorce, reconciliation and forgiveness); 51:17-52:6 (a polyphonic text imaging Zion’s rape, comfort and consolation); and, 54:1-17 (barren woman imagery, confession of abandonment by YHWH). Each of these passages is linked in tone and theme by strong feminine imagery, and provides useful connections to broader themes relating to the marginalised outsider. We journey with Zion’s transformation alongside YHWH’s admissions of forsaking her. Hopeful possibilities for new communities of post- church people informed by ancient texts are explored at the end of thesis. - i - Declaration of originality I, Angela Sue Sawyer, declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other purposes. Signed _____________________________________ Angela Sawyer Date - ii - Acknowledgements In many ways completing this thesis has been my way of trying to figure out some pressing personal questions about faith, church, and life. At times the distance from the topic was wide and analytical. At times the themes were close and personal. I began to see 'my' topic every- where - people struggling with faith questions, issues of theodicy, church fallout, issues of war and sexual violence, symbolism to give hope, survival literature, metaphor, personifica- tion of cities and exile. To get to the end of this thesis has required much support from my husband Jay. On many oc- casions he had no idea what I was going on about in regards to Daughter Zion and her devas- tated state but he kept me facing the mountain of study and thought that I could do it more than I. My son Josh has grown up with this thesis (from my tummy to school!) and whenever I studied the lost children of Zion I saw his face, and the many faces of invisible children never forgotten by their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, from the exile thou- sands of years ago, the gas chambers all too recently and the beaches of Turkey today. I hope my daughter Sienna will have the courage of Daughter Zion to speak up to God and to a world that sometimes still thinks a girl cannot have a voice. May her voice also bring healing. To Mark Brett, thank you for that first meeting where I saw your compassion amidst all the genius and for all your ongoing patience and the insight you have brought to this topic. To Merryl Blair, thank you for picking me off the floor, dusting me off and encouraging me through draft after draft. The fortune of having two world-class scholars right here in Mel- bourne as supervisors is a privilege I will never underestimate. To John Capper, Andrew Menzies and Brian Macallan, I have appreciated the practical thesis advice at timely moments. I am grateful for the women of resilience who inspired me and lis- tened on so many occasions including: Lucinda, Chanel, Nish, Robyn, Chris (seriously, that TV got us through), Niki and potlucks, fellow Book clubbers, and to those who studied the Bible together. So many of you had a misconception that I was capable of this alone when it was your words that encouraged my words. To Dr Cicily Nesbit a special thanks for taking the time to read the whole thesis. To Lynne for picking up the errors and understanding what I was talking about. Thanks especially to Cath McKinney and other research students at DML, Whitley and Stirling who know the winding path of the thesis journey. And finally to Daughter Zion: your words haunt me, unraveled me and have spoken for me. Whoever you are (collectively, individually) - thank you for daring to say what generations to come would silently wonder. “YHWH has forsaken me, My Lord has forgotten me” deeply resonates within me as words that give me great hope in their daring belief. - iii - Abbreviations AB Anchor Bible ABS Archaeology and Biblical Studies AIL Ancient Israel and its Literature AJMS Australian Journal of Mission Studies AnBib Analecta Biblica ANE Ancient Near East ANETS Ancient Near Eastern Texts and Studies AThR Anglican Theological Review BBR Bulletin for Biblical Research BDB Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford, 1907. BHS Biblica Hebraica Stuttgartensia BibInt Biblical Interpretation BibOr Biblica et orientalia BJS Brown Judaic Studies BSac Bibliotheca Sacra BZAW Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly ConBOT Coniectanea biblica Old Testament series CTJ Calvin Theological Journal DI Deutero-Isaiah DSS Dead Sea Scrolls FAT Forschungen Zum Alten Testament HB Hebrew Bible HCOT Historical Commentary on the Old Testament HTR Harvard Theological Review IBC Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for teaching and preaching ICC International Critical Commentary Int Interpretation JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JR Journal of Religion JSJS Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism - iv - JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JSOTSup Journal for the Study of Old Testament: Supplement Series JTS Journal of Theological Studies JTSA Journal of Theology for Southern Africa LHBOTS Library of Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament Studies LXX Septuagint MT Masoretic Text NCBC New Century Bible Commentary NIB New Interpreter’s Bible NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament NIVAC New International Version Application Commentary OBT Overtures to Biblical Theology OTL Old Testament Library OTM Oxford Theological Monographs OtSt Oudtestamentische Studiën PRSt Perspectives in Religious Studies PSB Princeton Seminary Bulletin RB Revue Biblique SBL Society of Biblical Literature SBLDS Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series SBLStBL Society of Biblical Literature Studies in Biblical Literature SBLSymS Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series SemeiaSt Semeia Studies SSN Studia Semitica Neerlandica TDOT Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament ThTo Theology Today TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament TynBul Tyndale Bulletin VT Vetus Testamentum VTSup Vetus Testamentum Supplements WBC Word Biblical Commentary ZAW Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft - v - TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ...............................................................................................................................i Declaration of Originality .......................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................iii Abbreviations...........................................................................................................................iv 1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................5 1. Outline and rationale for study ........................................................................................5 2. Assumptions of Study......................................................................................................8 3. Delimitations of study .....................................................................................................9 4. Personal Context..............................................................................................................9 5. Multiple methodologies in conversation .......................................................................12 2. Believing leavers: Post-church context ...........................................................................16 1. The context of the study ................................................................................................16 a. Post-church Australian Christians.............................................................................17 i. Alan Jamieson: A churchless faith ........................................................................20
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