The Suffering of God Who Is This Old

The Suffering of God Who Is This Old Testament God?

The Suffering of God – Session 5 God in Human Form* *Titles & Subtitles for all slides are from THE SUFFERING OF GOD

Opening Prayer – BCP (p. 214) Second Sunday after Christmas Day O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God in Human Form Theophany

Theophany Fretheim’s aims in this section Demonstrate that theophanies involved the appearance of God in a human form Show that this aspect of a theophany was important for God to be able to accomplish God’s purposes General comments Theophanies appear to serve a great need for an individual or a community Usually divided into 2 types God as divine warrior (Ps. 97) God as messenger or “bearer of the word”

Theophany “Theophanies of God as Bearer of the Word” are the focus here (p. 81) Many variations (p. 81) “Simple announcement” (Gen. 12: 7) Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and 19) said, “To your “Complex narrative” (Exod. offspring I will give this land. ” Liturgical setting and language (Ps. 50: 1 -7) The mighty one, God the LORD, speaks and summons the Accompaniments earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfectionof of beauty, forth. Our God 12: 5) comes and Pillars cloud. God or shines smoke (Num. does beforeinhim is a of devouring fire, stood and a Then not the keep LORDsilence, came down a pillar cloud, and at Fire (Exod. 3: 2) mighty tempest all around him. He Aaron calls toand the Miriam; heavensand above the entrance of the tent, and called There the angel the he LORD appeared him in “Gather a flame to of me and the earth, of that may judge his to people: they to both came forward. God’s glory (Num. 14: 10) fire of a ones, bush; who he looked, the bush was yet myout faithful made aand covenant with meblazing, by sacrifice!” congregation threatened tofor stone them. it. But wasthe notwhole consumed. The heavens declare his righteousness, God himself 19: 16) is Weather or other phenomena (Exod. Then glory ofofthe LORD appeared at the tent ofand lightning, On thethe morning the third day there was thunder judge. “Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will meeting toaallthick the cloud Israelites. as well as on the mountain, and a blast of a testify against you. amthe God, yourwho God. were in the camp trumpet so loud that. Iall people trembled.

Theophany Recognition that God has appeared may occur at the time (Gen. 35: 9) or after theophany (Jud. 13: 16) God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him. The angel of the LORD to Manoah, “If you detain me I will not Characteristics ofsaid theophanies eat your food; but if you want to prepare a burnt offering, then offer it Temporary (Exod. 24: 11) to the LORD. ” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of God didat not. God’s lay his discretion hand on the chief men of the people of the. Occur LORD. ) Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank. In worship (Exod. 29: 42 -43) Inshall judgment (Ps. burnt 50: 3 -4) It be a regular offering throughout your generations at the entrance of keep the tent of meeting Our God(Gen. comes and does not silence, before him is a Effective 21: 17) the LORD, fire, where I will meet tempest with you, all toaround speak to you. He calls devouring and a mighty him. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called “God to uses an appearance to carry out a wide there. I will meet with the Israelites there, and it shall be the heavens above and to the earth, thattroubles he may you, judge his to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What sanctified by my glory. people: spectrum ofnot activities thethe people; Hagar? Do be afraid; foramong God has heard voice of the boy whereand he is. deeds are forthcoming which make words a difference in life. ” (p. 83)

