Professor Brueggemann here examines the literature and experience of an era in which Israel s prophets faced the pastoral responsibility of helping people to enter into exile to be in exile and to depart out of exile. He addresses three major prophetic traditions: Jeremiah (the pathos of God) Ezekiel (the holiness of God) and 2 Isaiah (the newness of God). This literature is seen to contain the theological resources for handling both brokenness and surprise -- with freedom courage and imagination. Throughout Brueggemann demonstrates how these resources offer vitality for ministry today.