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030 Bathsheba, Power, And A Better Hermeneutic - Interview with Liz Daye
Manage episode 522478759 series 3586650
Bathsheba’s story has been trimmed into a tidy cautionary tale for far too long. We open the text back up with hospital chaplain and theologian Liz Day to confront the real dynamics at work: power, consent, silence, and the cost borne by survivors when churches protect kings and blame women. Starting with how Bathsheba is framed from pulpits and commentaries, we unpack the myths—like “lust made him do it”—and trace how Scripture itself reads the moment through Torah ethics and Nathan’s parable, where the stolen lamb mirrors the life-altering harm Bathsheba endures.
Together, we ask better hermeneutical questions: Where is God in this text? What is God like? We notice God’s refusal to endorse abuse, God’s prophet confronting a king, and Scripture’s pattern of letting survivors like Tamar speak. We challenge the popular use of Psalm 51 as a shortcut back to platform, naming why confession without justice, repair, and power relinquished is not repentance. From there, we move into practice: how to become trauma-informed communities that believe disclosures, make space for lament, and choose presence over platitudes. We talk about sharing power, setting real limits on leadership, empowering survivors, and reshaping discipleship at the grassroots so children learn a truer story—one where righteousness and justice belong together.
If you’ve wrestled with David and Bathsheba, sensed a disconnect in how the story is preached, or wondered how churches can genuinely be safe for the wounded, this conversation offers language, tools, and hope. Listen, share with a friend who needs it, and then tell us: what one change would make your community safer for survivors? Subscribe, leave a review, and keep the conversation going.
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Chapters
1. 030 Bathsheba, Power, And A Better Hermeneutic - Interview with Liz Daye (00:00:00)
2. Welcome And Series Context (00:01:12)
3. Introducing Liz Day And Her Work (00:01:38)
4. How Bathsheba Is Taught In Churches (00:02:50)
5. Commentary Traditions And Blame (00:05:47)
6. Power, Consent, And Torah Violations (00:11:45)
7. Nathan’s Parable And Survivor Impact (00:16:48)
8. Patterns Of Abuse In David’s Reign (00:21:09)
9. God’s Role, Silence, And Standards (00:26:14)
10. Exposing Darkness And Real Repentance (00:31:24)
11. Lust Myth vs Power Dynamics (00:36:56)
12. Rereading Samuel Without Hero Worship (00:41:34)
13. Prioritizing The Vulnerable In Church (00:46:33)
14. Grassroots Change And Hermeneutics (00:52:44)
15. Learning To Ask Better Questions (00:58:34)
30 episodes
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