Document Type

Book

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

dissertation is a theological study of the divine spirit (רוּ חַ ) in the bookof Psalms, more specifically within Psalms 51; 104; 139; and 143. By the expres-sion “divine use of רוּ חַ ,” the theological focus is narrowed to רוּ חַ in close lan-guage connection to Yahweh himself with various personal expressions such as “his spirit, your spirit, your good spirit, your holy spirit, and your noble spirit.” The research begins in division one with an analysis of all non-divine uses of רוּ חַ in the Psalms that have been variously translated in connection with “an-gels, breath, human disposition, human spirit, idols, and wind.” Division two co-vers the theophanic motifs of רוּ חַ . The use of רוּ חַ , when not in a divine connec-tion, has a decidedly negative tone. With humankind, רוּ חַ is used to speak of theirtemporal nature, emotional depletion, and capacity for deceit, pride, unfaithfulness, and bitterness. Even when רוּ חַ is used as a metaphor with wind, the negative as-pects of judgment for the ungodly, or as the oppression of the ungodly, are in plain view. Only when רוּ חַ is linked with Elohim/Yahweh does the word take on amore positive quality, such as: the power of God’s creation, his omnipresence, good guidance, and gracious restoration. Even the theophanic imagery with רוּ חַ portrays Yahweh as the most sovereign King with regal power over all creation. This negative and positive pattern with רוּ חַ holds throughout the literary, structur-al, and orientation viewing of the Psalter. The implications of these two broad as-pects have relevance to the powerful and enduring spirit of Yahweh that the vari-ous psalmists write about in these psalms. Yahweh’s spirit is in positive contrast to all others, whether in the realm of nature or humanity. The intersection with the divine spirit and the human spirit has theological implications of dependence on Yahweh’s spirit in the area of creation continua, justice, divine guidance, and spir-itual renewal.

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