Where is the soul to be found

7. Ziel wordt levend

 

 

In the study about the creation of mankind we explained that a human being is a spiritual personality with a body.
A human being is a living soul.

But where is the soul to be found? Where is the deepest personality of a human being to be found?

 

 

The Bible says the following with regard to the place where the soul is to be found:

For the life (soul) of a (every) creature is in the blood.   (Leviticus 17:11)

Because the life (soul) of every creature is its blood.   (Leviticus 17:14)

‘Every creature’ can mean every kind of ‘creature’, but also ‘all living beings’, both animals and people.

The soul is not found when blood is examined in a laboratory, because the soul is spiritual.
As it is said that the soul is in the blood, this has to be understood spiritually.

The soul ‘dwells’ in the blood.
Blood penetrates the whole body. This means that the whole body is saturated with a human being’s character and personality, with all his desires and emotions.

The ‘headquarters’ of the blood is the heart, which is also considered to be the centre of emotions and inclinations.

A few Bible verses:

‘Inclinations’ appears to be the translation of several different words in the original text.

The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination (intention) of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.   (Genesis 6:5)

May these words of my mouth and this meditation (inclination – reverie) of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.   (Psalm 19:14)

Many are the plans (inclinations – intentions) in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.   (Proverbs 19:21)

But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations (plans – deliberations) of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.   (Jeremiah 7:24)

Knowing their thoughts (considerations), Jesus said, “Why do you entertain (consider) evil thoughts in your hearts?  (Matthew 9:4)

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.   (Matthew 15:18)

Jesus, knowing their thoughts (of their hearts – the thinking of someone who consults with himself), took a little child and had him stand beside him.   (Luke 9:47)

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking (the thinking of someone who consults with himself) became futile and their foolish (stupid, lacking insight) hearts were darkened.   (Romans 1:21)

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.   (Proverbs 3:3)

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed (given them rest, revived) the hearts of the Lord’s people.   (Philemon 1:7)

Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability (in the heart) to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you.   (Exodus 31:6)

The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.   (1 Kings 10:24)

My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation (reverie, expression) of my heart will give you understanding.   (Psalm 49:3)

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge (also: discernment, insight) will be pleasant to your soul.   (Proverbs 2:10)

Those who trust in themselves (their hearts) are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.   (Proverbs 28:26)

I said to myself (literally: I spoke words to my heart), “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced (seen, understood) much of wisdom and knowledge.”   (Ecclesiastes 1:16)

These texts show:

  • that the way in which one behaves is determined by the heart’s intentions.
  • that the heart’s deliberations are known to God.
  • that plans are made, and intentions cherished, in the heart.
  • that behaviour is determined by the deliberations and the plans of the heart.
  • that speech is determined by what lives in the heart.
  • that a human being consults with himself in his heart.
  • that the heart can be stupid, lacking insight.
  • that love and faithfulness emanate from the heart.
  • that the heart can receive rest and can be revived.
  • that the heart can receive wisdom from God.
  • that wisdom emanates from the heart.
  • that insight emanates from the heart’s deliberations.
  • that it is foolish to trust in one’s own heart.
  • that the heart understands wisdom and knowledge.

As it is said that all this comes from the heart, as the seat of the soul, this means that the whole person is involved, just as the heart pumps blood throughout the whole body.

What a human being does is determined by who that person is in his heart, as a living soul.
This is experienced in the speech and behaviour, and in the person’s whole charisma.

 

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Where is the soul to be found?