Divine Intervention Research Articles

A Reading of 2 Kings 18:17–19:9a, 36–37 as a Trauma Narrative

The narrative of 2 Kings 18:17–19:9a, 36–37 (“Source B1”) recounts pre-exilic religious collective trauma surrounding Sennacherib’s military advance against Judah in 710 BCE and its aftermath. In this narrative, the Rabshakeh uses the keywords “בטח” and “נצל” to assert that Yhwh has turned against Judah. However, his claims were subverted by the withdrawal of the Assyrian army and the later death of Sennacherib, facilitated by the divine intervention of Yhwh following Hezekiah’s supplication. Despite its significance, only a few studies have examined this narrative as that of trauma. Drawing on Jeffrey Alexander’s theory of the social process of cultural or collective trauma, this study argues that the function of this narrative is that of religious trauma narrative. It reconstructs the collective trauma of Sennacherib’s campaign to theologically defend the Davidic kingship and Yhwh and ultimately suggests a revised identity for the Judaean community to foster solidarity, even under the ongoing influence of Assyria following the military campaign.

Providentia Missio Dei Amid Adverse Global Conflicts

Since its reinterpretation in the second half of the 20th century, the Missio Dei has become a primary missiological framework that embraces human redemption as the direct work or by-product of God’s intervention. Accordingly, or under the premise of divina providentia (divine providence), the Missio Dei then emphasizes God’s absolute stewardship and preservation of all of His creation, which includes but is not limited to human creation. Although the idea of divine providence may understandably at times be questioned, it may equally be invoked by those in desperate search of divine salvific intervention or protection in the face of tragedy and adversity. That is to say, faith in divine providence may be relied upon perhaps to reinforce the much-desired salvivic hope amid hardships such as destructive conflicts of the world. That being said, or to the extent that global conflicts not only damage the very nature of human societies but also worsen a crisis of faith in divine existence, constant theological justification of the divine providential plan encompassing salvation remains an absolute necessity. Consequently, this paper combines both missio Dei and divine providence to form the providentia missio Dei as a systematic framework in missiology redefining divine salvific acts amid global chaos. Accordingly, both the systematic and integrative literature research methods are utilized to reconcile Divine Providence and the missio Dei into Providentia missio Dei. Keywords: Missio Dei, Missionary God, Active Presence, Divine Providence, Providentia Missio Dei, Global Conflicts

The Meaning of Mujahadah Values for Muslim Entrepreneurs Culinary Business in East Kutai Regency

This research delves into the meaning of mujahadah among Muslim entrepreneurs in the culinary industry of East Kutai, examining the incorporation of Islamic values into their business practices. It seeks to elucidate the intricate relationship between Islamic values and the business strategies employed by Muslim entrepreneurs in the culinary sector of East Kutai, highlighting the significance of mujahadah in shaping their entrepreneurial journey. This research uses a qualitative approach involving in-depth participant observation, interviews, and document analysis. The findings suggest that the mujahadah has maximum effort and strong determination to achieve business goals, with an acknowledgment of divine intervention. Entrepreneurs integrate mujahadah with Islamic values such as patience, sincerity, and reliance on Allah. Additionally, the research identifies vital challenges entrepreneurs face, including human resource management issues, market adaptation, and raw material supply management. This study offers profound insights into the influence of spiritual values on Muslim culinary entrepreneurs and provides practical implications for navigating everyday business challenges.

A plea for vengeance in Psalm 35: 1-3 and its reflections in Africa (Yoruba) indigenous churches

Psalm 35 is one of the most popular, widely read and used Psalm among the African indigenous churches (Yoruba) in Nigeria. This article investigates why and how Psalm 35 vv. 1-3 is used as a plea for vengeance among the Yoruba Christians in African indigenous churches in Nigeria. The article explores how the plea for vengeance is understood and expressed in the African traditional context. African biblical hermeneutics with the view of providing a useful lens to reread biblical text in African context was adopted for the study. It was discovered that as early as the 3rd-century Christian era, the book of Psalms was used in the liturgy of the church. The notion of vengeance as found in Psalm 35 vv. 1-3 is a recurrent theme in African indigenous churches in Nigeria. This Psalm is used among the Yoruba Christians in African indigenous churches as a plea for divine intervention against their enemies. Through a synthesis of biblical and traditional African sources, this article demonstrates how the plea for vengeance is expressed in the cultural practices and beliefs of African indigenous churches. The plea for vengeance in this Psalm is a reflection of African indigenous churches’ understanding of key social issues such as justice, relationships between individuals and groups, and the need to maintain social integrity. Psalm 35 is usually read, sung, memorised, inscribed on parchment, and chanted by African christians and non-christians as expression of faith in God to intervene in the issues confronting them as he did for the Psalmist.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The Yoruba Christian readers of Psalm 35vv. 1-3 appeal to God for intervention against their enemies. The article emphasises that Christians should not take laws into their hands but trust in God for justice.

