The Qol
The voice . . .from heaven is usually explained in terms of the bat qol. This Hebrew term, which means literally 'daughter of a voice', was used by the rabbis to denote the echo of a voice uttered in heaven. When the Spirit had withdrawn from Israel, and there were no more prophets, then, so it was said, the bat qol was occasionally heard. The bat qol was thus a means of revelation to men, a substitute for the direct word of God which had formerly been given by the Spirit. It might be significant that its sound was at times compared to the cry of a bird, and once like a dove.
She goes on to say that at the baptism this is no mere echo. Mark's understanding of the Voice was that it was the Direct Voice of God (Qol Yahweh?).
Can you imagine a time without the speaking voice of God. Oh God don't withdraw your Spirit from us agian!
No comments:
Post a Comment