Spirited speech
Commentary
The issue of communication, godly and human, forms the common bond among the Pentecost texts. In each one, God's Word initiates different activities in certain communities and human verbal and spiritual responses vary widely.
The Old Testament text demonstrates clearly the complete breakdown of relationship between God and people; each party communicates only intra-personally and separately. The people speak among themselves and God muses privately about what course of action to take considering the foolishness of their building scheme. There is parallel speech but the barrier of human pride blocks the exchange of meaningful conversation.
Acts presents the communicative relationship between God and God's people as a scene reflecting both their Babel heritage and the clarity of a new vision through the Spirit. Pentecost is a turning point, a crisis moment, when the silence of sin is broken by the outpouring of a loving, imminent God. While confusion reigns for a while, it is the chaos of reorganization, and new beginnings.
In the Gospel of John, the portrayal of godly speech is shown at a very intimate level: Jesus and the disciples dialogue about the Spirit's presence in a reassuring way. Their discussion is actually a revelation of a promise already fulfilled. The disciples learn God has already spoken in Jesus and confirmation of that will follow shortly.
To what purpose does God communicate with people as individuals and groups? Each textual reflection gives a slightly different perspective.
In the Genesis story, godly speech is used in order to clearly define the boundaries of human endeavor and spiritual power. It is speech used to chastise and re-orient a wayward community. In fact, the Lord's boundary definitions are powerful enough to render the communities
"speech-less," confused.
The Acts text shows that godly language has several modes and functions. It echoes traditional prophetic utterances and (almost whimsically) takes ordinary human speech and realigns it geographically, communally and spiritually. Accusations of drunkenness and altered states of consciousness alert the crowds to the unique possibility that perhaps God is, indeed, addressing them. The Lord's address on that Pentecost, is used as a spiritually inverted Tower of Babel, to create order, love and repentance through the founding of Christ's people, the church.
Finally, the godly speech in John is initiated by Jesus in order to emphasize the ongoing role of the spirit in the lives of the disciples. The words of life which they have heard from Jesus they will hear again. Such words are meant to teach and to render hearts peaceful.
In all cases, these texts reflect the truth expressed in John 1: "In the beginning was the Word...."
OUTLINE I
Say what?
Genesis 11:1-9
vv. 1-4. Building up illusions. A time of primeval communicative innocence is described here. Understanding is possible because everyone speaks the same language; truly an idyllic state! The desire to make English or some form of pidgin the universal language is still an ideal for many even millennia later. But while mutual speech is possible, one thing is lacking from the human perspective --power and prestige. The people go on to indulge in one of the richest temptations of all and that is to make a name for themselves. They want what we want; namely, having it all. Constructing a tower with its top in the heavens provides the final planning touch. No one disagrees with this.
vv. 5-9: Topsy turvy. The housing market was desirable. Plans were being eagerly carried out. One housing development would even have a tower reaching up to heaven! It looked good to all parties involved --except the Architect-God. The Master Builder sees quite clearly the destructive, greedy desires of the people. So God confuses human speech. The confusion of speech not only stops the building plans but re-establishes an appropriate relationship between God and people, as Israel learns the cost of pride.
OUTLINE II
Spirited people
Acts 2:1-21
vv. 1-4: An unusual feast day. The people are together because of Pentecost, the 50th day after passover, the time to celebrate the first fruits of the grain harvest. Later it became associated with the giving of the Law. But what is given on that day? The Spirit! A Great Divide of the human spirits comes about. The amnesia of ecstasy overcomes all: a sound "like a violent wind," "divided tongues as of fire." And then the talking, the language of the Spirit sears the hearts and tongues of each one and everyone; individually and corporately, the promise is fulfilled.
vv. 5-13: Amazement and accusations. Any event brings many interpretations. Did you hear it? Did you see it? What did you experience? What crash course in foreign languages did these country bumpkins from Galilee take? Some heard the gospel in their own language and others shook their heads: Drinking! And it's only 9 o'clock in the morning!
vv. 14-21 : Prophecy and proclamation. These verses form the first of three parts of Peter's sermon. He begins with an "apologia," a means of defining what is happening. The words of the ancient prophet Joel live with immediacy, the time is now and Peter shows how events prove that.
OUTLINE III
The intimacy of the Spirit
John 14:8-17, 25-27
vv. 8-14, Mistaken identity. Philip is a facts man and wants to know what is really going on. Give us proof Lord! And Jesus does by pointing to the central fact: he could only do what he has been doing because of his intimacy with God. But the disciples are at the crossroads now. Will that fact keep them together or will they disband as Jesus leaves them? Jesus offers them the key phrase which will propel them into the world equipped for ministry: "whatever you ask in my name."
vv. 15-17: The gift of love. How do we prove love to each other, What can we do to show our love? It would be easier by far to buy flowers, bring candy, do some small kindnesses here and there when we like. Jesus gives a more strenuous command: Keep my commandments! This is tough love and who can keep the commandments? Jesus follows the command for obedience with a gift --the ever-present Spirit. Commandment-keepers rejoice! The Advocate will help us in our endeavors.
vv. 25-27: Love's gifts. The story of Aladdin's lamp rekindles the yearning in everyone. What if we could have whatever we wished for? Such a mythical spirit promises anything and its gifts are unobtainable. The Spirit of God promises three things now and they are granted: wisdom of the heart through teaching, spiritual reminders (prods when we need them) and the gift of peace --no matter whatever else is falling down around and inside of us.
