God’s Praise and God’s Presence: A Biblical-Theological Study
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
The main aim of this book is to provide an answer to the question: is there a connection between God's people's praise and God's presence? The central argument is that Scripture in both Testaments testifies to a correlation between human praise and divine presence. This hypothesis has been investigated in the light of contemporary Christian worship culture and the ensuing need for further biblical studies, which represents the background for this investigation. The study achieves the above aim by applying biblical theology as a discipline and canonical and intertextual models as a method.
- Holds that Scripture does testify to a correlation between human praise and divine presence
- Employs biblical theology as a distinct fiscipline and a canonical-intertextual model as a method to meet its objectives
- Attempts to provide an answer to the question whether the Scriptures intimate the connection between God's people's praise and God's presence
- Introduction
- God's People's Praise — Approaches Towards a Theology of Worship
- Biblical Theology — a Distinct Discipline and Its Methods
- God's Glory — Presence in the Praises of His People in the Old Testament
- God's Spirit — Presence in the Praises of His People in the New Testament
- Results from a Biblical Theology Perspective: Three Intertextual Themes and Related Issues
- Conclusion and Outlook
We have often heard that ‘the Lord inhabits the praises of his people.’ Gabriele Braun shows that this is a reality that reverberates throughout Scripture. Her comprehensive exploration of the topic leads her to an appropriately nuanced affirmation of a ‘reciprocal correlation between presence and praise.’ Her work is characterized by academic rigor that also helpfully illuminates the relational nature of the connection between God and his people.
—Stuart T. Rochester, Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Philippines, and North-West University, South Africa
Gabriele Braun’s proposal that Scripture reveals a reciprocal relationship between God’s presence and the praise of his people is carefully argued and illustrated. The result is a biblical theological exposition that is wonderfully relevant to contemporary debates among Christians about the nature and significance of praise. God-honoring praise is rightly considered in relation to gatherings for worship and the biblical call for a life of worship.
—David G. Peterson, Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia
In the intersection of biblical theology themes, God’s presence in the world and human praise of God merits careful consideration. Dr. Braun brings together these two important themes to enrich our understanding of the light the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, sheds on the relationship between God’s presence and God’s people’s praise. Her study, which engages with contemporary scholarship, offers a depth of treatment that is biblically grounded and theologically informed.
—T. Desmond Alexander, Union Theological College, Belfast, Northern Ireland