reformed David(s) and the question of resistance to tyranny, The
Book Description
How do we read sacred texts, and what shapes our understanding of their meaning? Nevada Levi DeLapp explores this fundamental question through an illuminating examination of how different Reformed theologians have interpreted the biblical story of David and King Saul.
This scholarly investigation reveals fascinating insights about the relationship between our personal contexts and our spiritual understanding. DeLapp examines five Reformed authors and their interpretations of David's encounters with Saul in the wilderness, particularly focusing on the narratives found in 1 Samuel chapters 24 and 26. What emerges is a compelling picture of how the same biblical passages can yield dramatically different lessons about authority, resistance, and moral action.
The study uncovers two distinct interpretive paths among these theologians. Some view David as a model of passive endurance, refusing to actively resist an unjust ruler despite persecution. Others see him as exemplifying justified defensive action against tyrannical authority. All, however, find in David an inspiring template for civic engagement and moral living.
DeLapp argues that these divergent readings stem from both the interpreters' historical circumstances and the inherent ambiguity within the biblical text itself. The David and Saul narratives contain what he identifies as unresolved gaps, spaces where readers must draw their own conclusions about David's actions and motivations.
This exploration offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand how personal experience, cultural context, and textual interpretation intersect in our spiritual journey of meaning-making.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 234 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Reformierte Theologie
- ✓ Explore Protestant authors
- ✓ Explore Rezeption
- ✓ Explore History of doctrines
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore David, king of israel
- ✓ Explore Homiletical use
