IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
SBC is holding their graduation at 11 am, cars
packed at the Basement may be blocked.
If your vehicle is parked in the Basement
Carpark, kindly move it to the Canal
Carpark during the BREAK.
Psalm 95 : 1 - 6
1 Come,
let us sing for joy to the LORD; let
us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let
us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
3 For
the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
Psalm 95 : 1 - 6
4 In
his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The
sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come,
let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker
1 Chronicles 29 : 10b - 13
Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father
Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours,
LORD, is the greatness and the
power
and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth
is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you
are exalted as head over all.
1 Chronicles 29 : 10b - 13
12 Wealth
and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now,
our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon the throne
Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
Awake my soul and sing
Of Him who died for me
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
Crown Him the Lord of life
Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those who came to save
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
Crown Him the Lord of peace
Behold His hands and side
Rich wounds yet visible above
In beauty glorified
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight
But downward bends his burning eye
At mysteries so bright
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
Crown Him the Lord of years
Whose power the sceptre sways
From pole to pole that wars may cease
And all be prayer and praise
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
His reign shall know no end
And round His pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever so sweet
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
Crown Him the Lord of years
The potentate of time
Creator of the rolling spheres
Ineffably sublime
CROWN HIM WITH MANY
CROWNS
All hail Redeemer hail
For Thou hast died for me
Thy grace shall never, never fail
Throughout eternity
THIS KINGDOM
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed
The Son of Man, the Son of God
His Kingdom comes
THIS KINGDOM
Jesus, redemption’s sacrifice
Now glorified, we’re justified
His kingdom comes
THIS KINGDOM
And this Kingdom will know no end
And its glories shall know no bound
For the majesty and power
Of the Kingdom’s King has come
THIS KINGDOM
And this Kingdom’s reign
And this Kingdom’s rule
And this Kingdom’s power and
authority
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed
THIS KINGDOM
Jesus, the expression of God’s love
The Grace of God, the Word of God
Revealed to us
THIS KINGDOM
Jesus, God’s holiness displayed
Now glorified, we’re justified
His Kingdom comes
THIS KINGDOM
And this Kingdom will know no end
And its glories shall know no bound
For the majesty and power
Of the Kingdom’s King has come
THIS KINGDOM
And this Kingdom’s reign
And this Kingdom’s rule
And this Kingdom’s power and
authority
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed
THIS KINGDOM
And this Kingdom will know no end
And its glories shall know no bound
For the majesty and power
Of the Kingdom’s King has come
THIS KINGDOM
And this Kingdom’s reign
And this Kingdom’s rule
And this Kingdom’s power and
authority
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed
FEED 210/213
Mentoring Through The OT/
Poetical Books
SESSION 5A:
INTRODUCTION
TO THE
POETICAL
BOOKS
Prophetic
Law
Narrative
Poetry
Major
Minor
Genesis
Job
Isaiah
Hosea
Exodus
Joshua
Psalms
Jeremiah
Joel
Leviticus
Judges
Proverbs
Numbers
Ruth
Ecclesiastes
Ezekiel
Obadiah
Deuteronomy
I Samuel
Song of Songs
Daniel
Jonah
II Samuel
Lamentations
Amos
Micah
I Kings
Nahum
II Kings
Habakkuk
I Chronicles
Zephaniah
II Chronicles
Haggai
Ezra
Zechariah
Nehemiah
Malachi
Esther
1d) Common Features
i. They are poetical in nature (in the Hebrew sense
of it).
ii. They are mainly written as responses to God
rather than as Word from God (as in Law and
Prophets) or works of God (as in the narrative).
i. As such, they are often more examples and
inspirations for our response to God rather
than direct commandment or instruction from
God.
iii. They are mainly the voices of humans.
i. We have to differentiate the speeches which
are God’s and that which are from humans.
1d) Common Features
“Because the Bible is God’s
word, many Christians
automatically assume that all it
contains are words from God to
people. Thus they fail to
recognize that the Bible also
contains words spoken to God
or about God—which is what the
psalms do—and that these
words, too, are God’s Word. That
is, because psalms are basically
prayers and hymns, by their very
nature they are addressed to
God or express truth about God
in song.” FAIW 212
1e) Further Division of the Poetical Books
HEBREW POETRY/POETICAL BOOKS
Sub-Genre
Style
Songs/Poetry
Wisdom
Proverbial
Speculative
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Lyric
(Originally accompanied by music
& possessing strong emotions.)
