Developing an Argument – Start with the Intro

You can't really write your introduction til you've figured out where your talk is heading. Here are two possible starters for my talk on Deuteronomy 4. We'll talk in class about which one works best, and why…

INTRODUCTION VERSION 1

Words or Pictures?
Mounted above the doorways around the US Library of Congress, which has got to be one of the great libraries of the world, there's a series of FAMOUS QUOTATIONS. They're quotes by and large about the importance of BOOKS. And the POWER of WORDS.
One that particularly caught my eye said this. It turns out they're the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, though I'm sure SIMILAR THINGS have been said countless times before. But set above the massive marble doorway into the main hall of the library, you'll see this.

SHOW SLIDE

"Words are also ACTIONS. And ACTIONS are a KIND OF WORDS."
I dunno. It's kind of obvious. And yet CONFUSING at the same time. It's kind of the same as saying ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, or else maybe it's a BALANCE. Saying WORDS might in fact sometimes speak LOUDER THAN ACTIONS. That WORDS ACTUALLY IN THE END ARE… ACTIONS. With power. With consequences.
I mean, we know that, don't we. Sometimes, simply TO SPEAK is a PROFOUND ACTION ALL OF ITS OWN. And to say the WRONG WORD AT THE WRONG TIME can have DISASTROUS RESULTS. That change the WHOLE COURSE OF A FRIENDSHIP. The WHOLE COURSE OF A LIFE. OVERHEARD WORDS that you WISH YOU COULD TAKE BACK. But you can't. Or else WORDS THAT BRING HEALING. Or bring CLOSURE. Or bring PROMISE. Or SEAL A DEAL.
ACTIONS MIGHT SPEAK. BUT WORDS ACT. Because words are POWERFUL TOOLS.
How much MORESO if the WORDS… are the words of the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE who SPOKE THINGS INTO BEING. What are you going to DO with the WORDS of a GOD LIKE THAT? I mean, what if he didn't just speak CREATION WORDS at the beginning, but SPOKE SPECIFICALLY TO ONE NATION OF PEOPLE? What are they going to DO … with THOSE WORDS?

INTRODUCTION VERSION 2

Seen but not heard

In Victorian England it was often said that Children, like Domestic servants, should be SEEN, but NOT HEARD. In fact, not just VICTORIAN ENGLAND. When I was growing up, which was in an era SLIGHTLY LATER THAN THAT, when I was growing up and mum and dad were having a DINNER PARTY AT HOME, my younger sister and I were always BUSTING to be allowed to STAY UP. And be PART OF IT. At which point I would be reminded that we could stay up ON THE ONE CONDITION that we REMEMBERED THE RULES. We could HELP WITH SERVING THE CHRISTMAS DRINKS. We could even NIBBLE ON THE CASHEWS. But DON'T BUTT IN on the ADULT CONVERSATIONS. Children… should be SEEN BUT NOT HEARD. Which very much kept us in our place.

Well, children these days get it much better. But as we come to Deuteronomy this morning, Moses is keen to warn the people of Israel about the kind of idol worship that was ABSOLUTELY COMMON ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. That very conveniently let you MAKE YOURSELF A NON INTERFERING, NON SPEAKING GOD. A good looking god, as you carved out its features and you inlaid it with gold and propped him up in his temple. But WON'T TROUBLE YOU BY SPEAKING. Or TELLING YOU HOW TO LIVE. Domesticated gods. Which the bible calls IDOLS.

So here in Deuteronomy 4, we've got this interesting interplay. The decision before Israel as they STAND ON THE BRINK OF THE PROMISED LAND. The choice between their TRUE GOD… WHO SPEAKS BUT HAS NO FORM. Or the IDOLS. Who have FORM. But DO NOT SPEAK. The God who is HEARD BUT NOT SEEN. Or domesticated, well behaved and convenient idols. Who are SEEN… BUT NOT HEARD.

Show slide - map

If you were here last week, you'll remember that in Deuteronomy we're looking at the FINAL SPEECH FROM MOSES, Israel's great leader, who's brought the descendants of Abraham, the people of Israel, out of SLAVERY in Egypt, who's brought them to Mount HOREB where God's given them his law, who's LED THEM THE ELEVEN DAY JOURNEY to Kadesh Barnea, where they sent SPIES INTO THE PROMISED LAND. And when the GOD WHO SPEAKS SAYS TO THEM, I'm GIVING YOU THE LAND, GO IN AND TAKE IT… they say, WE CAN'T, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THERE ARE TOO BIG.