Key Terms: typology, type, antitype, desecularization, strength, courage, presence, awareness, response, distraction, resistance, Deus absconditus, mediated presence, Ancient Israelite religion, Ten Commandments

Learning Targets:

  1. Explain the significance of God’s presence in Psalm 23 and its reassurance throughout Scripture. Learners will be able to articulate how the phrase “You are with me” expresses trust in God’s presence during times of scarcity, danger, and uncertainty, and how this theme recurs in both Old and New Testament narratives.

  2. Analyze the repeated command to “be strong and courageous” in Joshua 1:6–9 and its connection to spiritual leadership. Learners will examine how Yahweh’s instructions to Joshua emphasize courage, obedience, and meditation on the Law as essential qualities for leading God’s people into the Promised Land.

  3. Describe the concept of typology and its role in interpreting connections between the Old and New Testaments. Learners will define typology, identify examples (e.g., Joshua as a type of Jesus), and explain how New Testament writers use Old Testament figures and events to foreshadow Christ and the Church.

  4. Discuss the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land as a metaphor for spiritual transformation and communal identity. Learners will reflect on how the Exodus narrative represents leaving behind idolatry and slavery, moving toward God’s presence, and how this journey shapes the identity and faith of God’s people.

  5. Evaluate the impact of the Great Awakening and religious liberty on American identity and values. Learners will assess how historical movements like the Great Awakening promoted personal faith, religious diversity, and foundational virtues, and how these continue to influence American society and law.

  6. Interpret the theological concept of Deus Absconditus (“hidden God”) and its implications for faith and experience. Learners will explore Martin Luther’s idea of the “hidden God,” the mystery of divine presence and absence, and how Scripture normalizes questions and feelings of abandonment in the spiritual journey.

  7. Compare the movement from fear to love and obedience in biblical teaching, including the role of the Commandments and the New Covenant. Learners will trace how reverence for God (fear) leads to love and obedience, how Jesus summarizes the Law as love for God and neighbor, and how the New Covenant promises direct relationship and transformation.

Immanuel PDF