Psalms
Didactic
(Teaches principles about life by
means of proverbs or maxims.)
Dramatic
(Dialogue between people in
poetical form.)
Lament
(Poetical expression of sorrow or
lamentations.)
Song of Songs
Lamentations
Job
2) HEBREW POETRY
A) Extent of Poetry/Wisdom in the OT:
About 1/4 to 1/3 of the OT is poetry.
3b) The Nature of Hebrew Poetry
a.
Rhyme is not a fundamental element of Hebrew
poetry although occasionally, they are employed
very effectively.
i) Terseness/Compact:
(1)
(2)
Few conjunctions.
Parallelism (with an equal or near equal number
of syllables in parallel lines).
6) Hebrew Parallelism
a. This is the dominant feature of Hebrew
poetry. This feature involves the
repetition of the same idea in the first
colon in a way that further develops the
idea, i.e., it expresses a progression of
thought.
i) Terseness/Compact:
(1)
(2)
Few conjunctions.
Parallelism (with an equal or near equal number
of syllables in parallel lines).
Chiasm
(3)
(a)
(4)
In contrast to parallelism, the parallel stich reverses the
order of units found in the initial stich. If connected with
lines, the parallel members would form an X (Greek chi),
hence the name chiasm.
Imagery
Tip the Waiter
ii) Stylistic Devices
1) Acrostics
Our Core Values Believing
Prayer Accountable
Relationships Reaching Out
to the Nations Teaching the
Word Loving
Families Exercising
Stewardship Yielding to the
Spirit
ii) Stylistic Devices
1) Acrostics
2) Play on sound
3) Graded numbers
3c Implications of Hebrew Poetry
i)
Poetry is more self-conscious language requiring more
thought than prose.
(1)
Poetry requires careful consideration how something
is said as well as what is said.
“Poetry has an intensified and heightened use of imagery, parallelism, and other
literary devises.” Longman, Guide to OT Theology 111-12
ii)
It is meant to be sung, heard and memorized and not just
read, studied and analyzed.
(1)
Hebrew Poetry is music without notes.
“Psalms are poems, and poems intended to be sung: not doctrinal treatises, nor even
sermons…. Most emphatically the Psalms must be read as poems; as lyrics, with all
the licenses and all the formalities, the hyperboles, the emotional rather than logical
connections, which are proper to lyric poetry.” CS Lewis, Reflections on Psalms 2-3.
3c Implications of Hebrew Poetry
“…there is no better way to express devotion to God than through song. Much of the
poetry of the Old Testament was originally performed as music. Rather than a source
of theological doctrines, it was the expression of deep faith, whether that of the
individual singer or of the community. It has maintained its appeal through centuries
because the believing community can join in the song to express its own faith and
devotion. Today, the musical score has been lost, but the potent poetic words still
provide not only a way to know God, but even more, a way to voice praise for God
who alone is worthy of it.” Lasor, OT Survey, 242.
(2) Poetry is to be spoken aloud to elicit the emotional
response intended by the author.
“Poetry is to be felt…. Our reaction in reading ought to be such that we feel so
intensely with the psalmists that we cannot think of their words without some form
of response.” Allen, Praise! 46.
(3) They therefore “preserve” stories better.
3c Implications of Hebrew Poetry
iii) It is experiential.
(1)Poetry communicates the
experience of the author.
iv) It tends to be exaggerated.
“Poetry might be defined as a kind of language that
says more and says it more intensely than does
ordinary language.” Perrine, Sound and Sense, 4.
v) They are best read in their
respective historical contexts.
5) WISDOM LITERATURE
5a GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF WISDOM LITERATURE
i.
ii.
Akin to popular sayings.
Observations in life in made in
terms of down-to-earth
objects, creatures, and
experiences, with little
abstraction or theorizing.
iii. Practical.
iv. Didactic in nature: contains an
admonition or moral.
v. Short ones are brief, crisp
maxims, usually found in
series but yet mutually
independent.
vi. Longer ones resemble fables.
