Dear HRBC Family, 

Think back for a moment to a time when you were a student in school or even college. Was there a teacher who took time to encourage you? Maybe they helped you when you were struggling, noticed a special ability in you, or captured your mind like no other teacher had done before. I can think of several teachers who made a difference in my life. One of them was Dr. Samuel Balentine, one of my seminary professors at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR). Dr. Balentine passed away on June 19^th of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis  (IPF) and will be sorely missed. Here are some thoughts to share with you as I reflect on his life . . . 

Dr. Sam Balentine taught Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew (among other courses) at BTSR. During first year, I took his Old Testament Survey class. The next year, I took Biblical Hebrew. Both classes were among the most difficult for me in all of seminary. However, they were among my favorite, especially Hebrew. I still use it in my sermon preparation and study. Dr. Balentine asked a lot of his students. But for all he asked of us, he gave much, much more. And, on Fridays, after a week of memorizing Hebrew to English and English to Hebrew, and translating scripture out loud in front of everyone, he would offer us this blessing as class ended: Shabbot Shalom. It’s the highest blessing in the Hebrew tradition which wishes someone a peaceful and restful sabbath.  

During our study of the Psalms, Dr. Balentine helped us to become friends with the “lament” tradition through passages like Psalm 22 which Jesus himself quoted as he suffered on Calvary’s cross. The psalms of lament have a “form” to them which enables us to engage with God in our sufferings even when we feel that God is far from us. Dr. Balentine reminded us that in the lament Psalms, there is most always a “vow to praise” God. It’s a way that we are able to give God the victory rather than allow suffering to have the final word. An example of the vow to praise is found in Psalm 71, one of the laments . . . 

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, 

    of your saving acts all day long— 

    though I know not how to relate them all. 

¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; 

    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 

¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me, 

    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 

¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray, 

    do not forsake me, my God, 

till I declare your power to the next generation, 

    your mighty acts to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:15-18, NIV) 

We might say that lament is a journey. In his book, Prayer in the Hebrew Bible, Dr. Balentine quotes German theologian, Claus Westermann (1909-2000), who said that lament is always “on the road to praise.” (Balentine, p. 201)  

Here is a basic outline of the form of the lament psalms: 

1. Address to God. A cry for help – Psalm 71:2 

2. Complaint. A description of the problem – Psalm 71:10-11 

3. Confession of trust. An expression of confidence in God despite one’s circumstances. Often this will include reflection of God’s help in the past. – Psalm 71:3-4 

4. Petition. A specific appeal from God for intervention and deliverance. – Psalm 71:9, 12 

5. Words of Assurance. An expression of certainty that God heard the request. – Psalm 71:19-21 

6. Vow to Praise. A vow to testify to the name of God for what has been done. – Psalm 71:15-18 

Dr. Balentine suffered much over the past several years with IPF. Yet, IPF did not get the final word. He is now free, for he has crossed from death to life. If you’d like to read his obituary, visit https://affinityfuneralservice.com/obituaries/samuel-eugene-balentine/. Additionally, I talked about Dr. Balentine on YouTube in my Friday Pastor’s Devotional on June 28^th.     

Thank you for taking time to join in my remembering Dr. Balentine. I hope that this prompts you to think of one of your teachers, to remember their influence on you, and to say, “thank you.”   

Shabbat Shalom,