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The Spirit of the Lord

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Title: The Spirit of the Lord


1
The Spirit of the Lord
  • Second Isaiah
  • Chapters 40 53 NRS
  • by Prophets
  • Jeff Goettemoeller
  • Br. Christopher Onuoha
  • The Nahumites

2
The Spirit of the Lord
  • Three traditions of spirit of the Lord in Isaiah
  • Pre-Exilic Tradition
  • Exilic Tradition
  • Post-Exilic Tradition

Deutero-Isaiah
3
Concept of Spirit in the Ancient Near East
  • Hebrew ruah
  • Greek pneuma
  • Properly speaking, means wind or breath,
    denoting either destructive power or
    life/creation.
  • Mesopotamian and Ugaritic texts emphasize wind
    as a divine weapon or powerful storm.
  • Egyptians emphasize wind as life more than
    power

From Nikolai Dotzek's http//www.op.dlr.de/
pa4p/
4
Concept of Spirit in the Ancient Near East
  • xWr ruwach roo'-akh
  • Meaning
  • wind, breath, mind, spirit
  • 2) breath of air
  • 3) air, gas
  • spirit (as that which breathes quickly in
    animation or agitation)
  • (KJV)

www.sasc.com.au/ photo_gallery.htm
5
Concept of Spirit in the Old Testament
  • Ruah occurs 378 times in the Old Testament
  • These can be divided into three roughly equal
    groups
  • It is used to denote wind or breath of air
  • It is used for the force that vivifies man
    principle of life/breath, the seat of
    knowledge and feeling
  • It indicates the life of God Himself, the force
    by which He acts causes action at the physical
    spiritual levels
  • Ruah-breath is not disincarnate, rather it
    animates the body
  • It opposed to the flesh the purely earthly
    reality of man which is weak corruptible.

6
Concept of Spirit in the Old Testament
Genesis 12 NAB The earth was a formless
wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while
a mighty wind swept over the waters. NIV Now
the earth was 2 Or possibly became formless and
empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over
the waters. NRS The earth was a formless void
and darkness covered the face of the deep, while
a wind from God1 swept over the face of the
waters. ynEåP.-l v,xoßw Whboêw" Whto
ht'îyh' r,a'ªh'w WTT Genesis 12 yIM")h
ynEïP.-l tp,x,Þrm. yhiêla/ xWråw Aht.
7
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • Leadership Spirit
  • Prophetic Spirit
  • Creation Spirit
  • Spirit as Gods independent agent
  • Spirit as part of Gods person
  • Spirit as practically a substitute for God

8
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • Leadership Spirit
  • Who receives it?
  • The Judges (Judg. 216)
  • Present Kings (1 Sam. 101)
  • Future kings/leaders (Is. 111)
  • the 70 elders (Num. 1125)
  • Function
  • Authenticates Charismatic Leadership
  • Equips the recipient for Leadership

Anointing of Saul Pitts Theology
Library http//www.pitts.emory.edy
9
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • Prophetic Spirit
  • Prophetic activity as a sign of the
  • presence of the divine spirit
  • Prophetic activity manifest in non-prophetic
    figures, e.g. Saul (1 Sam 105,10-11)
  • The prophetic activity proves the presence of the
    Spirit
  • The Spirit in turn authenticates Gods selection
    of this person
  • The spirit coming upon actual prophets (1 Sam.
    1010)

I am a prophet!!!
Pumped-up prophet www.compaid.fi/svenska/
prophet.html
10
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • Creation Spirit
  • Thought to be a later development, examples
  • The creating wind or spirit in Gen 12 (Priestly
    source)
  • Restoration of the nation, prosperity, peace (Is.
    3215-20)
  • This spirit is given to individuals, communities,
    nations, or the land.

