Changes

97:1.2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] sprang from a long line of the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] who had [[persisted]] in [[maintaining]] the [[truths]] of [[Melchizedek]] as a part of their [[worship]] forms. This teacher was a [[virile]] and resolute man. Only his great [[devotion]], coupled with his extraordinary [[determination]], enabled him to withstand the almost [[universal]] [[opposition]] which he encountered when he started out to turn all [[Israel]] back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] times. And even then he was only partially successful; he won back to the [[service]] of the higher [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] only the more [[intelligent]] half of the [[Hebrews]]; the other half continued in the [[worship]] of the [[tribal]] gods of the country and in the baser conception of [[Yahweh]].

97:1.2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] sprang from a long line of the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] who had [[persisted]] in [[maintaining]] the [[truths]] of [[Melchizedek]] as a part of their [[worship]] forms. This teacher was a [[virile]] and resolute man. Only his great [[devotion]], coupled with his extraordinary [[determination]], enabled him to withstand the almost [[universal]] [[opposition]] which he encountered when he started out to turn all [[Israel]] back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] times. And even then he was only partially successful; he won back to the [[service]] of the higher [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] only the more [[intelligent]] half of the [[Hebrews]]; the other half continued in the [[worship]] of the [[tribal]] gods of the country and in the baser conception of [[Yahweh]].

97:1.3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was a rough-and-ready type of man, a [[practical]] reformer who could go out in one day with his [[associates]] and overthrow a score of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] sites. The [[progress]] he made was by sheer [[force]] of [[compulsion]]; he did little preaching, less teaching, but he did [[act]]. One day he was mocking the [[priest]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]; the next, chopping in pieces a captive [[king]]. He [[devotedly]] believed in the one [[God]], and he had a clear [[concept]] of that one God as [[creator]] of [[heaven]] and [[earth]]: "The pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he has set the world upon them."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was a rough-and-ready type of man, a [[practical]] reformer who could go out in one day with his [[associates]] and overthrow a score of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] sites. The [[progress]] he made was by sheer [[force]] of [[compulsion]]; he did little preaching, less teaching, but he did [[act]]. One day he was mocking the [[priest]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]; the next, chopping in pieces a captive [[king]]. He [[devotedly]] believed in the one [[God]], and he had a clear [[concept]] of that one God as [[creator]] of [[heaven]] and [[earth]]: "The pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he has set the world upon them."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.4 But the great [[contribution]] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] made to the [[development]] of the [[concept]] of [[Deity]] was his ringing pronouncement that [[Yahweh]] was changeless, forever the same [[embodiment]] of unerring [[perfection]] and [[divinity]]. In these times [[Yahweh]] was conceived to be a fitful [[God]] of [[jealous]] whims, always regretting that he had done thus and so; but now, for the first time since the [[Hebrews]] sallied [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Exodus forth from Egypt], they heard these startling [[words]], "The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_15] [[Stability]] in dealing with [[Divinity]] was [[proclaimed]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] reiterated the [[Melchizedek]] [[covenant]] with [[Abraham]] and declared that the Lord [[God]] of [[Israel]] was the [[source]] of all [[truth]], [[stability]], and constancy. Always had the [[Hebrews]] looked upon their [[God]] as a man, a [[superman]], an exalted [[spirit]] of [[unknown]] [[origin]]; but now they heard the onetime spirit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] exalted as an unchanging [[God]] of [[creator]] [[perfection]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was aiding the evolving [[God]] [[concept]] to [[ascend]] to heights above the changing [[state]] of men's minds and the [[vicissitudes]] of [[mortal]] [[existence]]. Under his teaching, the [[God]] of the [[Hebrews]] was beginning the ascent from an [[idea]] on the order of the [[tribal]] gods to the [[ideal]] of an [[Omnipotent|all-powerful]] and changeless [[Creator]] and Supervisor of all [[creation]].

97:1.4 But the great [[contribution]] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] made to the [[development]] of the [[concept]] of [[Deity]] was his ringing pronouncement that [[Yahweh]] was changeless, forever the same [[embodiment]] of unerring [[perfection]] and [[divinity]]. In these times [[Yahweh]] was conceived to be a fitful [[God]] of [[jealous]] whims, always regretting that he had done thus and so; but now, for the first time since the [[Hebrews]] sallied [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Exodus forth from Egypt], they heard these startling [[words]], "The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_15] [[Stability]] in dealing with [[Divinity]] was [[proclaimed]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] reiterated the [[Melchizedek]] [[covenant]] with [[Abraham]] and declared that the Lord [[God]] of [[Israel]] was the [[source]] of all [[truth]], [[stability]], and constancy. Always had the [[Hebrews]] looked upon their [[God]] as a man, a [[superman]], an exalted [[spirit]] of [[unknown]] [[origin]]; but now they heard the onetime spirit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] exalted as an unchanging [[God]] of [[creator]] [[perfection]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was aiding the evolving [[God]] [[concept]] to [[ascend]] to heights above the changing [[state]] of men's minds and the [[vicissitudes]] of [[mortal]] [[existence]]. Under his teaching, the [[God]] of the [[Hebrews]] was beginning the ascent from an [[idea]] on the order of the [[tribal]] gods to the [[ideal]] of an [[Omnipotent|all-powerful]] and changeless [[Creator]] and Supervisor of all [[creation]].

