TIP OF THE DAY 77: Speaking to God Part 3 conclusion

MJ. Smith

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day ;

QUESTION: How does one search for Speaking to God entries?

ANSWER: For all the attributes listed in the interactive a compound search is required:

The basic search is a standard search with each attribute separately included or excluded. An example: speech:(content:Intercession AND content:Petition AND content:Thanksgiving AND context:Solitary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue).

The speaker and the addressee attributes are selected from reported speech i.e. speaker:"Ezra (scribe)" and/or addressee:God. The addressee must be a member of the Triune God – however, there are no occurrences for the Holy Spirit.

Places and things are Bible Knowledgebase datatypes specified as thing:City or place:Susa

Theme is the datatype Preaching Theme e.g. preachingTheme:Creation

Literary types are an independent datatype e.g. literaryTyping:Account

An example: Find where Peter speaks to God with a confessional content. Yes, this produces one result in each of the four Gospels. speaker:Peter INTERSECTS speech:(content:Confession)

QUESTION: Give examples of the various contexts defined for Speaking to God.

SOFTWARE: The syntax for searching for specific contexts is speech:(context:Incarnational)

Communal: Public expression not categorized as liturgical

speech:(content:Thanksgiving AND context:Communal AND distance:Remote AND mode:Music AND type:Monologue)

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples.[1]

Incarnational: Special subset of theophany for Jesus’ time on earth

speech:(content:Other AND context:Incarnational AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [2]

Literary: Speech “to” God used as a literary or rhetorical device

speech:(content:Petition AND context:Literary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

Lift up your hand against foreign nations

and let them see your might[3]

Prophetic: Oracular experiences not categorized as visions

speech:(content:Petition AND context:Prophetic AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water. He said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? Where is he?” He struck the water again, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha crossed over.* [4]

Ritual: Part of a ritual, cultic, or other religious exercise

speech:(content:Petition AND content:Thanksgiving AND context:Ritual AND distance:Remote AND mode:Music AND type:Monologue)

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High[5]

Solitary: Personal prayer or music expressed in private

speech:(content:Petition AND context:Solitary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.[6]

Theophanic: A dialog with a manifested presence of God

speech:(content:Response AND context:Theophanic AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue

He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”[7]

Visionary: A visionary or dream dialogue with God

speech:(content:Query AND context:Visionary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[8]

Other: Not otherwise categorized.

speech:(content:Response AND context:Other AND distance:Abstract AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

They say to God, ‘Leave us alone!

We do not desire to know your ways.*[9]

QUESTION: Give examples of the various contents defined for Speaking to God.

SOFTWARE: The syntax for searching for specific contexts is speech:(content:Blessing)

Affirmation: Expression of agreement, especially “amen”

speech:(content:Affirmation AND content:Blessing AND content:Complaint AND content:Petition AND content:Praise AND context:Ritual AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue) Note the use of multiple values for a single attribute.

I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;

your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.[10]

Blessing: Uses the formular “bless/blessed”

speech:(content:Blessing AND context:Literary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

As for me, I exalt my God,

and my soul rejoices in the King of heaven.[11]

Complaint: Report of a specific grievance

speech:(content:Complaint AND context:Theophanic AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! [12]

Confession: Confession of faith; the speech act portion of salvation

speech:(content:Complaint AND content:Confession AND content:Petition AND content:Repentance AND context:Solitary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

I called on your name, O Lord,

from the depths of the pit;[13]

Consecration: A kind of oath where one is set apart for divine

speech:(content:Consecration AND context:Communal AND distance:Remote AND mode:Other AND type:Monologue)

Then Solomon said,

“The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.*

I have built you an exalted house,

a place for you to dwell forever.”[14]

Curse: Uses the formula “curse/cursed”

speech:(content:Curse AND context:Communal AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

Yet we cannot give any of our daughters to them as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.”[15]

Imprecation: Request for justice or vengeance to come down on another

speech:(content:Confession AND content:Imprecation AND content:Petition AND context:Solitary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

May a cry be heard from their houses

when you bring the marauder suddenly upon them!

For they have dug a pit to catch me

and laid snares for my feet.[16]

Intercession: Request on behalf of another

speech:(content:Intercession AND context:Theophanic AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?[17]

Lament: expressing negative emotion

speech:(content:Lament AND context:Solitary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”[18]

Oath: A promise, vow, covenant, or other swearing

speech:(content:Oath AND context:Communal AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, “No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.”[19]

Petition: request for a specific consideration for oneself

speech:(content:Blessing AND content:Petition AND context:Communal AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

Blessed by the Lord my God be Shem,

and let Canaan be his slave.*

May God make space for Japheth,

and let him live in the tents of Shem,

and let Canaan be his slave.”[20]

Praise: Ascribing glory, adoration, worship, or recounting good deeds

speech:(content:Praise AND context:Communal AND distance:Remote AND mode:Music AND type:Monologue)

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.[21]

Query: Requestion for information or direction

speech:(content:Confession AND content:Query AND context:Incarnational AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.[22]

Repentance: Confession of sin; the speech act portion of repentance

speech:(content:Confession AND content:Intercession AND content:Petition AND content:Praise AND content:Repentance AND context:Ritual AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears your name. We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness but on the ground of your great mercies.[23]

Response: The rejoinder to a question or call

speech:(content:Response AND context:Theophanic AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”[24]

Thanksgiving: An expression of gratitude

speech:(content:Praise AND content:Thanksgiving AND context:Literary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

But you, O Eternal One, who have all might and all power, watch over us now and have mercy on us who by the senseless insolence of the lawless are being deprived of life in the manner of traitors.[25]

Other: Not otherwise categorized

speech:(content:Other AND context:Incarnational AND distance:Local AND mode:Conversation AND type:Dialogue)

But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.[26]

[1]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), 1 Ch 16:8.

[2]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Mt 3:14.

[3]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Sir 36:3.

* v 8

[4]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), 2 Ki 2:14.

[5]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ps 9:2.

[6]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ge 24:12.

[7]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ge 3:10.

[8]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ac 9:5.

* Job 22:17; Prov 1:29

[9]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Job 21:14.

[10]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ps 89:2.

[11]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Tob 13:7.

[12]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ge 4:13.

[13]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), La 3:55.

* 2 Chr 6:1; Ps 97:2

[14]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), 1 Ki 8:12–13.

[15]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Jdg 21:18.

[16]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Je 18:22.

[17]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ex 32:11.

[18]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), 1 Ki 19:4.

[19]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Jdg 21:1.

* Ps 144:15

[20]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ge 9:26–27.

[21]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ex 15:1.

[22]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Jn 6:68.

[23]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Da 9:18.

[24]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Ge 3:10.

[25]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), 3 Mac 6:12.

[26]New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Jn 11:22.

MJ. Smith

QUESTION: How do I turn the Speaking to God information into prompts for Bible study?

ANSWER: While some of the attributes are clearcut, the content categories, especially when multiple values are given make a good study on why the category applies, if it adds more than actually applies or if there is a portion not covered by the term. Less commonly, you might have a different opinion of the context than the Logos/Verbum coding, especially on cases outside of narrative literature.