5b. ORIGIN AND
DEVELOPMENT AND
SPREAD
a)
b)
c)
Oral Transmission
Connected to religious and magical practices
Connected to different aspects of life
I)
Besides cultic practices, the development of wisdom
sayings is also linked to
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Politics
Child-training
Trade
Agriculture
Commerce
5bi Origin
I)
Biblical wisdom literature had its formal
beginnings in the 10th century B.C.
Noticeably, it was bolstered from the time
of Solomon.
III. 2) Establishment of schools
The continuation of an
office for the
wiseman can be
attested:
(1) Later, Hezekiah served as a patron of
the sages (Prov. 25:1).
(2) Jeremiah admonished the wisemen
for turning away from God’s word
(Jer. 8:9) and that their counsels will
perish (Jer. 18:18).
(3) The first actual mention of a school
in Jewish literature is in the time of
Sirach (ca 180 B.C.; Sir. 51:23).
5bii Contributors of Biblical
Wisdom Literature
I)
The wise men or sages (Prov. 1:6; 24:23;
22:17)
(1)
The most prominent contributor to the wisdom literature
would be Solomon, the patron of Wisdom (1 Kings 3–11)
Other contributors to biblical wisdom literature includes
(2)
a.
b.
c.
II)
Agur (Prov. 30:1–4)
Lemuel (Prov. 31:1–9)
The authors of Job and Ecclesiastes
Ultimately inspired by God.
5c. TYPES OF WISDOM GENRE
IN THE BIBLE
Biblical wisdom literature is similar to other
ANE wisdom literature in characteristics and
form. This could broadly be divided into 2
types:
i.Proverbial Wisdom
ii.Contemplative/speculative Wisdom
5d. Location in the Bible
I)
We see glimpses of wisdom literature or the
importance of wisdom in many places in the Old
Testament.
(1)
People who use wisdom and proverbs
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Goliath questioned David with a proverb (1 Sam. 17:43).
David recited a proverb in defending his innocence to Saul
(1 Sam. 24:13).
Nathan used a parable to confront David about his sin with
Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12).
King Ahab reminds Ben-hadad by way of a proverb not to
prematurely assume victory in battle (1Ki. 20:11).
Joash rebuffed Amaziah with a proverb (2 Ki. 14:9).
Isaiah employs an allegory of the farmer to explain to Israel
that God will not judge them forever (Isa. 28:23ff.).
(2) People who were known as
wise
(a) Men
(i) Jonadab was known as a shrewd man, even
though he gave evil counsel to Amnon (2 Sam.
13:33-35).
(ii) Ahithophel and his rival, Hushai, were
considered to be professional counselors (2
Sam. 15:12–17:23).
(iii) David was known as a man with a God-given
ability to discern good and evil (2 Sam. 14:17).
(iv) In addition to Solomon, four people were held
up as wise sages (1 Ki. 4:31).
6b. Location of Wisdom
Literature
I)
In the books of Proverbs, Job, and
Ecclesiastes
6b. Location of Wisdom
Literature
I)
In the books of Proverbs, Job, and
Ecclesiastes
II) The Wisdom Psalms (1, 19, 32, 34,
37, 49, 73, 78, 112, 119, 127, 128,
133).
III) In the Apocrypha
5e. OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
OF BIBLICAL WISDOM
i.
Wisdom literature makes no mention of the Patriarchs, the
Exodus, Moses, the Sinai Covenant, of the Davidic covenant (i.e.,
redemptive history).
Wisdom literature focuses attention on how individuals can
find God rather than on success as the nation of Israel.
Wisdom literature is applicable to all people at any period in
history (e.g., not limited by a particular historical context).
Wisdom literature is very practical dealing with everyday
issues and very practical examples. It is far from abstraction,
mysticism and philosophy.
It differs from other ANE wisdom literature because it is not
secular. Underlining each the general layout of each of the
wisdom literature in the Bible is the notation that above all, the
fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
i.
The theme of “the fear of the Lord” can be seen in all three books (Prov.
1:7; 9:10; cf. Job 28:28; Eccl. 12:13).
APPENDIX A
Types of Hebrew Parallelism
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
APPENDIX B
Major Figures of Speech in Hebrew Poetry
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
SBC is holding their graduation at 11 am, cars
packed at the Basement may be blocked.
If your vehicle is parked in the Basement
Carpark, kindly move it to the Canal
Carpark during the BREAK.