The Main Characteristics of the Deuteronomistic History - Essay Example

?The Promised Land LESSON 3 1. Explain and outline the main characteristics of the Deuteronomistic History: Deuteronomistic history de s the literary works, which inculcate the exemplary evidences of 6th century events surrounding the biblical characters of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings and narrate the incidences with due significance to the theological assumptions of God rewarding boon and curing humans. A major characteristics of the Deuteronomistic history, was its philosophical premises that were strongly motivated with the political motives and the theological perceptions of the then society, providing power and support to the priesthood. Moreover, narrations in Deuteronomy also centralized the worship of religious groups at Jerusalem. Deuteronomistic history reflects about Lord’s blessings and prosperity of the covenant on obeying laws and the Lord’s instructions; whereas, covenant is cursed by the Lord, if being defiant and deciphering apostasy. On the whole, the components of Deuteronomistic history emphasize the theology that explains the principles following which humans can gain boons and blessings from God and deciphering non-abidance to the God become liable for His curse (Tanner, “The Deuteronomistic History”). Deuteronomistic history is theologically said to be the book of ‘heart and instructions’ rather than a narration of laws. This book provides a spiritual insight about the life that an individual needs to live by following God’s directed ways, with firm beliefs in order to get His love and blessings. The most important feature of this particular book is the ‘Homiletical Style’. In this context, the book revolves around the covenants’ cultural way of expressing relationship between the God and His people. Thus, it can be mentioned that the book develops the idea that a covenant receives blessings by complying with God’s instructions being obedient and truthful, while receives curse and death by disobeying God’s faith and laws (Tanner, “The Deuteronomistic History”). 2. Compare and Contrast the Three Models of the Conquest: In Deuteronomy, the ‘book of Joshua’ signifies about the three different models applied by Israelites in conquering the ‘land of Canaan’. The origin of Israel in the Canaan was accomplished by implementing influential conquering models, viz. Conquest, Immigration and Revolt model. The immigration model signifies the findings of the German scholars who developed a model of conquest that was different from surface reading of the ‘book of Joshua’. This model also argued that geography has substantial implications on the events occurring within a region, as was the case in Israel. The immigration model further proposes that the Israelites first conquered the highlands and then extended their conquest over the plains. Biblical accounts in accordance with the conquest model further reflected that the initial phase of Israelites’ conquest was Trans-Jordan before they crossed the river. The biblical evidences of the conquest model relate a sharp contrast with the perception of Immigration model in this context, where motives are rendered primary significance as the stimulator of events registered in the then period. Unlike the immigration and the conquest model, the revolt model of conquest discusses about Israel’s social revolution within Canaan as her initial origin of conquest, which contrasts the view presented in the other two models (Newberry and Hasan, “Joshua: The Conquest of Canaan”). 3. Describe the Theologically Correct Ideals of the Ban and the Holy War in Deut.20:1-18 and In Josh.6:1-27: Deuteronomy 20:1-18 mainly discusses about war. In this context, it has been mentioned that God prepares His covenants, i.e. Israelites, to fight against their enemies and also supports throughout by giving His blessings to victory. This war has been termed as ‘The Holy War’, the reason being the God himself is going with the warriors to fight against the enemy clan and to impart victory to the Israelites. Furthermore, in relation to this war, God wanted His best soldiers to support Him, where it has been clearly noted that God gave Israelites blessings because they, under the leadership of Joshua, deciphered strict obedience to God. The main intention of the Israel commanders behind igniting the war was to offer peace to all the cities they attacked as per the God’s instructions. They wanted the other people to serve Israel and to follow God’s laws, which is why the God had delivered His blessings to the clan (Watke, “Marching under God’s Orders!”). Considering, the spiritual theologies of Joshua 6:1-27, it can be ascertained that by following the God’s order and directed way, the warriors of Israel conquered Jericho without much difficulties. In further consequence, the spiritual insight of Joshua 6:1-27 reflected about the sins committed by the people of Israel, which brought God’s disgrace and curse upon them (Watke, “Marching under God’s Orders!”). LESSON 3.2 1. Describe the Role of Samuel as Judge and Prophet: Samuel was the son of Hannah and Elkannah, who trained their son well to remain uncorrupted of wickedness all his years. Samuel has been represented as an extended example of Lord’s blessings in the Deuteronomistic history, when the parents train their children in a