Hebrew Scripture Theology

The lines running back into earlier themes was also much in evidence. The nature of God’s self-revelation which by definition must also include a withholding (e.g., the giving of the divine name in Exodus 3, or the disclosure of the “back” but not the “face” in Exodus 33-34) provides one obvious connection to Week 3. The physicality of “presence”, whether in institutions or symbols, or with some encounter with the ineffable, runs back towards questions of the “omni’s”, and omnipresence in particular (and the “Attributes” of Week 4). Not much explored yesterday, but looming in Week 7, is the impact of sin and rebellion on relationship with God as reflected on in the HB/OT.

Largely, however, it seems the discussion could be summed up with the ellipsis, “Presence and...”: and glory (Exodus 33)? and liturgy (Psalm 50; 81; etc.!)? and promise (Genesis 28:10-22)? and morality (Isaiah 6)? and accessibility (Jeremiah 23:23-24)? and ... presence (Exodus 40:34-38; 1 Kings 8:10-11, 27). Each of these suggests a different trajectory into the various branches of “systematic theology”.

Typically, I am left feeling that we could have constructed the entire course around this single theme. As you reflect on this topic, again be sure to get stuck into particular texts, and assess their contribution to the theme as a “whole”: we must be both “splitters” and “clumpers”!

DjR