11
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • Spirit as Gods independent agent
  • Spirit functions as an independent entity,
    loosely associated with God, for example
  • 1) The spirit with personality (The courtier in 1
    Kings 2219)
  • Angels as Gods agents may have developed from
    this usage.
  • 2) The spirit without personality, as with the
    wind (Ex 158 Zech. 46)

12
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • As part of Gods person or sign of His
  • presence
  • The spirit as an extension of Gods personality,
    though not directly identified with God.
  • Often indicated by anthropomorphism
  • 1) Is. 31.3 Comparing Egyptian horses with the
    Spirit of God
  • 2) Is. 3416b Parallelism of the Mouth of the
    Lord and His Spirit
  • 3) Is. 4013 Gods wisdom associated with His
    spirit

13
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in the Old
Testament
  • As practically a substitute for God
  • Probably a later development, along with the
  • emphasis of Gods transcendence over humanity
  • Spirit of Yahweh virtually synonymous with
    you, referring to God.
  • May be related to the Deuteronomic use of other
    names to avoid direct reference to God.
  • Example Is. 637-19

14
Functions of Spirit of the Lord in Isaiah
  • Blessing on the restored community (3215-20
    441-4)
  • Selecting empowering the future leader
    (111-3a 286 421-4)
  • Purification of the remnant (44)
  • Ushering in of the new age

15
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in Pre-Exilic
Isaiah
  • Spirit as part of Gods substance -- an attribute
    of God (313)
  • Leadership spirit superhuman attribute granted
    to chosen human vessels (111-3 2865-6)
  • Spirit as a divine agent wisdom, understanding,
    justice (112-3 286)
  • Prophetic Spirit (301)

16
Characteristics of Spirit of the Lord in
Pre-Exilic Isaiah
  • Refinement/Spiritualization
  • Wisdom connection
  • Exclusiveness
  • Eschatological connection

17
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in Exilic Isaiah
  • Creation Spirit
  • Leadership Spirit
  • (421-4)
  • Spirit as practically a
  • substitute for God (3416 4013)

The Babylonian Exile of the Jews
www.songofazrael.org/ whoisazrael.html
18
Spirit of the Lord as Agent of Creation
  • Strong and rich creation tradition in Mesopotamia
    may have influenced this development.
  • Three rich facets of creation distinguished
  • Initial creation (4013 cf. Gen. 12)
  • Re-creation (4316 cf. Ezek. 36)
  • Prosperity, in physical and spiritual senses
    (3215 441-5)
  • In all the stages the spirit of God plays
  • a definite role.

19
Creation Spirit (1)
  • Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as
    his counselor has instructed him? (Is 4013)
  • Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a
    path in the mighty waters (Is 4316)
  • But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I
    have chosen! 2Thus says the Lord who made you,
    who formed you in the womb and will help you Do
    not fear, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I
    have chosen. 3For I will pour water on the
    thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground I
    will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my
    blessing on your offspring. 4 They shall spring
    up like a green tamarisk, like willows by flowing
    streams. 5This one will say, "I am the Lord's,"
    another will be called by the name of Jacob, yet
    another will write on the hand, "The Lord's," and
    adopt the name of Israel (441-5)

20
Leadership Spirit (2) (421-4)
  • The spirit upon the Servant has more spiritual
    emphasis.
  • Functions along the typical idea of leadership
  • to reinforce God's election
  • to enable the Servant to accomplish the given
    task.
  • The task, however, is more prophet-like than
    kingly.

21
Spirit Almost Substitutes for God (3) (3416
4013)
  • These texts bring the idea of the divine ruah a
    step closer to God's personhood
  • the spirit works as Gods direct agent, almost
    replacing Him.
  • This contrasts with other texts where the
    spirit is always directed to a person (421-4)
    or group of people (3213-15 441-5).

22
Other Traditions?
  • Not every tradition is present or reshaped by
    exilic theologians, e.g. there is no reference to
    ruah as the source of prophetic inspiration in
    the Exilic era.

