Transcendent means beyond this material world around us. Immanent is the opposite, within this world. This mysterious reality of a transcendent God is not a thing, but a being, a personal being, beyond all personality that is all-powerful and all gentle. This transcendent mystery may be sometimes contradictory, yet we try to live in harmony and in accord with this unknown. An encounter with mystery is an experience that we feel is a part of our lives. Thus, a personal encounter with a personal mystery is an attempt to explain our human relationship with God. How is reading the Bible an encounter with a transcendent God?
all powerful
The God of creation (Jer 51:15-51:16)
“He made
The earth
By his power.
He established
The world
By his wisdom.
By his understanding,
He stretched out the heavens.
When he utters
His voice
There is a tumult of waters
In the heavens.
He makes the mist rise
From the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning
For the rain.
He brings forth
The wind
From his storehouses.”
This is exactly the same, word for word from chapter 10 about the power of Yahweh. Jeremiah proclaimed that Yahweh was all powerful. He made the earth by his power. Thus he established the world by his wisdom. He stretched out the heavens by his understanding, so that when he uttered his voice, the waters in the heaven could create a mist from the ends of the earth. He made lightning in the rain. He also brought wind from his various wind storehouses. Thus you can see this author’s cosmology about the powerful God, Yahweh, who has control of the world and its climate.
The people plead their case (Jer 14:19-14:22)
“Have you completely rejected Judah?
Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down?
Why is there is no healing for us?
We look for peace.
But we find no good.
We look for a time of healing.
But there is terror instead.
We acknowledge our wickedness!
O Yahweh!
We acknowledge the iniquity of our ancestors!
We have sinned against you!
Do not spurn us!
For your name’s sake,
Do not dishonor your glorious throne!
Remember!
Do not break your covenant with us!
Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
Can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you,
O Yahweh!
Our God?
We set our hope on you.
You do all this.”
Once again, Jeremiah presents the people of Judah pleading their case for God’s mercy. They wanted to know how God could reject Judah and loath Zion, Jerusalem. Why were they stricken? Why was there no healing? They looked for peace, but there was none. Instead of healing, there was more terror. They acknowledged their own wickedness that they shared with their ancestors. They had sinned against Yahweh, God. However, they did not want to be spurned by Yahweh, because that would dishonor his name. They wanted Yahweh to remember his covenant and not break it with them. Then they pointed out that Yahweh could bring rain and showers, but the idols of other nations could not do that. They still had their hope in Yahweh, despite everything, because Yahweh was all powerful.
The power of Yahweh (Jer 10:12-10:13)
“It is he who made the earth
By his power.
He established the world
By his wisdom.
By his understanding,
He stretched out the heavens.
When he utters his voice
There is a tumult of waters
In the heavens.
He makes the mist rise
From the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain.
He brings forth the wind
From his storehouses.”
Jeremiah proclaims that Yahweh is all powerful. He made the earth by his power and thus established the world by his wisdom. He stretched out the heavens by his understanding, so that when he utters his voice, the waters in the heaven can create a mist from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning in the rain. He also brings wind from his various wind storehouses. Thus you can see this author’s cosmology about the powerful God, Yahweh, who has control of the world and its climate.
The qualities of wisdom (Wis 7:22-7:23)
“Wisdom is the fashioner of all things.
Wisdom has taught me.
There is in her a spirit that is
Intelligent,
Holy,
Unique,
Manifold,
Subtle,
Mobile,
Clear,
Unpolluted,
Distinct,
Invulnerable,
Loving the good,
Keen,
Irresistible,
Beneficent,
Humane,
Steadfast,
Sure,
Free from anxiety,
All-powerful,
Overseeing all,
Penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent,
Pure,
Altogether subtle.”
Many of the qualities given to the personification of wisdom will be adopted later in the New Testament writings by Paul with his description of the “Spirit” and the Christian Holy Spirit theology. Wisdom fashions all things. It has taught this author. How do you describe this wisdom spirit? She is an intelligent and Holy Spirit. In some sense, she is the Holy Spirit. She is unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, and invulnerable. She loves the good, and is keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, and free from anxiety. She is all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all intelligent spirits. She is also pure and subtle. Thus you can see the comparative descriptions with the Christian Holy Spirit.
The last response of Job (Job 42:1-42:6)
“Then Job answered Yahweh.
‘I know that you can do all things.
No purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered
What I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me,
That I did not know.
‘Hear!
I will speak.
I will question you.
You declare to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear.
But now my eye sees you.
Therefore I despise myself.
I repent in dust and ashes.’”
Job responded to Yahweh. He recognized that Yahweh was all powerful. No one could go against God but Job lacked the knowledge so that he never understood this correctly. These were wonderful things. Now he wanted Yahweh to listen to him. Job was willing to listen to Yahweh since he had not only heard Yahweh, he had seen him. The conclusion for Job was repentance. He had not understood the will of God. He had proudly protested his righteousness. Now he realized that he was wrong. He hated himself and was going to go into formal repentance with dust and ashes.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 