I wrapped up an eight-nine month home-school class on the World of the Old Testament yesterday. Two sharp, fun-loving young men have been the students.
Recently, we’ve had discussions on the story of Gilgamesh, a story related to the biblical flood story of Genesis 6-8, and how the main character, Gilgamesh, hungers and thirsts for immortality. In one way the epic is like a Paul and Timothy story. There’s a master teacher and a student disciple: Utnapishtim (Paul) is a model for Timothy (Gilgamesh).
The story, however, centers on a catastrophic flood event like the Noah episode.
In his pursuit for eternal life, Gilgamesh learns how Utnapishtim, the Noah-like figure, obtained eternal life.
Enil, one of the gods sitting as audience watching the wretchedness of man on the earth, determines to destroy the world with a flood. Utnapishtim learns of Enil’s plan and he, Utnapishtim, makes haste to build a huge vessel as a refuge for animals, and off we go with a Genesis 6-8-like story. Utnapishtim and his wife are saved from the deluge; they park the boat, step onto dry land and offer sacrifices to the gods. The assembly of the gods honors them with eternal life.
Gilgamesh likes what Utnapishtim has earned; he wants it too.
As the story unfolds we learn about the theology of the gods. There are twists and turns about the actions of the Assembly or Council of the gods.
In short, they are unpredictable, easily ticked off and flighty. One god comes along and usurps another. Another god comes along and flexes his muscles to squash another.
While reading Gilgamesh, I was waiting for one god to pipe up and say, “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along?”
They are not covenanting gods.
Their relationship is not characterized by love, unity and bond.
The Church knows her God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—the God bound in peace, and fostering peace in His gracious revelation of Himself to His people.
He is the God unchanging, ever reliable. He is so because He is the God who makes and keeps covenant.
G. Mark Sumpter
No comments:
Post a Comment