23
Characteristics of Spirit of the Lordin Exilic
Isaiah
  • Generally, there is a reinterpretation of old
    tradition
  • Further refinement
  • Democratization of the Divine Spirit
  • Creation/recreation/life/prosperity emerges
    (3215 441-5 3416)
  • More active and direct eschatological role

24
Exilic Further refinement
  • Exilic tradition Becomes highly advanced. No
    violent manifestation. But!
  • As in old tradition, The spirit will equip the
    Servant to succeed, and, this time, to endure
    hardships.
  • The ideal society is realized in the restored
    community with all having Yahweh's ruah.
  • In the old tradition Ruah-endowed Servant
    experiences violent charismatic manifestations.
  • Justice righteousness (Is. 111-5 286)
  • continues in the role of the spirit

25
Exilic Further refinement
  • The Servant who is spirit-equipped is described
    as gentle and compassionate.
  • An entirely different picture which contrasts
    with the portrait of Cyrus (4428-454) who is
    described as a successful military man not having
    Gods ruah.
  • Creation of fruitful land is directly attributed
    to the coming of ruah (3215).

26
Exilic Democratization of the divine spirit
  • The emphasis is on the community not the
    individuals.
  • The coming of the divine spirit may find its
    precedence in the 70 elders (Num. 1117, 25, 26)
    some prophetic guilds (1 Sam. 1010, 1920-21),
    nowhere is an entire nation viewed as having the
    outpouring of the divine spirit.

27
Exilic Creation/recreation/life/prosperity
(3215 441-5 3416)
  • The spirit's involvement in Yahweh's creation,
    particularly of the nation, shows an intense
    theological activity during the exilic period.
  • Creation tradition frequently associated with
    water imagery. Water is viewed as an
    indispensable element for prosperity.
  • This may indicate the state of exilic Judahite
    theology which becomes stable enough to free
    itself from the negative image of the chaotic
    water in the Babylonian myths.

28
Exilic Eschatological Role more active direct
  • Coming of the ruah of God is promised
    unconditionally to members of the restored
    community in the new age (3215-20 441-5)
  • Endowment of spirit a completed event, but full
    effect moved to the future (Is 421-4).
  • Until the spirit from on high is poured out on
    us. Then will the desert become an orchard and
    the orchard be regarded as a forest. 16Right will
    dwell in the desert and justice abide in the
    orchard. 17Justice will bring about peace right
    will produce calm and security. 18 My people will
    live in peaceful country, in secure dwellings and
    quiet resting places. (Is 3215-18)

29
Other features Ruah as divine being
  • In 3416 4013 Ruah of Yahweh represents
    divine being. The presence of ruah is the
    presence of Yahweh
  • Who has directed the spirit of the Lord, or as
    his counselor has instructed him? (Is 4013)

30
Spirit of the Lord Traditions in Post-Exilic
Isaiah
  • Prophetic/Leadership Spirit (611 637-14)
  • Spirit as practically substitute for God
    (6310-14)
  • The Spirit as Gods impersonal agent

31
Prophetic/Leadership Spirit (611 637-14)
  • Post-Exilic tradition contain several of the
    spirit traditions. The most obvious emphasis is
    on the prophetic phenomenon generally and
    specifically on the prophetic spirit.
  • The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because
    the LORD has anointed me he has sent me to bring
    good news to the oppressed, to bind up the
    brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
    captives, and release to the prisoners (Is 611)

32
Prophetic/Leadership Spirit (611 637-14)
  • Absence of ecstatic form of revelation
  • The prophet claims ruah of Yahweh is upon him
    thru the anointing of God, no reference to dream
    and vision (611) The leadership spirit.
  • So a prophet is more than a prophet preacher,
    messenger healer, spiritual leader.

33
Prophetic/Leadership Spirit (611 637-14)
  • He is a powerful messenger of God who is going to
    usher in the new age thru the ruah of God.
  • Purpose has pastoral motif, since the prophet
    addresses a community that lacks a political
    leader.
  • The ref. is now to spiritual power not to
    physical or military might.

