DIVINE COUNCIL Pastor Lillie FerrellTeacherPreacher.com

• A symbolic ruling body consisting of God as the supreme monarch and various supernatural attendants.

• Working through innumerable hosts of angelic servants, God creates and rules the physical universe, as well as the world of men.

• The Council of YHVH is responsible for maintaining order in creation especially earth and Israel.

The Divine Council

YHWH the Judge

• makes judicial decisions about the activities of its occupants.

• initiates punitive actions against those forces (divine or human) which cause chaos and disorder(i.e. sin),

• restores tsedaqah (righteousness) and shalom (wholeness, peace).

• Serve YHWH in each of his corresponding offices. • The King’s royal throne-room

– praise their King and act as his official counselors, courtiers, and messengers.

• The Judge’s court– Act as witnesses, investigating detectives, bailiffs, and perhaps

fellow judges.

• The Warrior vast army– wage war on evil beings

Angelic Host

• Yahweh is a unique God, but He is not alone• The Divine council did not threaten the position of YHVH

(Deut 10:17), • The conception of a host of angels or heavenly beings

surrounding Yahweh is always present in Israel. . . . • People could not conceive Yahweh in another fashion. . . • Far from clashing with monotheism this conception

shows the Majesty of Yahweh.

Monotheism - Majesty of Yahweh

God has taken his place in the divine council; In the midst of the gods he holds judgment . . I say, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.” (Ps 82:1, 6)

Monotheism - Majesty of Yahweh

• Many names occur in the book of Psalms, in Job• the beings do not have regularly prescribed titles at all;

the titles change. • In other words, as the beings serve different functions

they are titled accordingly. • a messenger could also be a soldier in YHVHs army or a

minister in the temple

Who are the Divine Council Members?

Mighty ones

Psalms 78:25, 103:20

Gods/divine beings

Pss 8:6 (Eng 5), 82:1, 86:8,97:7; 138:1Sons of

(the true) God

Gen 6:2 10; Deut 32:8;11; Job 1:6, 2:1,

38:7; cf. Dan 3:25; Pss 29:1, 89:6

Sons of the Most High

Ps 82:6

Warriors or Troops

Job 19:12, 25:3; Deut 33:2b-3; Zech 14:5; Joel 4:11; (Ps 68:17;

103:19-20

Guardians (of the

people) Deut 33:3 13

Messenger of AngelGen 19:1; 28:12;

32:2-7; 2 Sam 24:16; Zech 1-5; Pss 8:5,

91:11, 103:20, 148:2

Host/army Jos 5:14-15; 1 Kgs

22:19; Isa 24:21; Jer 19:13; Zeph 1:5 ; Pss 103:21, 148:2; Neh

9:6; Dan 4:32

Holy ones Deut 33:2-3 19; Hos 12:1; Zech 14:5; Pss 16:3, 89:5, 7, 8; Prov 9:10?, 30:3?; Job 5:1,

15:15;

Who are the Divine Council Members?

Heavenly realm [God is Creator]

Familial [God is Father]

Regal [God is King]

Military [God is Warrior]

Court [God is Judge]

Divine Council members relationship to YHVH

• Your wonders, O LORD, are praised by the heavens, Your faithfulness, too, in the assembly of holy beings. For who in the skies can equal the LORD, can compare with the LORD among the divine beings, A God greatly dreaded in the council of holy beings, Held in awe by all around Him? (Ps 89:5-8, NJV)

Monotheism - Majesty of Yahweh

• The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

• Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word.

• Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will. (Ps 103:19-21) 6

Monotheism - Majesty of Yahweh

Teacher Preacher

Lillie Ferrell is a pastor, speaker, and

author whose primary focus is leadership

training, mentoring and spiritual formation

for the Body of Christ. She is often called

the “Teacher/Preacher” and you will quickly

discover her passion for Godly knowledge

and teaching. Learn more of her teachings

at http://teacherpreacher.com/

You Are Invited to a Glorious Gospel Worship XPerience! Saturdays, 6pm, in the Wesley Center at Clear Lake Methodist Church

LILLIE FERRELL

Clear Lake Methodist Church

16335 El Camino Real

Houston TX 77062

281-488-5110

Follow Me On: