THEO 360
Name: Amber Keltner
CASE STUDY: THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTIVE TEMPLATE
1. Understanding the Divine Attributive
A. I have read the Exodus 34:6-7 and its iterations in Psalm 86; 103, Jonah 4:2, Joel 2, and
Micah 7 in one sitting. Highlight the correct answer:
oYes
oNo
B. I have read Exodus 34:6-7 in both a formal/word-for-word translation (KJV, NKJV,
NASB, ESV, or CSB) and a functional translation/thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT, or
NCV). You can find a copy of these translations at BibleGateway.com.
oYes
oNo
C. After reading Exodus 34:6-7 these three times, note your initial observations of this
passage in the chart below.
Verse(s) Observations
6 This verus highlights God's attributes of mercy, grace, patience, love, and
faithfulness, illustrating His compassion, forgiveness, unearned favor, enduring
patience, unconditional love, and steadfast dedication to His promises.
6-7
God's just and compassionate nature, emphasizing His readiness to offer mercy and
forgiveness while maintaining justice.
7
Acknowledges God’s forgiveness.
7 Points out the consequences of sin for current and future generations.
6 We see that God’s covenants are kept through generations.
7 God’s love for current and future generations.
6 Our Lord is a slow to anger Lord with patience, mercy and kindness.
6 Moses was in God’s presence.
THEO 360
D. Using your Bible and the chart of observations on Exodus 34:6-7 you have constructed
above, record the major facts of the passage. For this exercise you should not consult any
outside resource. You are simply writing down what you have observed in reading the
Scriptures.
i. Who (main characters in the narrative):
Moses
God
Iseralites
ii. What are the circumstances:
Following the receipt of the Ten Commandments from God, the Israelites
engaged in idolatry by worshiping a golden calf and forsaking God. This provoked God's anger,
prompting Moses to intervene to mitigate the severity of God's punishment. Moses climbed
Mount Sinai to implore God's forgiveness for the Israelites and to secure a new set of stone
tablets inscribed with God's commandments. These laws were sacred and intended to direct the
daily lives of the Israelites. Moses effectively convinced God to pardon the Israelites, and he
descended the mountain with a new set of tablets, known as the "Tablets of the Law." These
tablets symbolized God's covenant with the Israelites and served as a continual reminder of their
pledge to adhere to His commandments.
iii. Where (setting):
Moses had returned to Egypt to confront the Israelites following a directive from
God. The events described occur on Mount Sinai, where Moses sought God's intervention on
behalf of the Israelites.
iv. When (What section of the Old Testament and/or when in the history of Israel):
13 BCE. After the Iseralites wandered the desert as stated in Exodus 34 (Old
Testament).
THEO 360
E. Passage Comparison: Using your Bible and the chart of observations you have
constructed above and the interpretative data gathered on Exodus 34:6-7, compare the
context and circumstances to those of the following passages where the Divine
Attributive are reiterated. Each passage must have a complete paragraph (3-5 complete
sentences) describing the context and circumstance of the reiteration of Exodus 34:6-7
Psalm 86; 103
The attributes described in Exodus 34:6-7 are echoed in Psalms 86 and 103, though in
varying contexts. In Psalm 86, David seeks God's kindness, protection, and guidance while
expressing his trust in God and recognizing his need for gratitude. Psalm 103, centers on God's
abundant love, healing, and renewal. The reiteration of these divine traits from Exodus 34:6-7
underscores God's nature as merciful, gracious, patient, and rich in steadfast love. Both Psalms
underscore God's readiness to pardon sins and give compassion and love to those who revere
Him. While Psalm 86 primarily addresses an individual's plea for safety and mercy, Psalm 103
focuses on the broad spectrum of God's blessings and forgiveness, both underscore the same
divine attributes.
