YAHWEH
I. DEITY AMONG THE SEMITES
1. The evolution of Hebrew theology embraced five concepts of Deity:
- Yahweh.
- El Elyon.
- El Shaddai.
- El.
- Elohim. (1052.5) 96:1.2 [2]
2. The Hebrews deanthropomorphized God without making him an abstraction of philosophy. (1062.1) 97:0.1 [3]
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 [4]
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 [5]
2. The Hebrew belief in Yahweh explains why they tarried so long about Mt. Sinai. (1056.6) 96:4.4 [6]
3. Joshua tried to maintain Moses’ teachings. (1059.2) 96:6.1 [7]
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 [8]
2. Elijah continued Samuel’s work, but paid more attention to the land problems of the Baalites. (1064.2) 97:2.1 [9]
IV. AMOS AND HOSEA
1. Amos proclaimed that God would punish his own people because of their sins—justice. (1065.4) 97:4.1 [10]
2. Hosea presented a God of forgiveness—he rejected all sacrifices. (1066.2) 97:4.5 [11]
V. JEREMIAH
Jeremiah proclaimed the internationalization of Yahweh. (1067.4) 97:6.1 [12]
VI. THE ISAIAHS
1. The first Isaiah taught punishment for both personal and national sins. (1066.5) 97:5.1 [13]
2. The second Isaiah proclaimed the universal Creator, the forgiving God, and the heavenly Father. (1068.1) 97:7.1 [14]