On the origin of life on earth.

The creation of the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo) is attributable to the eternal God. Would a direct divine intervention be needed for other singular events, such as the origin of life? Taking apart the human being, created to image and resemblance of God, we argue that current scientific knowledge allows us to rationally admit a continuity between the origins of the universe and the emergence of life on Earth. Although the irruption of living beings from inert matter is a leap or discontinuity in creation, a direct intervention of God would not be indispensable. The initial impulse of creation, with matter and energy in a space-time imbalance, could have triggered reactions between the different elements and a self-organization of metabolites, in accordance with natural physical-chemistry laws. This paradoxical increase of complexity ended with a transition from chemistry to biology. It happened when independence, metabolism, heritability, and life cycle took place in a protocellular unit. In this way, the emergence of life on earth could be part of an evolutionary dynamic of the timeless God's creative act.

“You have answered me?”: Situational Shift (or Not) in Psalm 22

Abstract Psalm 22 receives most of its notoriety from its reception history—from the numerous citations and allusions thereof in the NT and early Christianity, particularly in the Synoptic passion accounts. This article wrestles not with the insertion of this psalm into later stories but with the story of the psalm itself. The shift from lament to praise in Ps 22:23 (MT; v. 22 in ET) is quite drastic and in need of explanation, and that explanation has come for many in the final word of the previous verse: עניתני. This verb is taken to indicate a sudden divine intervention such that God has now acted on behalf of the psalmist, thus bringing about the exultation of vv. 23–32.This article disputes that reading and argues that for literary and form-critical reasons, עניתני, or whatever the original form of that word may have been, should be read as part of the lament rather than a transition statement to explain the movement from lament to praise. Thus, no divine intervention is indicated by that word, for indeed no such intervention has taken place. Rather, the psalmist has recognized from within their suffering that there will come a moment when redemption will have taken place, and at that time the psalmist will lead the whole people of God in uttering his praises.

The vertical axis and the agôn between theatre and philosophy

ABSTRACT This article explores the controversy between ancient Greek dramatists and their fellow philosophers over the vertical axis, with special reference to Socrates. I begin with a discussion of the vertical axis in Greek theatre, and turn to Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus to discuss the vertical as a manifestation of the tragic preference ascribed to our “divine” upper body over our “bestial” lower body. Then, I discuss the deus ex machina as an image of divine vertical intervention in the horizontal human plot, and claim that Plato’s and Aristotle’s philosophical critique of this theatrical convention fails to notice that the dramatists made a subversive use of the illogicality of this convention. The second part of the article is dedicated to the vertical as an expression of man’s desire to transcend the boundaries of the human sphere. I discuss the negative treatment of this desire by Greek dramatists, who regard it as an unworthy aspiration, compared to its positive treatment by Greek philosophers, who presents it as a worthy aspiration, since it is only through such an ascent that one can get a glimpse of the eternal. In this context, I examine two representations of Socrates: his deus ex machina appearance in Aristophanes’ Clouds, implying the hubristic stance of philosophers; and his habit of long immobile standings as introduced in Plato’s Symposium, implying the philosophers’ superiority over the dramatists. However, the publicly-visible nature of Socrates’ standstills also turns them into a display of philosophizing, meaning that Socrates of the Symposium is a philosopher who (perhaps unfairly) theatricalizes his verticality so as to challenge the art of theatre.