Theophany Results of theophanies Knowledge (Exod. 33: 12 -17) Moses way said toto the be LORD, have (Gen. said to me, ‘Bring up New in “See, the you world 17: 5 -8) thislonger people’; butyour youname have not let me know whom youshall will send No shall be Abram, but your name be New names with me. Yet have said, know you by of name, and you Abraham; for I you have made you‘I the ancestor a multitude ofhave New children also found favor in my Now iffruitful; I have and found favor in your nations. I will make yousight. , ’ exceedingly I will make sight, show meand your ways, so that I may you find favor Redemption & reconciliation (Exod. 3: 7 -10) nations of you, kings shall come fromknow you. I willand establish my in your sight. Consider tooyou, thatand thisyour nation is yourafter people. , ” covenant between me and offspring you He Then said, will “I have observed the. I misery ofyou my rest. ” people said, the “My. LORD presence go with and will give throughout their generations, foryou, an everlasting covenant, to be who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their And to heyou saidand to him, “If your presence will not go, I will do not us God to your offspring after you. And givecarry to you, taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, I have come up from here. For how shall it be thatand I you have found and to your offspring after you, theknown land where are nowfavor an down to deliver themyour frompeople, the Egyptians, andgotowith bring them up out in your sight I and unless you us? In this alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be ofway, that we landshall to abe good and broad land, people, a land flowing with people milk and distinct, I and your from every their God. ” honey, the of country of the. The Canaanites, theto. Hittites, Amorites, on thetoface the earth. ” LORD said Moses, the “I will do the Perizzites, Hivites, and thefor Jebusites. cryfavor of the very thing thatthe you have asked; you have The found in my Israelites has now come me; I have also seen how the Egyptians sight, and I know you bytoname. ” oppress them.

Visible Words The word in combination with the visual aspects of theophany contribute to the effectiveness of theophany As enfleshed word, theophany is sacramental Visual aspects of theophany make a difference even in biblical texts Appearances of God to Solomon (1 Kings 11: 9 -11) Then the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had God has spoken to Solomon at other times turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had (1 Kingsto 6: 11) appeared him twice, and had commanded him concerning this matter, heof should not follow gods; but he did not Visual appearances areother ones recalled Now thethat word the LORD came tothe Solomon. observe what the LORD commanded. Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant.

Visible Words “These phenomena affirm that the Word of God is not intended solely for minds or spirits, but for the whole person. Bodies are as much involved in relationships as are minds. ” (p. 86)

Visible Words Impact of visual can be seen in types of theophanies Person becomes aware that it is God who has appeared only after the fact (Gen. 16: 13 -14) Leads to naming of special place So she named the LORD who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”; for she Recognition that God has is delayed, but said, “Have I really seen God andappeared remained alive after seeing him? ” occurs (Josh. it 5: 13 -15) Thereforeduring the wellthe wastheophany called Beer-lahai-roi; lies between Kadesh “Place [of appearance] is made ground” and Bered. Once when Joshua was by Jericho, heholy looked up and (p. saw 87) a man And he require dreamed that there was a sword ladder on the earth, the People signs to verify thatinset God has appeared standing before him with a drawn hisuphand. Joshua oftoit him reaching to 6: 14 -18) heaven; God wereof our totop them (Judges went and said to him, and “Arethe youangels one ofofus, or one Then the LORD turned towithout him said, “Go inthere thisstood might ofthe yours ascending and descending onand it. rebuke And the beside adversaries? ” He replied, “Neither; but as LORD commander of And heprovided said, “Hear my words: When are prophets Signs are and deliver Israel from the handcome. ” of Midian; hereby him and said, “Iyou, am LORD, the God of IAbraham your army ofamong the LORD IIthe have now And Joshua fell onfather hisin the LORD make myself knowncommission to them God’s appearance and signs are not viewed as you. ” He responded, “But sir, canand I deliver My and the God of IIsaac; the landhow on which you lie Ihim, will give you face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to. Israel? “What do visions; speak to them in dreams. Not so with mytoclan extraordinary, but seeing God living are seen as isand the in. Moses; Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. ” toweakest your offspring; extraordinary you command your servant, my lord? ” The commander of. With the servant he is entrusted with all my house. The LORD to him, “to But I will be“Remove with not you, in and you shall army ofhim thesaid Joshua, the sandals from I LORD speak face to face—clearly, riddles; and he God appears in asaid dream or vision (Gen. 28: 12 -13) strike down the Midianites, one of them. ” Then he. Joshua said to your feet, for the place where you stand is holy. ” And 35: 1) beholds the form of every theas LORD. Later recounted simply appearance (Gen. him, “If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign did. Direct so. appearance mayme. be (Num. that it. God is you who speak “Arise, with Do depart and from here 12: 6 -8) until I said to Jacob, godistinguished up not to Bethel, settle there. come. Make to you, my God present, set it before an and altarbring thereout to the whoand appeared to youyou. ” when And you he said, “I willyour stay brother until you. Esau. ” return. ” fled from

