Review article
Fatih as a historical force and an existential foundation of life. A theological and
Božo Lujić
; Catholic Faculty of Theology - University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
Abstract
The analysis of this paper focuses on the meaning, role and message of Isa
7:9b, which is the central element in Isa 7:1-17. Superficially, 7:9b appears to be unrelated
to the previous section (7:1-9) or the subsequent section (7:10-17), but the analysis
demonstrates that the principal message of 7:9b, about faith, is the hermeneutical
key that unlocks the meaning of 7:1-9 and 7:10-17. In the first part, where the concrete
historical situation is the Syrian-Ephraim War (7:1-9), Isaiah communicates to King
Ahaz the Divine command to show faith and to rely on God and His Word if Israel is to
survive in the face of historical and political challenges: and in the second part (7:10
-17) Ahaz addresses David’s dynasty, presenting the image of a child as a model of trust
in the Lord.
The language of 7:9b, with the verb ͗mn together with the derived conjugations of hiphil and niphal, concisely shows two basic dimensions of faith: faith as an
existential foundation (niphal of ͗mn) and faith as a related force of life (hiphil of ͗mn).
Faith according to 7:9b expresses the stability of life and at the same time the dynamism
of history as openness towards others and towards the One who is completely
other.
Keywords
to trust; faith; existential foundation; historical force; life; child; sign
Hrčak ID:
266447
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2013.
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