Yahweh

   

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YAHWEH

I. DEITY AMONG THE SEMITES

1. The evolution of Hebrew theology embraced five concepts of Deity:

1. Yahweh.
2. El Elyon.
3. El Shaddai.
4. El.
5. Elohim. (1052.5) 96:1.2

2. The Hebrews deanthropomorphized God without making him an abstraction of philosophy. (1062.1) 97:0.1

3. The Kenites held many of the concepts of Melchizedek respecting Deity. (1052.2) 96:0.2

4. There was a continuous evolution of Deity concept from the primitive Yahweh to the high level of the Isaiahs. (1057.5) 96:4.9

II. TIMES OF MOSES

1. Moses taught that Yahweh was a jealous God. He was building a national conscience—he awed the people with the justice of God. (1057.2) 96:4.6

2. The Hebrew belief in Yahweh explains why they tarried so long about Mt. Sinai. (1056.6) 96:4.4

3. Joshua tried to maintain Moses’ teachings. (1059.2) 96:6.1

III. SAMUEL AND ELIJAH

1. Samuel proclaimed the changelessness of God—a sincere and covenant-keeping God—a God of great mercy. (1063.1) 97:1.4

2. Elijah continued Samuel’s work, but paid more attention to the land problems of the Baalites. (1064.2) 97:2.1

IV. AMOS AND HOSEA

1. Amos proclaimed that God would punish his own people because of their sins—justice. (1065.4) 97:4.1

2. Hosea presented a God of forgiveness—he rejected all sacrifices. (1066.2) 97:4.5

V. JEREMIAH

Jeremiah proclaimed the internationalization of Yahweh. (1067.4) 97:6.1

VI. THE ISAIAHS

1. The first Isaiah taught punishment for both personal and national sins. (1066.5) 97:5.1

2. The second Isaiah proclaimed the universal Creator, the forgiving God, and the heavenly Father. (1068.1) 97:7.1