Meteorological Phenomena Varieties Cloud Flame of fire (lightning) Glory Other forms Displays reflect or are reflected by liturgical practice Lev. 16: 2 Lev. 16: 12 -13 The LORD said to Moses; Tell your brother Aaron not to come He take a censer of coals of fire from the altar before justshall at any time into thefull sanctuary inside the curtain before thethe God uses aspects of creation in which to LORD, of crushed sweet incense, and heinshall mercy and seat two thathandfuls is upon the ark, or he will die; for I appear the bring insidethe themercy curtain and put the incense on the fire before the clouditupon seat. appear LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the covenant, or he will die.

Meteorological Phenomena Part of both “accompanying presence” & “tabernacling presence” Phenomena should not be confused with the God who appears and acts from within (Exod. 13: 21) The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead Give assurance to the people that God them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, is so present that theyassembled might travelthe bywhole day and by night. against them at the Then Korah congregation entrance of the tent that of meeting. And the glory of the LORD Make clear God’s presence not appeared to the whole congregation. The LORD spoke to Moses controlled by people and to Aaron, Main form of appearance of God to a community or group of people (Num. 16: 19 -20)

Meteorological Phenomena “The God-world relationship is of such a nature that God can appear without disruption. The intensity associated with certain theophanies does not happen because God stands in some fundamental disjunction with the world, requiring much ‘sound and fury’ to occur in God’s wake. Some of the most ‘face to face’ comings of God are very quiet. ” (p. 91)

Meteorological Phenomena Mosesone said, “Show your. God glory, I and pray. ” And he said, “I will make “No can me see live” all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the Issue not that seen name, ‘the LORD’; and IGod will becannot gracious tobe whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But, ” he said, “you Issue is whether one can live after having cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live. ” And the seen LORD continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a People do live to tell about their “seeing” cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have (Judg. 6: 22 -23) passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but. Gideon my shall beaseen. ” Then perceived that itconcern was the angel the LORD; God, and Issue offace sin is not toofprotect Gideon said, “Help me, Lord God! For I have seen the angel of but to protect human beings (Exod. 33: 18 the LORD face to face. ” But the LORD said to him, ”Peace be to 23) you; do not fear, you shall not die. ”

In Human Form “No theophanies which are There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire incompatible with appearance out of a bush; he looked andan the bush was blazing, yet in it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at human form” (p. 93) this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up. ” When Appearances human form the LORD saw thatin he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, as “Moses, And he said, “Here I am. ” God appears man. Moses!” or angel Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your Judg. 6: 11 -12 feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. ” may vary between a description ofat He Language said “I am the God ofcame your father, God Nowfurther, the angel of the LORD and satthe uner theofoak Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of man, angel or 18 -19) Abraham, thewhich God of God Isaac, (Gen. and the God Jacob. ” And Ophrah, belonged to Joash the of Abiezrite, as his. Moses son the face, eldersforofhe Israel up, they saw the God of Israel. hid his waswent afraid to and look atcloud, God. Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, hide it God appears shrouded by firetoor light Under his feet there was something like a pavement of from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him Exod. 3: 2 -6 sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. God did and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior. ” not lay his handison thethe chiefappearance men of the people of Israel; Phenomena not of God, butalso a they beheld God and they 14: 19) ate and drank. veiling of God (Exod. The angel form of Godmay who was going beforethrough the Israelite army Human be discerned the cloud moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved (Exod. 24: 9 -11) from in front of them and took its place behind them.

