Slides: Old Testament and the Soul

Old Testament and the Soul

Henry Reyenga

Introduction

It has at its disposal everything that is you…Heart, mind, body, emotions, and strength.

The self-aware you that is self-aware of itself:  it is real and metaphorical.

It is relational; it can be lonely, happy, and bitter. It can be ignored, but it will never go away from you.

It is interested in some things and not others. It is influenced but often needs to be convinced.

It is fiercely religious. The soul can even worship itself.

The soul can be free or in bondage. Wars are fought over the concerns of the soul.

Much of the Bible addresses the soul's concerns relating to everyone and everything around you.

Philosophy has debated the nature of the soul since before Moses.

Soul from the Old Testament

Read Genesis 2:1-7

 

Verse 7

) וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־ הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖םלְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃)

  Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed

 into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

A Living


חָי {khah'-ee}

חָי  from חָיָה;  alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; life or living thing,, whether literally or figuratively: + age, alive, appetite, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing),  Used 452 times in the Bible

 

Soul


נָ֫פֶשׁ {neh'-fesh}

נָ֫פֶשׁ from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e., of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense

a person.  a “he or she.” A heart, one’s own.  Self-aware self. her-, him-, my-, thy-)self, them (your)-selves  (the wanter, sometimes the the desirer)
  Used 683 times in the Bible

 

The Soul Fell into Sin!

Read Genesis 3

Body - The Temptation was about bodily things - The fruit looked pleasing to the eye. (senses)

Spirit: The fruit looks pleasing to the autonomous Spirit apart from God. The fruit looked desirous of gaining knowledge and being like God. 

 

A Fallen Soul 

 

 

 

Job comments on bitter souls that die

 

 

Job 21:25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.

 

A Promise of Redemption from Genesis On!

Prophets, Priests, and Kings

 

Heroes of Faith  Hebrew 11. Faith in God brings healing to the Soul.

 

King David was a man about the soul!

He Restores me “Soul”

Read Psalm 23


3) נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשֹׁובֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־ צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֹֽו׃

Rest

Psalms 62:5     Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

 

Ministry to your own Soul

Psalms 131:2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Proverbs 24:14     Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

 

Prophesy of Jesus

 

Isaiah 53:11     After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light[of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.