The Books of Poetry

Book

Pain & sufferingJob

Song of Solomon

Ecclesiastes

Psalms

Proverbs

Problem

Prayer & Worship

Conduct

Meaning & significance

Love

Sovereign

God as…

Holy

All-wise

Creator

Lover of His people

On his face before God

Man as…

Before the throne of

GodReceiving instruction

Under the sun

In a love relationship

Poetic Literature

PsalmsSong of Solomon

Wisdom Literature

JobProverbs

Ecclesiastes

Poetic Literature

Narrator is viewed as a normal man

Wisdom Literature

Narrator is viewed as the wise voice of

experienceTouch the heart Touch the mind

Focus on human emotion

Focus on wisdom

Love for God and for others

Living before God and with others

The Book of Suffering

Setting for the Story

Uz

The Story• The Heavenly Challenge• Job’s Calamities• Satan’s Second Accusation• Job’s Continuing Endurance• Job’s Three Friends

The Cast of Characters

• Job• Mrs. Job• God• Satan• Three Friends

– Eliphaz– Bildad– Zophar

• Elihu

Dialogue & Discourse

Chapters 1-2

Historical prologue:

Job Tested

Chapters 3-31

Job’s three

friends

Chapters 33-37

Elihu’s speeches

Chapters 38-41

God speaks

Chapter 42

Historical epilogue:

Job Restored

Prose Section Poetry Section

Plain language Highly ornateWritten in pure

HebrewContains many expressions characteristic of Chaldaean

When God Finally Speaks...

• He does not give Job any answers to his questions

• He does not give Job any comfort in his situation

Job 38:1-3Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

Job 38:4-7"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?Tell Me, if you have understanding, who set its measurements, since you know?Or who stretched the line on it?On what were its bases sunk?Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

Job 40:1Then the LORD said to Job, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it."

Job 42:1-2Then Job answered the LORD,

and said, “I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.”

Job 42:5-6"I have heard of Thee by the

hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."

Job 42:7And it came about after the LORD

had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.

Job 42:8-9“Now therefore, take for yourselves

seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

Lessons from Job• God is both all-loving and all-

powerful• There are no simple answers• Expression of grief & trouble is

appropriate, but not to pass judgment on God

• God is in control, even when it is not obvious to our eyes

• God has a purpose in what he allows, even if we do not know what it is

Lessons from Job• Tragedy can serve as a wake-up call• God has not remained distant from us

in our pain• Job is about God’s condemnation

Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be

justified? (Job 40:8).

God was condemned in Christ.

The Hymnbook of God

Characteristics of the Psalms

• A thousand years of history• Musical instruments• Quoted in New Testament• Relates our response to God• A “sensory” book

What are the different types of Psalms?

• Praise Psalms• Songs of Thanksgiving• Royal Psalms• Wisdom Psalms• Psalms of Remembrance• Psalms of Lament• Imprecatory Psalms

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5

Chapters 1-41

Chapters 42-72

Chapters 73-89

Chapters 90-106

Chapters 107-150

Mostly written by David

Mostly by Asaph

Mostly anonymous

Mostly by David

How blessed is the man who does not... Walk... In the

counsel... Of the wicked

Stand... In the path... Of sinners

Sit... In the seat... Of scoffers

Psalm 1

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5

Chapters 1-41

Chapters 42-72

Chapters 73-89

Chapters 90-106

Chapters 107-150

Mostly written by David

Mostly by Asaph

Mostly anonymous

Mostly by David

The title Elohim is used much morethan is the name Yahweh

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5

Chapters 1-41

Chapters 42-72

Chapters 73-89

Chapters 90-106

Chapters 107-150

Mostly written by David

Mostly by Asaph

Mostly anonymous

Mostly by David

Focus upon Israel, Jerusalem andthe Temple

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5

Chapters 1-41

Chapters 42-72

Chapters 73-89

Chapters 90-106

Chapters 107-150

Mostly written by David

Mostly by Asaph

Mostly anonymous

Mostly by David

An exclusive use of Yahweh

Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5

Chapters 1-41

Chapters 42-72

Chapters 73-89

Chapters 90-106

Chapters 107-150

Mostly written by David

Mostly by Asaph

Mostly anonymous

Mostly by David

The Psalms of Praise

Psalms 113-118

(Sung at Passover)

The Value of the Psalms

• A Commentary of the Old Testament

• Liturgy for Worship• A Pattern for Prayer• Wisdom for Living

The Book of Wisdom

Title of the book

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel (Proverbs 1:1).