Jonah 4:2
In Jonah 4:2, the divine attributes listed in Exodus 34:6-7 are reiterated, albeit within a
different scenario. Jonah shows his frustration and displeasure with God's merciful and
compassionate actions towards the people of Nineveh. Initially, God had tasked Jonah with
delivering a prophecy of doom to Nineveh, but upon their repentance, God chose not to carry out
the destruction. Jonah's reaction highlights his dissatisfaction with God's mercy, as he felt that
the Ninevites deserved punishment. He reaffirms God's merciful and forgiving nature even
though he struggles with the idea that such kindness might seem to contradict the need for
justice. This passage underscores Jonah's struggle to reconcile his views of justice with God's
merciful character, illustrating his limited grasp of divine justice.
Joel 2
In Joel 2, the passage reflects the themes of Exodus 34:7, highlighting that God will not
excuse the guilty and that the consequences of sin will impact future generations. However, the
chapter concludes by reaffirming God's faithfulness, demonstrating His mercy and love towards
His people.
THEO 360
Micah 7
We observe once more the consequences of sin and the distress it brings. However, there
remains hope among God's people, for they recognize Him as a God of compassion and mercy, a
God who forgives rebellion and sin.
2. Making Sense of the Divine Attributive
A. In 300-500 words, you must identify three times where you see language from Exodus
34:6-7 in Nehemiah 9. You must interact with a minimum of 3 academic sources and
include biblical references to support your findings.
Nehemiah 9:17 states, "You are a God who pardons. You are merciful, gentle, and slow to
anger. You are abundant in love, and thus, you did not abandon them."1 This refers to the
disobedience and sins of God's people, who did not heed His commands. The passage reflects the
themes of forgiveness, mercy, and patience2 in Exodus 34:6-7, as seen in similar expressions in
Psalms 103:8, Joel 2:13, and Jonah 4:2.
Nehemiah 9:19-20 describes how God demonstrated His love and faithfulness by guiding
His people through the wilderness, using a cloud by day and fire by night, and by providing
manna when they were hungry. This reflects God's enduring love and mercy as mentioned in
Exodus 34:6-7.
Nehemiah 9:33 discusses God's mercy, noting that despite the people's rebellion, God
forgave them and remained faithful. This aligns with the descriptions of God's faithfulness and
mercy found in Exodus 34:6-7.
1 New International Reader’s Version, 1st ed. (Zondervan, 1998), Ne 9:171
2 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible(Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ne 9:172
THEO 360
B. In 300-500 words, discuss how God’s character influences the unfolding of history, your
understanding of your circumstances, or how God relates to His people. You must
interact with a minimum of 3 academic sources and include biblical references to support
your findings.
John 3:16 clarifies God's love, stating that He sent His Son to ensure eternal life for
every person, past and future, with acceptance of Jesus Christ as the only path to salvation.3 This
personal testament to experiencing God's justice, mercy, love, and goodness reflects the
transformative impact of accepting Jesus Christ, underscoring my unworthiness yet highlighting
the grace that affords me eternal life beyond my earthly existence. This is a testament to God's
ultimate sacrifice and boundless love.
The consistent portrayal of God's nature across various biblical texts, including
Exodus, Psalms, Job, Micah, and Nehemiah, highlighting His supreme authority and power,
especially during Moses' encounter with Him on Mount Sinai. “Sovereignty characterizes the
whole Being of God. He is Sovereign in all his attributes. He is Sovereign in the exercise of
His power.”4 It discusses the transformative role of the Holy Spirit in leading believers from
darkness to enlightenment, aligning their thoughts and deeds with God's divine will as revealed
in Scripture. This transformation is essential for salvation, which necessitates a shift in mindset
from secular humanism to a life filled with the Holy Spirit, enhancing one's relationship with
God.5 The passage also emphasizes the importance of renewing one's mind in Christ, as
advocated by Joyce Meyer, to resist the devil's constant threats. It portrays God as
compassionate, merciful, and loving, characteristics that are consistently revealed in both the Old
and New Testaments. God's enduring desire for closeness with us is emphasized, showing His
unwavering love not only when we do well but also when we falter.
3 John 3:16. The Bible. New Living Translation.
4 Pink, Arthur Walkington. The Sovereignty of God. Grand Rapids, Mich: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 2007
5 Romans 12:2. The Bible. New Living Translation.
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