Touching the Altar: The Old Testament for Christian Worship (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies | CICW)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
What does it mean to be in the presence of God’s holiness? How can it affect us whether we seek it out or stumble upon it? Can it truly change our very reality to encounter it?
The essayists in this volume explore these questions at the heart of Christian worship, considering the oft-neglected Old Testament as essential to understand our purpose in worship. Following the structure of the Hebrew canon -- beginning with the Pentateuch, moving through to the Psalms, then wisdom literature -- each chapter considers a separate aspect of worship, from theater to the Sabbath to sacred space, offering new inspiration. In the final essay Carol Bechtel “rereads the book of Job through the lens of our human limitations (as opposed to the usual theme of theodicy),” with compelling applications for both life and worship.
Each of these essays concludes with two appropriately themed hymns and a “For Further Reading” list. Five of the seven contain sidebars that illustrate and enrich key points. Evocative woodcut artwork by Margaret Adams Parker provides a striking backdrop to the text. Taken together, these essays testify powerfully to the belief that the Old Testament is not only valuable but also essential to “whole” and fully foundational preaching and worship.
Written primarily by Old Testament professors, Touching the Altar will make an engaging supplemental text for introductory or elective Old Testament courses and will also go far toward providing deeper worship for any Christian.
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- Considers the oft-neglected Old Testament as essential to understand our purpose in worship.
- Concludes each chapter with two appropriately themed hymns and a “For Further Reading” list.
- Answers questions like: What does it mean to be in the presence of God’s holiness?
- Series Preface
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Sacred Time: The Sabbath and Christian Worship
- Drama and the Sacred: Recovering the Dramatic Tradition in Scripture and Worship
- Isaiah in Christian Liturgy: Recovering Textual Contrasts and Correcting Theological Astigmatism
- No Explanations in the Church: Two Sermons on the Prophets
- Finding a Treasure Map: Sacred Space in the Old Testament
- The Hope of the Poor: The Psalms in Worship and Our Search for Justice
- Knowing Our Limits: Job’s Wisdom on Worship
- Carol M. Bechtel
- Thomas A. Boogaart
- Corrine L. Carvalho
- Ellen F. Davis
- J. Clinton McCann Jr.
- Dennis T. Olson
- Margaret Adams Parker
- John D. Witvliet
A terrific resource for pastors, students, and laypeople.
—Christian Century
This is an immensely important volume. In contemporary discussions of Christian worship, the Old Testament is too often ignored or treated superficially. These writers offer a rare combination of scholarly depth and practical insight, providing wisdom that cannot fail to nourish any who care about worship in our time.
—Jeremy Begbie, University of St. Andrews and Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Touching the Altar provides an inspiring model of excellent scholarship done in service to God and the church. The authors lead those who would more fully and faithfully understand and lead Christian worship deeply into the biblical text, while also disclosing connections to urgent contemporary concerns. Moreover, like worship itself, the book is beautiful, frequently incorporating image and song. This is biblical practical theology at its best.
—Dorothy C. Bass, Valparaiso University