The Old Testament text demonstrates clearly the complete breakdown of relationship between God and people; each party communicates only intra-personally and separately. The people speak among themselves and God muses privately about what course of action to take considering the foolishness of their building scheme. There is parallel speech but the barrier of human pride blocks the exchange of meaningful conversation.
Acts presents the communicative relationship between God and God's people as a scene reflecting both their Babel heritage and the clarity of a new vision through the Spirit. Pentecost is a turning point, a crisis moment, when the silence of sin is broken by the outpouring of a loving, imminent God. While confusion reigns for a while, it is the chaos of reorganization, and new beginnings.
In the Gospel of John, the portrayal of godly speech is shown at a very intimate level: Jesus and the disciples dialogue about the Spirit's presence in a reassuring way. Their discussion is actually a revelation of a promise already fulfilled. The disciples learn God has already spoken in Jesus and confirmation of that will follow shortly.
To what purpose does God communicate with people as individuals and groups? Each textual reflection gives a slightly different perspective.
In the Genesis story, godly speech is used in order to clearly define the boundaries of human endeavor and spiritual power. It is speech used to chastise and re-orient a wayward community. In fact, the Lord's boundary definitions are powerful enough to render the communities
"speech-less," confused.
The Acts text shows that godly language has several modes and functions. It echoes traditional prophetic utterances and (almost whimsically) takes ordinary human speech and realigns it geographically, communally and spiritually. Accusations of drunkenness and altered states of consciousness alert the crowds to the unique possibility that perhaps God is, indeed, addressing them. The Lord's address on that Pentecost, is used as a spiritually inverted Tower of Babel, to create order, love and repentance through the founding of Christ's people, the church.
Finally, the godly speech in John is initiated by Jesus in order to emphasize the ongoing role of the spirit in the lives of the disciples. The words of life which they have heard from Jesus they will hear again. Such words are meant to teach and to render hearts peaceful.
In all cases, these texts reflect the truth expressed in John 1: "In the beginning was the Word...."
OUTLINE I
Say what?
Genesis 11:1-9
vv. 1-4. Building up illusions. A time of primeval communicative innocence is described here. Understanding is possible because everyone speaks the same language; truly an idyllic state! The desire to make English or some form of pidgin the universal language is still an ideal for many even millennia later. But while mutual speech is possible, one thing is lacking from the human perspective --power and prestige. The people go on to indulge in one of the richest temptations of all and that is to make a name for themselves. They want what we want; namely, having it all. Constructing a tower with its top in the heavens provides the final planning touch. No one disagrees with this.
vv. 5-9: Topsy turvy. The housing market was desirable. Plans were being eagerly carried out. One housing development would even have a tower reaching up to heaven! It looked good to all parties involved --except the Architect-God. The Master Builder sees quite clearly the destructive, greedy desires of the people. So God confuses human speech. The confusion of speech not only stops the building plans but re-establishes an appropriate relationship between God and people, as Israel learns the cost of pride.
OUTLINE II
Spirited people
Acts 2:1-21
vv. 1-4: An unusual feast day. The people are together because of Pentecost, the 50th day after passover, the time to celebrate the first fruits of the grain harvest. Later it became associated with the giving of the Law. But what is given on that day? The Spirit! A Great Divide of the human spirits comes about. The amnesia of ecstasy overcomes all: a sound "like a violent wind," "divided tongues as of fire." And then the talking, the language of the Spirit sears the hearts and tongues of each one and everyone; individually and corporately, the promise is fulfilled.
vv. 5-13: Amazement and accusations. Any event brings many interpretations. Did you hear it? Did you see it? What did you experience? What crash course in foreign languages did these country bumpkins from Galilee take? Some heard the gospel in their own language and others shook their heads: Drinking! And it's only 9 o'clock in the morning!
vv. 14-21 : Prophecy and proclamation. These verses form the first of three parts of Peter's sermon. He begins with an "apologia," a means of defining what is happening. The words of the ancient prophet Joel live with immediacy, the time is now and Peter shows how events prove that.
OUTLINE III
The intimacy of the Spirit
John 14:8-17, 25-27
vv. 8-14, Mistaken identity. Philip is a facts man and wants to know what is really going on. Give us proof Lord! And Jesus does by pointing to the central fact: he could only do what he has been doing because of his intimacy with God. But the disciples are at the crossroads now. Will that fact keep them together or will they disband as Jesus leaves them? Jesus offers them the key phrase which will propel them into the world equipped for ministry: "whatever you ask in my name."
vv. 15-17: The gift of love. How do we prove love to each other, What can we do to show our love? It would be easier by far to buy flowers, bring candy, do some small kindnesses here and there when we like. Jesus gives a more strenuous command: Keep my commandments! This is tough love and who can keep the commandments? Jesus follows the command for obedience with a gift --the ever-present Spirit. Commandment-keepers rejoice! The Advocate will help us in our endeavors.
vv. 25-27: Love's gifts. The story of Aladdin's lamp rekindles the yearning in everyone. What if we could have whatever we wished for? Such a mythical spirit promises anything and its gifts are unobtainable. The Spirit of God promises three things now and they are granted: wisdom of the heart through teaching, spiritual reminders (prods when we need them) and the gift of peace --no matter whatever else is falling down around and inside of us.
