The Understanding of Conversion by the Prophets before the Exile

Studija polazi od činjenice da je pojam obraćenja/vraćanja temeljna proročka kategorija kojom se izriče Božji odnos spram pojedinca i naroda, a s druge strane odnos čovjeka i naroda spram Boga. To se najbolje izražava hebrejskim pojmom šub koji u teološkom smislu znači tražiti Jahvu, raspitivati se o njemu, njemu se ponizno pokoriti, svoje srce osloniti na njega, njemu se prikloniti. Ono što odgovara proročkoj zadaći a što je sadržano u svim oblicima ovoga glagola jest određena promjena, jest poziv na pokret, na traženje Boga, na traženje života, na dinamiku života, na odluku, na povratak Bogu i na odvraćanje od zla, zapravo jednom riječju na hod s Bogom. U konačnici to je put vjere. Obraćenje se događa na relaciji Bog - čovjek pri čemu Bog ima glavnu ulogu ukoliko započinje proces »vraćanja« čovjeku, ukoliko prvi oprašta čovjeku i ukoliko ne postavlja nikakve uvjete čovjeku. Ono što čovjek ipak treba učiniti jest da odgovori na takvu Božju ponudu. Proroci žele istaknuti kako Bog u svojoj ljubavi ostaje dosljedan, uporan i ustrajan te kako se narod u odnosu na takvoga Boga pokazuje kao nevjerna žena, kao neposlušni sin ili pak kao nepouzdani partner. Sve je ovo ilustrirano na primjerima proroka Amosa, Hošee i Jeremije.The starting point of the study is the fact of the term conversion/return being the fundamental prophetic category by which is expressed God\u27s relationship towards an individual and people and, on the other hand, the relationship of man and people towards God. This is best expressed by Hebrew term šub which in theological sense means looking for Yahweh, asking about him, to obey him humbly, turn somebody\u27s heart towards him. That what belongs to the prophetic task, and what is contained in all forms of this verb, is a certain change, a certain invitation on movement, the pursuit of God, the pursuit of life, the dynamics of life, on decision, on return to God and the rejection of evil, in one word, on journey with God. In the final analysis, it is the journey of faith. Conversion takes place on the relation God-man whereby God has the main role to the extent that he triggers man\u27s process of »returning« in so far as he firstly forgives him and does not put any conditions. What man has to do is to respond to such an offer from God. The prophets want to point out that God in his decision remains consistent, persistent and persevering and that people in comparison to such God come out us an unfaithful wife, as a disobedient son or as an unreliable partner. All this is illustrated by the examples from the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Jeremiah