PsalmsBook of Worship

ProverbsBook of Wisdom

Speaks to our Spirit Speaks to our Intellect

Life in the prayer closet

Life out in the street

Teach us how to be holy before God

Teach us how to practice holiness

before menLove the Lord with all your heart, soul, and

mind

Love your neighbor as yourself

1:1-6 1:7 10:1 21:1 30:1 31:1 Prologue Appeal to

Wisdom One-verse maxims Larger

Couplets Good Woman

Purpose of the Proverbs

Wisdom Personified

Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs of Hezekiah

Words of Agur

Words of King Lemuel

Themes in the Proverbs• The way of Wisdom

11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.12 When you walk, your steps will not beimpeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.

(Proverbs 4:11-12).

13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not proceed in the way of evil men.

(Proverbs 4:13-14).

15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they

make someone stumble. (Proverbs 4:15-16).

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.18 But the path of the righteous is like the

light of dawn,That shines brighter and brighter until the full

day.19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.

(Proverbs 4:17-19).

20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.21 Do not let them depart from your sight;Keep them in the midst of your heart.

(Proverbs 4:20-21).

22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their whole body.23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs

4:22-23).

Themes in the Proverbs• The way of Wisdom• Principles of Work

2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.3 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will thrust aside the craving of the wicked.4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. (Proverbs

10:2-4).

He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts

shamefully. (Proverbs 10:5).

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.(Proverbs

10:26).

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. (Proverbs

10:26).

Themes in the Proverbs• The way of Wisdom• Principles of Work

– Skilled work will lead to success– Diligent work will lead to success

The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.

(Proverbs 15:19)

Go to the ant, O sluggardObserve her ways and be wise,

Which, having no chief,Officer, or ruler;

Prepares her food in the summer,And gathers her provisions in the harvest.

(Proverbs 15:19)

Themes in the Proverbs• The way of Wisdom• Principles of Work• Principles of Business and Finance

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. (Proverbs 3:27-28).

He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

(Proverbs 3:27-28).

Themes in the Proverbs• The way of Wisdom• Principles of Work• Principles of Business and Finance• Principles of Spiritual Speech

For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.(Proverbs 26:20).

Lessons from the Proverbs• The Universal need for Wisdom• The Universal Arena of Wisdom• What is Wise is also what is Good• Principles rather than Promises• A real view of the real world• Christians are called to be street-smart

ECCLESIASTESThe Question of Life

Song of

Solomon

Ruth

Lamentations

Ecclesiastes

Esther Passover Shabuot

(Pentecost) Fall of

Jerusalem Sukkot

(Tabernacles) Purim

Nisan 14 Sivan 8 Ab 9 Tishri 15 Adar 14

April 17 June 9 August 8 September 24 March 19

Note: English equivalent dates are only close

approximations

Solomon’s Diary

1-2 3 4-5 6-9 10-12

All of life is emptiness,

but man ought to

enjoy goodness because it

is from God

There is profit in

seeing God as the giver of all of the seasons of

life

Instead of being

fearful, enjoy life

while it lasts because it

is a gift from God

Man sees life as a struggle, but God

gave life to be enjoyed

Because of the

emptiness of this life, man ought to fear the Lord and follow His

word

2nd Sermon

3rd Sermon

4th Sermon

5th Sermon

1st Sermon

Lessons from the Seasons of Life

• Life is a gift from God• To everything there is a season• This is a call to live purposefully• We are called to enjoy the journey• Part of this enjoyment is found in the

“one another principles”

The Preacher gives four reasons why it is better not to

be alone4:9 4:10 4:11 4:12Two are better than one because…They have good results in their labor

They can pick up one another in trouble

They can warm one another in the cold

They can hold up one another in adversity

Work Falling Cold Adversity

Principles of Priority

11:9 11:10 12:1Rejoice... in young manhood

Remove vexation from your heart pain from your body

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth

Remember the Lord because…

• You aren’t getting any Younger.• God has designed you to be Empty

without Him.• Now is the Time to Prepare for Eternity.

SONG OF SONGSThe Love Song of the

Scriptures

Interpretations of the Book• Allegorical Interpretation: Entire book

is seen as an allegory of the Lord’s love for His people Israel.

• Cultic Interpretation: Poems for use in marriage ritual.

• Shepherd Interpretation: Views Solomon as the villain.

• Typical Interpretation: Type of the church

• Natural or Literal Interpretation

Cast of Characters• Solomon: Shelomoh “Peaceful”

• Shulamith: Feminine of Shelomoh

Romance &Honeymoon

(Chapters 1-4)

Happily everafter

(Chapters 7-8)

Marital Problems(Chapters 5-6)

The Story behind the Song

• The story begins• Boy meets girl• He promises to return• He returns, not as a shepherd, but as

the reigning king• Solomon takes his bride to Jerusalem• A temporary separation (Chapters 5-6)

Observations from the Book• The name of Yahweh is not mentioned• The book is never quoted in the New

Testament• Jews would not permit their young

people to read this book

Lessons from the Song of Songs

• God is concerned with all of life• God is concerned with our sexuality• All of life reflects our relationship with

God• The Scriptures contain love songs• We are a part of a sacred romance