Pulp Theology: Disputation and Divine Intervention in Pulp Fiction

Abstract: Pulp Fiction (1994) prompts its viewer to consider the possibility of divine intervention and to explore the issue of divine justice to which that possibility gives rise. The anachronic plot presentation allows the audience to ponder Vincent and Jules' dispute about whether they experienced a miracle with the knowledge that Vincent will later be killed by Butch. This then prompts a review and reevaluation of Butch's character in relation to the gold watch for which he risks his life. Thus, the audience experiences an increasing capacity to make sense of the theological details that construct the characters, scenes, and dialogue.

Det er Herren, der styrer en mands gang

This article discusses the question of agency in the Old Testament (OT) and challenges the view held by some scholars that the OT as a whole depicts human beings as having free will in the sense of being able to choose and having control over the choices they make. Many passages do seem to presuppose human choice and control, but the article presents numerous other passages that highlight God’s control of everything – including, in some cases, what human beings want and choose. Furthermore, several books of the OT describe the human ability to follow God’s commandments as deeply flawed and envisage a future divine intervention that will fundamentally change the way humans behave. Human free will must be understood in the light of this underlying notion of divine control that permeates the OT. However, this is not a fatalistic type of determinism. The tension between the notions of divine and human agency is real and both notions ought to inform our understanding of the theology of the texts.

Divine Intervention and the Unity of the Greeks during the Persian Invasion

Herodotus’ Histories shows that the Persian invasion of Greece of 480-479 BCE revealed divisions among Greek city-states. Despite these divisions, this article argues that the work also relates how Greek gods and heroes remained united in repelling the Persians, providing a lesson to Herodotus’ Panhellenic audience. To this end, the paper examines the sacred topography related to divine interventions in four narratives in the Histories: the Sepias shipwreck, the Persian siege of Delphi, the burning of the AthenianAcropolis’ olive tree, and the battle of Plataiai. Through an analysis of these narratives and their topography, the article explores how the Histories emphasizes the unified force of Greek divinities in the conflict.

Egyptian Dynasties to Biologics: A Historical Review of Nasal Polyposis.

The history of nasal polyposis originates even before Hippocrates described a nasal mass that he likened to a sea polyp. References to sinonasal disease and treatment can be found in ancient texts, such as the Ebers Papyrus and the Edwin Smith Papyrus of Ancient Egypt, as well as in the foundational texts of Ayurvedic medicine. Greek philosophers marked a significant shift away from the belief that illness was a result of divine intervention and embraced medical theory. Over the subsequent millennia, the understanding of nasal polyposis expanded, resulting in notable progress in surgical procedures and medical treatments. However, the complex pathophysiology of this condition remained enigmatic until breakthroughs in basic science and immunology. This historical journey takes us from the tomb of the first rhinologist in 2500 BC to the development of immune-modulating biologics.

Aristotle on the Daemonic in De divinatione

Abstract I argue that the adjective δαιμόνιος (‘daemonic’) and the substantivized adjective τὸ δαιμόνιον (‘the daemonic’) that occur in Aristotle’s dream treatises basically mean ‘divine-like,’ denoting an illusory appearance of divine intervention, typically in the form of an alleged god-sent prophetic dream. Yet the appearances to which the terms refer are, in fact, neither divine nor supernatural at all, but involve merely coincidental correlations between the dream and the fulfilling event. It is shown that Aristotle’s use of ‘daemonic’ is traditional and reflects the endoxon that prophetic dreams are closely related to the divine. The paper also examines a set of earlier readings of the daemonic in De divinatione in relation to the proposed interpretation.

Who's Searching for the Soul of Black Preaching? History Proves It's Never Been Lost

The 2023 Black Theology and Leadership Initiative convened around the theme, “Searching for the Soul of Black Preaching.” Rather than focusing on the performative aspects of Black preaching, as an art form, the convening looked substantively at the soul of Black preaching, that is, its very essence. What does it mean to provide hope to a people who have historically been marginalized, as part of the Black experience in America? In relying on some of America's most respected scholars, as well as some of my own previously published works, I argue that the soul of Black preaching includes four fundamental elements. First, with the centrality of Scripture, Black preaching is based on a fundamental belief that God's providence meets the Black lived experience. Second, as a natural extension of the first element, I argue there is a biblical hermeneutic that sees Scripture as “biased,” because God is not neutral. Instead, God is on the side of the oppressed. Third, in recognizing that the Black preacher's work is incomplete without divine intervention, I discuss the transcendence of the Holy Spirit for “participant proclamation” as part of the Black worship experience. Finally, in looking at the social justice nature of Black preaching, in speaking to a marginalized class, I argue that in addition to focusing on piety, Black preaching is often prophetic and/or political. In answering the rhetorical question of who is searching for the “soul” of Black preaching, I therefore argue that based on the four elements listed above, and the way Black preaching has been a rallying call for the Black community from the period of enslavement onward, the soul of Black preaching has never been lost.