97:1.5 And he preached anew the [[story]] of [[God]]'s [[sincerity]], his [[covenant]]-keeping reliability. Said Samuel: "The Lord will not forsake his people."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_12] "He has made with us an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.23] And so, throughout all [[Palestine]] there sounded the call back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]]. Ever this energetic [[teacher]] proclaimed, "You are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.7]

97:1.5 And he preached anew the [[story]] of [[God]]'s [[sincerity]], his [[covenant]]-keeping reliability. Said Samuel: "The Lord will not forsake his people."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_12] "He has made with us an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.23] And so, throughout all [[Palestine]] there sounded the call back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]]. Ever this energetic [[teacher]] proclaimed, "You are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.7]

97:1.6 Theretofore the [[Hebrews]] had regarded the [[favor]] of [[Yahweh]] mainly in terms of [[material]] [[prosperity]]. It was a great shock to [[Israel]], and almost cost [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] his life, when he dared to proclaim: "The Lord enriches and impoverishes; he debases and exalts. He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts up the beggars to set them among princes to make them inherit the throne of glory."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Not since [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had such comforting [[promises]] for the [[humble]] and the less fortunate been proclaimed, and thousands of despairing among the poor began to take [[hope]] that they could improve their [[spiritual]] [[status]].

97:1.6 Theretofore the [[Hebrews]] had regarded the [[favor]] of [[Yahweh]] mainly in terms of [[material]] [[prosperity]]. It was a great shock to [[Israel]], and almost cost [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] his life, when he dared to proclaim: "The Lord enriches and impoverishes; he debases and exalts. He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts up the beggars to set them among princes to make them inherit the throne of glory."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Not since [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had such comforting [[promises]] for the [[humble]] and the less fortunate been proclaimed, and thousands of despairing among the poor began to take [[hope]] that they could improve their [[spiritual]] [[status]].

97:1.7 But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] did not [[progress]] very far beyond the [[concept]] of a [[tribal]] [[god]]. He [[proclaimed]] a [[Yahweh]] who made all men but was occupied chiefly with the [[Hebrews]], his [[chosen people]]. Even so, as in the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses], once more the [[God]] [[concept]] portrayed a [[Deity]] who is [[holy]] and upright. "There is none as holy as the Lord. Who can be compared to this holy Lord God? "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.7 But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] did not [[progress]] very far beyond the [[concept]] of a [[tribal]] [[god]]. He [[proclaimed]] a [[Yahweh]] who made all men but was occupied chiefly with the [[Hebrews]], his [[chosen people]]. Even so, as in the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses], once more the [[God]] [[concept]] portrayed a [[Deity]] who is [[holy]] and upright. "There is none as holy as the Lord. Who can be compared to this holy Lord God? "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.8 As the years passed, the grizzled old leader [[progressed]] in the [[understanding]] of [[God]], for he [[declared]]: "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth, showing mercy to the merciful, and with the upright man he will also be upright."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Even here is the [[dawn]] of [[mercy]], albeit it is [[limited]] to those who are merciful. Later he went one step further when, in their [[adversity]], he exhorted his people: "Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great." "There is no restraint upon the Lord to save many or few."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_24]

97:1.8 As the years passed, the grizzled old leader [[progressed]] in the [[understanding]] of [[God]], for he [[declared]]: "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth, showing mercy to the merciful, and with the upright man he will also be upright."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Even here is the [[dawn]] of [[mercy]], albeit it is [[limited]] to those who are merciful. Later he went one step further when, in their [[adversity]], he exhorted his people: "Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great." "There is no restraint upon the Lord to save many or few."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_24]

97:1.9 And this [[gradual]] [[development]] of the [[concept]] of the [[character]] of [[Yahweh]] continued under the [[ministry]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]'s successors. They attempted to present [[Yahweh]] as a [[covenant]]-keeping [[God]] but hardly [[maintained]] the [[pace]] set by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]; they failed to [[develop]] the [[idea]] of the [[mercy]] of [[God]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had later conceived it. There was a steady drift back toward the [[recognition]] of other gods, despite the [[maintenance]] that [[Yahweh]] was above all. "Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all."

97:1.9 And this [[gradual]] [[development]] of the [[concept]] of the [[character]] of [[Yahweh]] continued under the [[ministry]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]'s successors. They attempted to present [[Yahweh]] as a [[covenant]]-keeping [[God]] but hardly [[maintained]] the [[pace]] set by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]; they failed to [[develop]] the [[idea]] of the [[mercy]] of [[God]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had later conceived it. There was a steady drift back toward the [[recognition]] of other gods, despite the [[maintenance]] that [[Yahweh]] was above all. "Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all."

97:1.10 The keynote of this era was [[divine]] [[power]]; the [[prophets]] of this age preached a [[religion]] designed to foster the [[king]] upon the [[Hebrew]] throne. "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. In your hand is power and might, and you are able to make great and to give strength to all." And this was the [[status]] of the [[God]] [[concept]] during the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] and his immediate successors.

97:1.10 The keynote of this era was [[divine]] [[power]]; the [[prophets]] of this age preached a [[religion]] designed to foster the [[king]] upon the [[Hebrew]] throne. "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. In your hand is power and might, and you are able to make great and to give strength to all." And this was the [[status]] of the [[God]] [[concept]] during the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] and his immediate successors.

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_97 Go to Paper 97]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_97 Go to Paper 97]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 97 - Evolution of the God Concept Among the Hebrews]]

[[Category:Paper 97 - Evolution of the God Concept Among the Hebrews]]