34
Spirit as substitute for God (6310-14)
  • Spirit continues to represent God himself in
    terms of his power his caring nature, but not
    in his fullness.
  • Why???
  • This representation reflects a theological
    emphasis of the P-E era the transcendence of
    Yahweh.
  • Westermann argues the deepest break in
    historical meaning is that Gods activity
    becomes an activity of or activity thru the
    spirit.

35
Spirit as substitute for God (6310-14)
  • Direct ref to God or Yahweh in Exodus is
    replaced by his holy spirit in Is 6310-14. Its
    full development is seen in NT.
  • But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit
    therefore he became their enemy he himself
    fought against them (6310). Like cattle that go
    down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD gave
    them rest (Is 6314a).

36
Spirit as Gods impersonal agent
  • Traditionally, spirit functions mainly as the
    means of Gods operation upon individuals and
    nations.
  • The ruah of God is often viewed as an impersonal
    force or power to execute Gods judgment, similar
    to how the wind' is used to execute God's
    judgment (Is 5713). It is the wind that will
    carry the idols off.
  • When you cry out, let your collection of idols
    deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a
    breath will take them away. But whoever takes
    refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit
    my holy mountain (Is. 5713).

37
Spirit as Gods impersonal agent
  • Missing in the Post-Exilic Isaiah tradition is
    the spirit of God as a life-giving force, in
    significant contrast to exilic tradition where
    the creative work of the spirit of God appears
    with strong emphasis.

38
Characteristics of Spirit inPost-Exilic Isaiah
  • Continuing refinement
  • Assumption of qualifying concepts
  • Eschatological connection p.155
  • Democratization
  • Pastoral contexts
  • Loose application of the term.

39
Continuing refinement
  • Fewer refs to the violent effect of ruah. Even
    the prophet's declaration of the spirit of Yahweh
    upon himself has no violent effects.
  • This contrasts with early notion where
  • 1) the judges are given physical might and
    military strength (Judg. 634 1325)
  • 2) the prophetic spirit is violent and ecstatic
    (1 Sam. 106).
  • In the context of judgment, the decisiveness and
    power of the spirit is the main emphasis e.g.
    rushing wind imagery (5919) the powerful
    verb take away is used in 572 for the judgment
    on the idols.

40
Qualifying concepts
  • Some attributes of God were applied to the spirit
    of Yahweh, e.g. his righteousness and justice
    (42-6).
  • the spirit of God in past era has a qualifying
    word which indicates its function not its
    nature, e.g. lying spirit, sleeping spirit (Is
    1914), evil spirit from Yahweh (1 Sam 1614).
  • For the 1st time, the holiness of Yahweh is
    extended to his spirit, which is his real
    presence (6310, 11). This accompanies a greater
    sense of Gods transcendence.

41
Eschatological Connection
  • From the exilic period onward the vital role of
    the ruah of Yahweh in the coming age becomes a
    more prominent tradition.
  • Functions of spirit of Yahweh in the new age
  • Ezekiel's witness to the renewal of the moral
    life
  • the ruah of God as power that transforms nature
    (Is. 3215)
  • the spirit guiding the people in the exodus (Is.
    6311-14)
  • the spirit abiding in the midst of the new
    community (Hag. 25)
  • enabling Zerubbabel to overcome all difficulties
    in the building of the new temple (Zech. 46)

42
Eschatological connection
  • General outpouring of the prophetic spirit in the
    new age (Joel 228-29).
  • Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all
    flesh your sons and your daughters shall
    prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and
    your young men shall see visions (Joel 228).
  • This coming new age is brought about by the same
    spirit of God (611 cf. 3215).

43
Effects of ruah reveal a substantial
difference in E P-E traditions
  • Exilic characteristics
  • Agricultural prosperity (3215-20) and almost
    mythical description of the transformation of the
    natural world (444)
  • Post-Exilic characteristics
  • The effect is more spiritualized.

