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See also: Only One God 90–91 ■ The Psalms 138–43 ■ The Lord’s Prayer 212–13WISDOM AND PROPHETS
Israelites. The prayer emphasizes
the greatness of His anger: “If only
we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear
that is your due” (Psalm 90:11).
The author describes the people as
fearing God’s wrath above all else:
“We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation”
(Psalm 90:7).Collaborative nature
Relationships are at the heart of
God’s being. Even in the divine
realm, He appears to enjoy some
kind of companionship. There is
a plural, for example, in the first
creation account: “Let us make
man in our image” (Genesis 2:26–
28). From humans, God appears to
seek collaboration, dialogue, and
even friendship. His actions are
responses to people’s behavior
or appeals. “I have heard them
crying out,” he tells Moses at the
burning bush, “so I have come
down to rescue them.” God chooses
a human, Moses, to carry out the
rescue of his people, allowing God
to work with and through him.Unavoidably, the relationship brings
conflict. God does not hesitate to
punish His chosen people when
they stray from obedience. Still, as
Psalm 90 attests, God is capable
of compassion: “Satisfy us ... with
your unfailing love, that we may
sing for joy” (90:14). Although the
relationship between God and
His people sometimes breaks
down, God loves His people, and
is always working to repair it. ■An emotional God
The biblical writers are not
afraid to give God certain
human attributes, including
emotions. The first chapter
of Genesis shows God feeling
satisfaction: “God saw all that
He had made, and it was very
good.” A few chapters later,
this joy turned to regret and
grief. Faced with human
corruption before the Flood,
the “Lord was grieved that He
had made man ... His heart
was filled with pain.”
Expressions of God’s love
are as frequent in the Bible as
his anger: the prophet Amos
describes a fiery display of
God’s revulsion at rituals
performed without holiness of
heart. “I despise your religious
feasts; I cannot stand your
assemblies.” However, He is
shown to be open to changing
His mind when His heart is
appealed to: “My heart is
changed within me,” God tells
the prophet Hosea; “all my
compassion is aroused. I will
not carry out my fierce anger.”In Psalm 90, Moses, depicted here
in a sculpture by Michelangelo in
Rome’s San Pietro in Vicoli basilica,
describes God’s compassion and
anger, as well as his omnipotence.The Lord is near to all who
call on Him, to all who call
on Him in truth. He fulfills
the desires of those who fear
Him; He hears their cry
and saves them.
Psalm 145:18–19The names and nature of God
The Jewish tradition has many names for God,
which recognize different attributes: from shaddai
(judge) to kano (jealous) to tzevaot (one who
battles the wicked).The New Testament places a greater emphasis
on calling God “Father,” and Christians see God
as having this intimate, paternal role in their lives.Muslims use the name Allah, which simply means
“the one God.” The belief that there is no other
God but God (“la ilaha ilallah”) is the central tenet
of the Islamic faith.JudaismChristianityIslamUS_144-145_Nature_of_god.indd 145 21/09/17 4:12 pm