‘He seems to be at the back of all the stories’: The Subtlety of Narnian Providence

Towards the end of The Horse and His Boy, as Shasta wanders blindly into Narnia, he unknowingly encounters Aslan, who explains to him the various ways that Aslan has watched over him dating back even to the boy’s infancy. It is a beautiful account of Aslan’s care for Shasta. If one were to focus exclusively on this passage, however, one might conclude that Narnian providence is merely a matter of external divine intervention and that creaturely agency plays little role in the way Aslan governs Narnia. An analysis of some of Lewis’s non-fictional writings in conversation with Thomas Aquinas uncovers a more subtle understanding of providence. For Lewis, as for Aquinas, providence incorporates the acts of free agents without compromising their integrity. Virtuous, indifferent, and even vicious acts all contribute in some way to God’s plan for the universe. The same can be said for Narnia, as one can see through representative examples from The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, and The Magician’s Nephew. In these stories Lewis illustrates, to paraphrase his own words about Oedipus Rex, ‘how providence and free will can be combined, even how free will is the modus operandi of providence’.

Divine vulgarism: theorising the culturally sanctioned vulgarities

ABSTRACT This paper examines vulgarity’s cultural significance among the Zeliangrong Naga of Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. It is a sociological analysis of the ritual and social statuses maintained by senexes through ritualised vulgarities. The paper contends that vulgarities are not inherently vile. Vulgarities are believed to have divine power to protect humans by repelling evil spirits and causing them to despise humans who revel in utterly filthy vulgarism. Understanding the mythology of creation by divine intervention and propagation through sexual reproduction necessitates understanding ritualistic vulgarities. Men give something bad, like vulgarity, a divine meaning by giving it a good purpose and controlling how it is used in culture to keep their highest social and ritual statuses.

Exploring spirituality, religion and life philosophy among parents of children receiving palliative care: a qualitative study

BackgroundFew studies have examined the spiritual environment of parents of children receiving palliative care in Southern European countries, which are mostly characterized by secularization (or the abandonment of traditional religiosity) and an increase of cultural and religious diversities resulting in a much broader spectrum of spiritual and religious beliefs. This study aimed to explore the parents’ own spirituality, religiosity, and philosophy of life in coping with the care of their child with palliative needs.MethodsQualitative interviews of 14 parents of children included in a palliative care program in a pediatric hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Inclusion criteria were parents of children who have been cared for the palliative care program for a minimum of 3 months and who displayed a willingness to talk about their personal experiences and gave written consent. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed by an independent service, and analyzed on a case-by-case basis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.ResultsThe three domains identified were life philosophy, relational, and transcendent. Life philosophy included principles that guided parents’ decision-making, and how the onset of their child’s serious illness had promoted a change in their values. Relational was focused on how they perceived themselves (e.g. motherhood), others (e.g. one’s own child exceptionality), and the way they believed others perceived and supported them (e.g. relatives, friends, and healthcare providers). The transcendent domain involved God-related concepts, divinity and divine intervention (e.g. a miracle as an interpretive framework for that which cannot be explained within scientific knowledge limitations).ConclusionsInflexible categories identifying parents as having a particular religious faith tradition are not sufficient to capture the interrelation of knowledges (ethical, religious, scientific) that each parent generates when faced with their child receiving palliative care. Clinicians should explore parents’ spirituality in an individualized way that responds to the uniqueness of their experiential process.