44
Limited Democratization
  • Characterizes development of ruah concept during
    the exilic and postexilic periods. This meant
  • In ancient time, the spirit of God was given
    exclusively to a limited number of leaders (Moses
    and other leaders, 6311).
  • The prophetic spirit is also given to a selected
    individual (61.1).
  • Yet the coming age is envisaged as a time when
    every descendant of the prophet is given the
    prophetic spirit of Yahweh (5921).
  • The intimate closeness between God his prophets
    his people is part of Israel's eschatological
    expectations in the early restoration period.

45
Pastoral Contexts
  • In Third Isaiah the use of spirit of Yahweh was
    to meet the pastoral need of the suffering and
    frustrated community.

46
Loose Application of ruah
  • Ruah is used widely to include heavenly
    creatures. There seems to be a loose
    interchangeability between the spirit and angels
    or heavenly beings.
  • This tendency began in the exilic period in
    Ezekiel.
  • In the Isaianic exilic tradition it is absent.

47
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament
  • The Holy Spirit is not
  • The dove
  • Wind
  • Water
  • Anointing/Oil
  • Fire
  • Cloud Light
  • The finger
  • The hand
  • The seal
  • So what are these?
  • Symbols/Images
  • The Holy Spirit is
  • A Person
  • God
  • Spouse of Mother Mary
  • Advocate/Companion
  • Sanctifier
  • Revealer

48
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament Images of
the Holy Spirit

49
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament
Holy Spirit is portrayed as a divine
person/character in Lukan narrative
  • speaks (Acts 1164251019-20),
  • gives utterance (Acts 24),
  • forbids (Acts 166-7),
  • testifies (Acts 20230,
  • oversees (Acts 2028)
  • He
  • reveals (226),
  • inspires (227),
  • leads (41),
  • teaches (1212),

50
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament
  • Jesus Christ revealed the identity of the Spirit
    as the 3rd Person of the Trinity
  • Holy Spirit the Life-Giving principle
  • The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
    of the Most High will over- shadow you (Lk 135)

51
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament
The Spirit rested on Jesus
If I do not go the Spirit will not come
Jesus gave up His Spirit
52
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament
  • Jesus came to Nazarethand he went to the
    synagogue on the sabbath dayHe stood up to
    read,17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was
    given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found
    the place where it was written 18 "The Spirit of
    the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to
    proclaim release to the captives and recovery of
    sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
    19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Lk
    416-19 cf Is 611)

53
Spirit of the Lord in New Testament
  • Jesus reveals the Holy Spirit
  • "If you love meI will ask the Father, and He
    will give you another Advocate, the Spirit of
    Truth to be with you forever (Jn 1415-16)
  • If I do not go away, the Advocate will not come
    to you but if I go, I will send Him to you (Jn
    167)

54
P E N T E C O S T
Then there appeared to them tongues As of
fireand they were all filled With the Holy
Spirit (Acts 23,4)
55
The Holy Spirit
  • Third Person of the Blessed Trinity
  • Equal to the Father the Son
  • He gives seven gifts (the Isaiah gifts)
  • What are they?
  • Wisdom Understanding
  • Counsel Fortitude
  • Knowledge Fear of the Lord
  • Piety

56
Holy Spirit in the Church
  • Holy Spirit the Origin of the Church
  • Holy Spirit the life of the Church
  • Holy Spirit the Sacraments
  • Holy Spirit in the Nicene Creed
  • He proceeds from the Father the Son
  • He is Lord and Giver of Life

57
Holy Spirit in the Church
  • The earthly form structure of the Church of
    Christ is sacramental (mystical body)
  • So ?????????
  • How does on enter the Church?
  • How is one sustained as a Christian?
  • What Feast in the Church is dedicated to the
    Third Person of the Trinity?

58
Pragmatics/Discussion
  • Feast of Pentecost
  • 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time Year A
  • 1st Reading Is 495-6Baptism of the Lord Year
    ABC
  • 1st Reading 421-4, 4-7
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