HOMILETICS VS HERMENEUTICS- HEARING GOD AND PREACHING HIM: THE ART AND THE PRACTICE OF INTERPRETATION AND PREACHING THE DIVINE ORACLES

The passage explores the relationship between God’s communication and human understanding, asserting that divine sound has never been inherently confusing. God, described as having “the voice as of many waters,” has consistently called men and women throughout history, speaking with solemnity, authority, and sometimes thunderous force. This voice was received and interpreted by holy figures—Moses, Jesus, and the apostles—who recorded their understanding in the scriptures. Their interpretations, termed “doxological exegesis,” aimed to instruct and guide people spiritually.

Confusion in preaching or hearing God’s word arises not from God but from human misinterpretation, akin to an “uncertain trumpet sound” caused by misunderstanding instructions. The passage emphasizes that personal reflection, careful interpretation, and spiritual engagement with scripture (“recogitations”) shape one’s comprehension and the credibility of their preaching. Historical examples illustrate human resistance, spiritual stunting, and enforced transformation within Israel and early Jewish-Christian communities, highlighting the tension between divine clarity and human response. Ultimately, God’s communication is clear; human reception determines whether the message guides or misleads.