A reflective essay on how Isaiah’s compassion, Jesus’ inner kingdom, and the Gnostic idea of the divine spark reveal a long evolution in humanity’s understanding of God — from fear of an external ruler to awareness of the divine within.
From kings and judges to prophets and people, the Bible records a changing pattern of authority. Later writings speak of an inward covenant, expressed in George Herbert’s poetry and Vaughan Williams’ music: “My God and King.”