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In Prayers for a Privileged People, this much-published author sculpts--as carefully as if with chisel--prayers on behalf of those who are people of privilege and entitlement--the haves--at an urgent moment in our society. The privileged face, on the one hand, the seduction of denial or, on the other, the temptation of despair. These prayers of wisdom and prophetic power remind us that when things go wrong , when we are afraid , and when we feel prodded by those who lack voice, there is a conversation we can have--a conversation situated amid the promises and commands of God. From the Circuit Rider review: "This is a beautiful collection of poetic and prophetic prayers, words to be prayed with, mulled over, pondered, savored--and challenged by. For in this little text, we glimpse a side of Brueggemann we may not have known through his rich Scripture studies alone. Here, he draws on not only his extensive years of study and teaching of the Psalms and the prophets, but his own faith immersion in the church year and in the liturgies of the church." (Click here to read the entire review.)… (more)
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This is "classic Brueggemann" in multiple ways: themes, motifs, subjects, and those absolutely mind-blowing turns of phrase that show up every other page or so that, frankly, open up new ways to see the world. It is a collection that well repays a slow read (say, a poem a day) or a total immersion (the entire book could easily be read in an afternoon, at most). One note: There is a definite progression to the poems (Pay attention to the section descriptions!), so they should be read in order rather than skipping about.
I will certainly return to this book in the future; it brings together literary beauty and prophetic power in near-perfect balance and combination. Furthermore, it demonstrates not only Brueggemann's range as a writer but the clarity and consistency of his central convictions and concerns. Truly, it is a wonderful work.