Sung, Drawn and Quartered: The Roman Ideogram of Bread – Part 1

When duplicated, the single icon of a monument, deity, or object, could recall entire narratives of divine intervention, great ancestral feats, and desirable ‘Roman’ attributes. The common, round, and quartered loaf of wheat-bread was produced and eaten by all echelons of Roman society. Despite the fundamentality of this segmented loaf to the daily life, industry, and economy of Rome, its imbuement with ideogrammic qualities of social balance and stability, have yet to be explored. Through select case studies of literary and archaeological evidence this paper will explore the allegorical nature of bread beyond dietetics in two parts: In Part 1 I provide case studies of bread use in different literary genres of ancient Poetry, Historiography, Satire, Biography and Prose, discussing the thematic tropes in which bread appears in Roman narratives. In Part 2 I investigate how these metaphoric characteristics and themes translated visually in the mosaics, frescos, graffiti, and monuments of public and private spaces. I conclude that the panis quadratus was more than an economic and accessible product, and became an ideogram of the social cohesion fundamental to Rome’s Empire; specifically, the circular connections between the natural, mortal and immortal worlds.

I did not scream. i could not; i was terrified. i just followed them...i blocked my mind. then they all raped me: A narrative inquiry on the onset of tonic immobility among women rape victims in Nigeria.

Tonic immobility (TI) is a common uncontrollable autonomic mammalian response to an extremely fearful situation. It is one of the most immediate devastating consequences of rape and remains poorly understood. While controversies over its definition persist among researchers, this also reflects on the care for and support to victims. The study aimed to explore and describe the onset of TI and the meaning attached to the experience among women raped victims in Nigeria. The study design was the qualitative narrative inquiry approach. Criterion and purposive sampling were conducted across four post-rape care facilities in Lagos, Nigeria, to recruit 13 participants. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide to generate data that were thematically analysed. The findings of the study revealed five themes relating to the onset of TI as follows: the first two focused on the experience of TI: (1) the onset of TI prior to rape due to perceived imminent danger, (2) the onset of TI as a self-protection mechanism from further harm) while the last three relate to the meaning-making of the experience of TI (3) self-loathing as a meaning attached to TI, (4) suicidal ideations as a meaning attached to TI, and (5) divine intervention as a meaning attached to TI. Conclusion: The findings underscore the experiences and meanings that participants attach to TI following rape. There is a strong likelihood that tonic-immobility is not an uncommon experience amongst rape victims, but that in the absence of research, specialized care on the condition, and its associated consequences will haunt many women, affecting their psychological well-being and their entire quality of life. Describing the phenomenon as it is experienced by the participants is critical because understanding the condition is the first step toward effective appropriate management.

Paradise lost: A classical epi

John Milton's "Paradise Lost" stands as a monumental work in the canon of English literature, embodying the classical epic tradition with its grand scope, profound themes, and poetic mastery. This abstract delves into the quintessential characteristics that classify "Paradise Lost" as a classical epic. The narrative unfolds against the cosmic backdrop of Heaven, Hell, and Earth, exploring the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience and their subsequent expulsion from the idyllic Garden of Eden. Milton weaves a tapestry of theological inquiry, grappling with the complexities of free will, theodicy, and the nature of God. The poem introduces a heroic protagonist in Adam, whose choices shape the destiny of humanity. Divine intervention, epic battles, and supernatural elements contribute to the poem's grandeur, while Milton's elevated language and incorporation of classical and biblical allusions elevate it to the status of an enduring masterpiece. "Paradise Lost" serves not only as an epic retelling of the biblical Fall but also as a didactic exploration of moral and spiritual themes, making it a timeless work that continues to captivate readers and scholars alike.

Culturally Informed Care: Solidarity, Cultural Humility, and Medical Ethics

This case study explores the ethical complexities surrounding the treatment of Mrs. H, an elderly woman with multiple myeloma. Divergent goals between her family, rooted in cultural and religious values, and the medical team prompted ethical deliberation. The divergent goals centered around the family’s desire for aggressive cancer treatment, driven by their Ubuntu and Christian beliefs in the sanctity of life and hope for divine intervention, contrasted with the medical team’s focus on palliative care, prioritizing comfort over aggressive medical interventions with unlikely benefits. Faced with this tension, the care team, guided by principles of solidarity and cultural humility, engaged in meaningful dialogue facilitated by an experienced ethicist. The resolution respects the family’s cultural and religious beliefs while adhering to medical ethics. This case highlights the importance of understanding and integrating cultural values in healthcare decision-making, ultimately achieving a patient-centered approach that respects the diversity of perspectives.