Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work

Eugene Peterson is a man with immense wisdom and experience in pastoral matters. In this book, he passes on a portion of this in an engaging and thoughtful way. There is much in this book that is helpful to ministers, even though Peterson's practical advice is not matched in quality by his biblical exegesis. I was thrilled at the very idea of this book, but felt that it did not live up to its promise. Peterson examines the five "Megilloth" scrolls. These are Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther - all books in the Writings, the third section of the Hebrew canon. In his very readable introduction, Peterson compares pastoral work to constructing a building using stones already on the site. He notes that the Megilloth, though seemingly modest, were 'recycled' in this fashion, each being read annually at the five main acts of worship. Peterson views Ecclesiastes and Songs of Songs as being in tension with the feasts on which they were read, while Lamentations and Esther were read in a context of commemorating the events referred to in those books. This suggests that Peterson may be forcing the issue in attempting to connect the five scrolls to their corresponding settings. We do not, in fact, know how the choice was made with some of the Megilloth, and Peterson is indulging in speculation. Even though Peterson's methods of deducing practical lessons may be questionable, his pastoral wisdom is not. Clever as his analysis might be, the practical advice that can be garnered from Five Smooth Stones is superior to its exegesis. In his chapter on Lamentations, for example, Peterson argues that one's response to suffering must be anchored in the appropriate historical context. This is of tremendous significance to pastors, for just as Lamentations was written in response to a real historical event, so the wise pastor seeks to direct his parishioners to connect their grief and anger to their actual circumstances. Grace operates in the realm of the historical, and so, says Peterson, "If suffering is severed from historical data, it diffuses, filling up the room like gas" (p. 125). Peterson also makes much of the fact that in the book of Esther, Mordecai is called merely, "the Jew." He works behind the scenes in near anonymity. In the same way, "Pastors need to repudiate as models... persons who are promotional and glamorous" (p. 227). This advice sorely needs to be heeded by many in the wider church today.

Eugene Peterson's first work on pastoring was entitled Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, c. 1980). Peterson says he finds little "help in developing my pastoral craft and nurturing my pastoral vocation" in the 20th century (p. 2). Though his pulpit-focused education thoroughly equipped him for biblical study and theological proclamation, the materials dispensed for "practical" ministry bore the stamp of "humanism and technology. The pulpit is grounded in the prophetic and kerygmatic traditions but the church office is organized around IBM machines" (p. 4). To gain a healthier perspective, Peterson dug into five Old Testament books: the Song of Songs; Ruth; Lamentations; Ecclesiastes; and Esther. In the Song of Songs, he learned "the pastoral work of prayer-directing," nurturing the intimacy lovers need to live in communion. The poetry of the Song of Songs, with its powerful sexual imagery, helps us understand our spiritual hunger and the prayerful ways we satiate it. We're loved by a Lover who knows us, who calls us by name, who desires us to become one with Him in the intimacy of love. "We never know how good we can look, how delightful we can feel," Peterson says, "or how strong we can be until we hear ourselves addressed in love by God or by the one who represents God's love to us. [In the words of Anders Nygren] 'That which in itself is without value acquires value by the fact that it is the object of God's love'" (p. 65). In the book of Ruth, we find "the pastoral work of story-making." "Scripture is a vast tapestry of God's saving ways among his people" (p. 77), and we who live by Scripture forever tell God's story. Since the Hebrews believed God worked among them, they wrote history. They "were the world's first historians," (p. 80). Consequently, "Pastors are historians, not moralists" (p. 85). We who preach must tell stories, stories like Ruth, stories which tell His Story. In Lamentations we find "the pastoral work of pain-sharing." The acrostic form of the book--running from a-to-z--enables one to enter into the laments of people in pain, while knowing that there's an end as well as a beginning to the process of suffering. Biblical laments allow us to express our sorrow without losing our dignity as persons--something the "sickness" analogies of modern psychology disallow. "The pastoral work of nay-saying" stands clear in the book of Ecclesiastes. To those who think pastors must have tidy solutions for every problem, sweet assurances for every hurting heart, Ecclesiastes provides bracing prescriptions. Not all our wants will be supplied. Life is, inevitably, difficult. Miracles God may very well do, but not at our beck-and-call. Worship and godliness must never be reduced to feel-good experiences, more attuned to the worship of Baal than Jah¬weh. Finally, there's the "pastoral work of community-building" outlined in Esther. We're called to l

The title of this book is somewhat misleading. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that the various chapters are a pastoral tour through the Megilloth, the five short books that are read at five of the Jewish annual religious observances. This book by its very nature necessitates an emphasis on practical pastoral application. The various books of the Megilloth are studied insofar as they contribute to this emphasis. The Song of Solomon directs our congregations in prayer and praise, Ruth reminds them that they are part of God's ongoing story, Lamentations speaks to them in their pain, Ecclesiastes speaks to a life of wisdom (in page 154 a late date is accepted for the writing of this book for which Solomon has no part), and Esther is said to speak to community-building. Peterson still seems to have the same chip on his shoulder that was expressed in his book "Working the Angles." In his introduction he states his opinion that Christian writers of the 20th century have little to commend themselves in assisting in the development of the pastoral craft. One wonders if this lack of commendation also applies to his writings, or only to everyone else's. Once he enters the body of his subject, he succeeds in finding pastoral applications to the five books of the Megilloth. At the same time, he seems to take no pastoral responsibility for the growth of a church, instead claiming that "congregations are large when there is social approval to be part of a religious establishment, small when there is not" (Page 209). Perhaps he has not read Carl George's book. This books succeeds in reminding us to use these and other books of the Bible in the work of shepherding; to always connect such study to the congregation. Or as Peterson puts it: "After the Bible, the church roll is the most important book in the pastor's study" (Page 48).

Eugene Peterson does not call us to practical ministry. He offers much more, a pastoral theology. In this particular volume he digs into several Old Teatament texts and encourages pastors to engage the work of Prayer-Directing, Story-Making, Pain-Sharing, Nay-Saying, and Community-Building. These themes have the capability of reigniting that inner passion for ministry and restoring that God-given youthful vision to the pastor who has become worn down from trying to run the church as a business. This book should be in the library of every pastor.

Eugene Peterson is my mentor's mentor, and has become mine as well. His insight and mastery at the art of crafting words makes all of his books easy, enjoyable and highly challanging resources for spiritual formation, especially for the pastor. In Five Smooth Stones, Peterson challanges us as pastors to lead our people through five somewhat obsure books of the Old Testament. These five books, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Ruth and Esther are wonderful tools for discovering some of the most important elements of Christian community. In Song of Solomon, Peterson illuminates the challanges for us to seek intimacy in our personal relationships - but most of all intimacy with our God through prayer. In Lamentations, we are led to give validity to suffering. We are challenged to live out the full scope of suffering with each other in the midst of community, ultimatly being fully dependant upon the God who sustains us.In Ecclesiastes, everything under the sun/Son is given meaning and time.In Ruth, our commitments to community and to each other are emphasised. The power of going beyond what is required or expected are powerful tools that God uses to build true community, and even bring forth Messiah.Esther is the call to community through taking risks for the sake of God's people, realizing that God would raise up another, if we choose not to not be a part of God's plan.I have used this book as a primary resource for preaching these texts. As a pastor of a small rural church, and having worked in large suburban churches, I highly recomend this powerful resource to all who want to grow in spiritual depth and Christian community.