The God of the Old Testament does not reveal Himself in diffuse mystical experience nor in abstract propositions, but in concrete historical acts. As far as the Old Testament is concerned, history is the stuff of revelation. God is revealed by His mighty acts-both in the event itself and in the interpretation given that event. For example, in the Old Testament, righteousness is the fundamental attribute of God. But when the Old Testament sets forth the righteousness of God, it does not do so with abstract propositions about God's righteousness in Himself.
Hebrew literature is dynamic, concrete, and moves on a relational plane.
God is righteous by what He does. We have tried to theologize in an abstract, rationalistic, metaphysical and speculative framework. But this moves outside the framework of biblical theology. That is why most systematic theologies do not sound like the Bible. They contain good and helpful biblical data.