In Human Form Even “direct” appearances of God in human form are veiled appearances Appearances to the prophets God stands (Amos 7: 7) This is what he showed me; the Lord was standing beside a wall God sits (Isa. 6: 1) built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. In the puts year that Kinghis Uzziah died, (Jer. I saw the Lord sitting on a God out hand 1: 9) throne , high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Then the LORD put out his hand touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth.

Divine Vulnerability Form of theophany Introduction Statement of identification, e. g. , “I am Yahweh, the god of your fathers” (Gen. 26: 24) And that very night the LORD appeared to him of andfear said, “I(Gen. am Sometimes reassurance in face the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with 21: 17) you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant sake. ” And God. Abraham’s heard voice of the(Gen. boy; and 26: 24) the angel of God called Promise of the presence to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Word to appearance (Gen. 35: 11 Hagar? specific Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 12) Conclusion God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and Specific word is surrounded by other elements Kings shall spring from you. The land that I gave to Abraham thatand support the word Isaac I willthe give trustworthiness to you, and I will give theof land to your offspring after you. , ”

Divine Vulnerability God becomes vulnerable Through his word Through his presence Through the giving of his name Vulnerability of the word “While God continues to work on behalf of the word, it is now not only in God’s hands. The word is now in the world. It has been received by those who can misuse the word, can twist it toward ends not consonant with God’s purposes for it, and prevent it from having its intended effect. ” (pp. 98 -99)

Divine Vulnerability of presence People’s response may force God to withdraw or be present in a less intense form (1 Sam. 3: 1) Vulnerability of giving God’stoname Now the boy Samuel was ministering the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare into those days; God’s visions name were not Commandment specifically protect widespread. (Exod. 20: 7) You shall notnaming make wrongful of the name of the LORD your Why does createuse vulnerability? God, for–the LORD will nothave acquit anyone who misuses his name. Life Living beings names Distinctiveness – Names point to a specific individual Intimate relationship – Relationships between unnamed individuals are more superficial Availability – One can gain the attention of a named individual Historicality – God’s name links God with the history of a specific people

Human Form of God A God who speaks as he appears in a human form carries implications for human beings that merely speaking or believing is insufficient We must embody God’s Word In Scripture, “God appears” with no concern that this compromises God’s presence elsewhere “To ‘identify’ God and messenger would be misleading, but not because there is less than God present, but because there is more than God present. In the form which God assumes there is that which is other than God; the infinite takes on the finite for the sake of the appearance. ” (p. 103)

Human Form of God In opposition to scholars who believe that Israel came to an increasingly spiritualized theology, Fretheim says the biblical text suggests otherwise Anthropomorphic images of God are used throughout the text Von Rad reads the creation story (Gen. 1: 26) as giving humans a theomorphic form instead of people giving God an anthropomorphic form Reflects late Israelite theology Then God “Let us humankind our image, according Part ofsaid, reason tomake forbid imagesinof God is that God to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, can only be represented as a living being and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping that creeps upon the earth. ”

Human Form of God “empties himself, and lays by the form of divinity; he humbles himself and assumes the form of man” (W. Vischer as quoted by Fretheim, p. 105) Compare with Phil. 2: 6 -8 Christ Jesus, who, though he was the form of God, didmight not regard “However transient theinappearances be, equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, herein is exemplified how God has made the taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being human situation God’s himself own…. God shows that found in human form, he humbled and became obedient to God chooses to share ina the point of death—even death on cross. human condition; God participates in human history. In fact, the promise of presence commonly associated with theophany indicates that God’s intimate involvement in human history is not confined to the moment of theophany. ” (p. 105)

Human Form of God “It is revealing of the ways of God that the word is enfleshed in bodies of weakness within the framework of commonplace, everyday affairs, and not in overwhelming power. ” (p. 106)

Bibliography The Book of Common Prayer (1979). The Seabury Press. Fretheim, Terence E. (1984). The Suffering of God. Philadelphia: Fortress Press. Slide design template. Microsoft Office Online. http: //office. microsoft. com/en -us/templates/CT 011377381033. aspx (18 Sep. 2005)