Conflict Between Faith and Experience and the Shape of Psalms 73-83

By Stephen J. Smith

Book Description

When faith collides with harsh reality, how do we navigate the resulting spiritual crisis? Stephen J. Smith explores this timeless struggle through a careful examination of Psalms 73-83, a collection that emerged from one of Israel's darkest periods.

During the sixth century exile, when the temple lay in ruins and God seemed absent, the Israelites faced a profound theological crisis. Their traditional beliefs about divine goodness and protection appeared to crumble under the weight of devastating experience. Smith demonstrates how the editors of this psalm collection deliberately arranged these ancient texts to address this very dilemma.

Rather than following a simple linear progression, these psalms are organized in a recursive pattern that allows multiple perspectives on the same fundamental question: How can we maintain faith in God's goodness when circumstances suggest otherwise? Through detailed analysis of the collection's structure, Smith reveals how the psalms are grouped into carefully crafted blocks that work together to resolve this spiritual tension.

The book shows how these ancient voices speak to anyone wrestling with doubt during difficult seasons. By examining how the psalm editors encouraged steadfast commitment to core spiritual truths despite apparent contradictions, Smith offers insights into maintaining faith when experience challenges belief. This scholarly yet accessible work provides a roadmap for navigating the inevitable conflicts between what we believe and what we encounter in life's most challenging moments.