Word and Action

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Word and Action
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I am the Lord, Your God!
Gods Word and Action are bound together in
revelation.
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Basic Premises
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• 1. God reveals Himself not only by speaking but
  also acting. Gods Words and Actions are
  intimately connected.
• 2. Human words become meaningful when there is a
  corresponding action, and vice versa.
• Eg. A kiss can be a sign of love or betrayal.

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• 3. A series of particular actions acquires a
  meaning. (eg. Psalm 136)
• 4. Present events shed light on past actions. We
  perceive deeper meanings of past happenings
  because of present events. (eg. Deut 6 23)
• 5. The ordinary way to resolve the ambiguity of
  an action is the word that interprets and
  accompanies it.

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• The word interpreting the event can follow or
  precede the happening
• Prediction 2 Kings 195-7
• Call / commissioning Gen 121-3
• Command Hos 3 1-5
• The interpreting word comes after the event
• Proclamation Deut 26 3-10
• Explanation Jn 13 12-20
• Meditation Jer 32, 16-35
• Lament Book of Lamentations

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DABAR

• The Hebrew word DABAR means both word and
  deed or happening. So dabar Yahweh is not
  only His word but also action.
• St. Thomas Aquinas wrote Dicere Dei est
  facere. means Gods act of saying is His act of
  doing. (See Gen 13,6,9)

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• Summing it all up, the biblical word call more
  for OBEDIENCE, rather than mere reflection.
  Obedience is an act of listening and doing what
  is listened to.
• In fact, the Hebrew word for the verb to obey
  is shama leqol which literally means to listen
  to the voice of.