way as directed by Him. In the narration of the Old Testament, Samuel was said to have answered the call of God, which gave him the essence of being referred as a ‘Prophet’; “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening” (Clemons, “Samuel the Prophet: Old Testament Model for New Testament Preachers”). Samuel has always been an honest and a supportive judge, strict with the intention to dispense the God’s laws neutrally. His strength was that he used to obey God and never took advantage of his superior authority. Furthermore, it has been discussed that he always remained loyal to God. Under the philosophical point of view, Samuel entails certain weaknesses also. He failed to raise his sons in the manner he led his whole life based on the same principles. In Samuel 3:19.21, it has been quoted that “The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word”, which reflects upon Samuel’s role as a judge and a prophet (Clemons, “Samuel the Prophet: Old Testament Model for New Testament Preachers”). 2. Explain Why Israel Needed A Monarchy and Why YHWH Was Reluctant To Grant It: Samuel was in the verge of extreme disappointment during the end tenure of his spiritual career. In accord with the spiritual explanation, it has been discussed that Samuel has well served the covenant of Israel as a Prophet, Judge and a Priest, but he failed to keep up with the schedules in his older age. Considering these as grave reasons for discontentment within the Israelites, Samuel appointed his two sons, i.e. Joel and Abijah as his assistant, which however went in vain to suffice his intentions. His two sons misused his given powers to satisfy their personal gains, by accepting bribes from the people and perverting justice. Taking into consideration all the prevailing situations, the eldest of Israel went up to Samuel and requested him to establish satisfactory along with permanent arrangements to meet the Israelites requirements. Furthermore, it was revealed in the narration that the Israelites approached Samuel to replace his leadership with a Monarch. To sum up, these were the inherent reasons for Israel to demand a Monarchy (Clemons, “Samuel the Prophet: Old Testament Model for New Testament Preachers”). In incongruity to the aforesaid demand, an inherent problem associated with the Monarchy leadership could be identified. YHWH alerted Samuel in his prayers as “the people have not rejected you, they are rejecting me as king”, which explains that by rejecting the leadership of Samuel, covenant of Israel are actually rejecting the leadership of the Lord, His faith and laws. Additionally, YHWH also conveyed to Samuel that he must warn the Israelites about the tyrannical potentials imbibed within a Monarchy and told him to grant their request for a Monarch. Correspondingly, the aforementioned factors and reasons were essentially accountable to necessitate the Monarchy within Israel and the disinclination of the Lord in providing so (Clemons, “Samuel the Prophet: Old Testament Model for New Testament Preachers”). 3. Explain what the Davidic promise/covenant added to the Abrahamic promise and the Sinai covenant: Abrahamic Covenant implies the purpose of the Lord for the people of Israel. It further implies about the differentiated ways carried on by the supreme power to deal with human in a general way. Abrahamic Covenant also acts as a base for the expansion of the other covenants. Additionally, it has been discussed that God’s covenant is basically looked as the agreement between Him and Israelites. According to the Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the LORD had said to Abram:"Get out of your country, from your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Melnick, “The Abrahamic Covenant”). Hence, it can be affirmed that the fact complying with the Abrahamic Covenant is personal, which mainly frames the processes involving the differentiated ways that God implements when dealing with the humankind. It has been further ascertained that with the use of this covenant, Lord has blessed Abraham and his offspring. The Abrahamic Covenant mainly delineates the role, which Abraham lays upon the planning of God related to the mankind and Israel’s prominent role within this particular plan (Melnick, “The Abrahamic Covenant”). Contextually, Sinai Covenant comprises of the covenant, which God established in the ancient Israelites at Mt. Sinai contributing to the blessings and the protection imparted by the Lord on the basis of conditions that briefed about obedience of the people in following his instructions. It has been further ascertained that the Sinai Covenant was not restricted to Mt. Sinai, but to follow the instructions given all the way through Moses also (United Church of God, “The Sinai Covenant and the 'Voice of the Lord'”). Works Cited Clemons, Samuel M. “Samuel the Prophet: Old Testament Model for New Testament Preachers”. Metro North Pastoral Conference (1995):1-6. Print. Newberry and Hasan. “Joshua: The Conquest of Canaan.” Chapter 6 (1893):203-221. Print. Tanner, J. Paul. The Deuteronomistic History. Old Testament I (2000):24.1-24.7. Print. Watke, Edward. “Marching under God’s Orders!” The Book of Joshua (1988): 2-40. Print. “The Sinai Covenant and the 'Voice of the Lord'.” The New Covenant. United Church of God, 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013. . Read More