DeConick A.D

32
THE MATRIX OF ANCIENT SPIRITUALITY
refers to himself as YHWH’s servant, who seeks favor from YHWH by
preparing and serving him water, bread, meat, curds, and milk (Genesis
18: 1–8). Jacob is identified as YHWH’s servant when he talks to the angels
of God at Mahanaim. He begs YHWH to save him from Esau’s wrath so
that Jacob’s offspring will grow exponentially, to continue serving YHWH
according to YHWH’s wishes (32:1–5, 9–12).
Not only are the leaders of the old Israelite tradition memorialized as
servants of YHWH; the entire tribal nation is identified in these terms as
well. The nation of Israel is YHWH’s servant, a people who have been
chosen by YHWH to be his slaves, to bring him gifts, and to offer him sacrifices.
As such, YHWH calls Israel a “worm” and an “insect” completely
dependent upon him for help. In fact, Israel’s very existence, even the
provision of such basics as water in a desert land, is completely contingent
upon YHWH’s favor (Isaiah 41:8–17, 43:22–24, 44:1–3).
How is YHWH’s favor acquired? Just as was the case in the other Mediterranean
religions we have investigated, favor is acquired through devotion
to God and maintenance of justice within the community. Humans
are expected to devote themselves solely to YHWH, who is perceived to
be a jealous God ready to strip, beat, mutilate, and abandon them if they
stray, as a husband might his adulterous wife.
They are also instructed to maintain justice or righteousness within
their communities. They must uphold the laws that YHWH has put into
place for his servants or expect to receive severe punishment from his
hand (Isaiah 42:1–4). This idea is very old, embedded even in the Yahwist
source, which portrays the primary fathers of the faith as those who
have kept the way of YHWH “by doing righteousness and justice” (Genesis
18:19). Justice was viewed by the ancient Israelites in terms of equitability—that
the weak and sick be assisted, that the poor be fed, that
prisoners be cared for.
As is the case in other Mediterranean religions, the servants of YHWH
are understood as creatures of YHWH, created by YHWH to serve him.
“Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant,”
says YHWH. “I formed you, you are my servant” (Isaiah 44:21).
This theme goes back to the oldest cycle of stories in the Yahwist
source, to the story of Adam, the primal human being created from the
dust of the earth and infused with the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Adam’s
job is to be obedient to his creator, the God YHWH, who desires above