Proverbs 3: 5-6

Summer Reading 3:Old Testament Poetry

Biblical Wisdom

•“Skill in the art of godly living—that orientation which allows one to live in harmonious accord with God’s ordering of the world.”

- ESV Study Bible

Hebrew Wisdom Literature

•Proverbial Wisdom: PROVERBS•Philosophical Wisdom: JOB; ECCLESIASTES• Lyric Wisdom: PSALMS; SONG of SONGS

Hebrew Poetry’s “seconding sequence”• The second line is SYNONYMOUS.• The second line is ANTITHETICAL.• The second line is SYNTHETIC.

In the tables that follow for each book,the first table is from

The Life Application Bible (Tyndale, 1996) and the second table is from

Bruce Wilkinson, Your Daily Walk(Zondervan, 1991).

Job: the Bible’s oldest book

•The Problem of Evil & Suffering

 

 JOB 

AUTHOR Anonymous, but well-traveled and worldly-wise

 WHAT Why do bad things happen to good people?

 WHERE The land of Uz, probably in modern Syria

 WHEN c. 1450-1400 B.C., recording events about 500 years earlier

 

WHYTo demonstrate God’s omnipotence and sovereignty

and to reveal the character of true faith

KEY PEOPLE

Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, Elihu

FOCUS CONFLICT COUNSEL CONFIDENCE

DIVISIONS 1-3 Job’s Affliction & Lament 4-37 Job’s Counselorsand Controversy

38-42 Jehovah’s Answer and Acquittal

TOPICS

God’s Works Men’s Misunderstandings God’s Words

Satan Questions God Friends Question Job God Answers Job

PLACE The Land of Uz (Northern Arabia)

TIME The Patriarchal Period (c. 2000 B.C.)

JOB

JOB: The Adversary shows his hand

Job 1:6-76 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

JOB: Job stands fast

• Job 1:21 21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

JOB: Job’s friends arrive

• Job 2:11-1311 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.

12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.

13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

JOB: Job affirms his faith

• Job 19:25 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

JOB: Job sees God

• Job 42:5-6 5 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job’s Denouement

• “There can be little doubt that a resolution is achieved in the presence of the Creator, the only place where the meaning of human suffering can be understood.”

- ESV Study Bible

Psalms: The Bible’s Hymnal

 

 PSALMSAUTHOR David (75), the Sons of Korah (11), Asaph (12), 

Solomon (2), Moses (1), Anonymous (49) 

WHAT Laments, Hymns of Praise, Hymns of Thanksgiving, Hymns Celebrating God’s Law, Wisdom Psalms, Songs of Confidence, 

Royal Psalms, Historical Psalms, Prophetic Hymns

 WHERE The Temple in Jerusalem

 WHEN 1450 – 586 B.C.

 

WHYTo provide poetry for the expression of praise, 

worship, and confession to God

KEY PEOPLE

David, the Sons of Korah, Asaph, Solomon, Moses

SECTIONBook 1:

Psalms 1-41Book 2:

Psalms 42-72Book 3:

Psalms 73-89Book 4:

Psalm 90-106Book 5:

Psalms 107-150

MAIN AUTHOR(S) David David & Korah Asaph Anonymous David

POSSIBLE COMPILER David Hezekiah Ezra/Nehemiah

CONTENT Laments National Anthems Praise AnthemsTOPICAL LIKENESS TO TORAH

Genesis(Humankind)

Exodus(Redemption)

Leviticus(Worship)

Numbers(Wandering)

Deuteronomy(The Word of God)

BENEDICTION OF PRAISE 41:13 72:18-19 89:52 106.48 150:1-6

SPAN OF AUTHORSHIP About 1,000 Years

DATES OF COMPILATION 1020-970 B.C. 970-610 B.C. Until 430 B.C.

PSALMS

The Books of Psalms

•Book 1 (1-41) Genesis•Book 2 (42-72) Exodus•Book 3 (73-89) Leviticus•Book 4 (90-106) Numbers•Book 5 (107-150) Deuteronomy

Occasions for some Psalms

• Psalm Incident References• 3 David flees from and battles Absalom 2 Samuel 15–17• 7 The words of Cush, a Benjaminite (persecution by Saul?) Unknown• 18 David delivered from enemies and from Saul 2 Samuel 22• 30 Dedication of the temple Nothing in David’s lifetime; cf. 1 Kings 8:63• 34 David delivered from danger by feigning madness in the presence of King Achish of Gath

1 Sam. 21:12–22:1• 51 Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11–12• 52 Doeg the Edomite tells Saul that David went to the house of Ahimelech 1 Sam. 22:9–19• 54 The Ziphites tell Saul that David is hiding among them 1 Sam. 23:19• 56 The Philistines seize David in Gath 1 Sam. 21:10–11• 57 David flees from Saul into a cave 1 Sam. 22:1 or 24:3• 59 Saul sends men to watch David’s house in order to kill him 1 Sam. 19:11• 60 David’s victory over Transjordan 2 Sam. 8:1–14• 63 David in the desert of Judah 2 Samuel 15–17?; 1 Sam. 23:14–15?• 142 David flees from Saul into a cave Same as Psalm 57

Some of the Themes in Psalms

• Scripture• Lament• Faith• Forgiveness• Thanksgiving & Praise• (also Imprecation)•Psalms are intensely personal poems

adapted for congregational use.

PSALMS: SCRIPTURE

• Psalm 19:7-117 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

PSALMS: SCRIPTURE

•Psalm 119:1111 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:105105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

PSALMS: LAMENT

• Psalm 22:1, 7, 14, 16-181 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? • 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.• 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. • 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me;

they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

PSALMS: FAITH

•Psalm 9:9-109 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

PSALMS: FAITH

• Psalm 23:1-61 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

PSALMS: FAITH

•Psalm 37:4 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

PSALMS: FAITH

•Psalm 56:3-4 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

PSALMS: FAITH

•Psalm 103:13-1413 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

PSALMS: FORGIVENESS

• Psalm 51:1-21 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 32:5 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

PSALMS: PRAISE

•Psalm 95:1-21 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. Psalm 96:1-21 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

PSALMS: PRAISE

• Psalm 100:1-51 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

PSALMS: PRAISE

• Psalm 150:1-6 1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

PROVERBS

Everyday Wisdom

 

 PROVERBS 

AUTHOR Solomon, Hezekiah’s Men, “the wise,” Agur, Lemuel

 WHAT Everyday Wisdom

 WHERE The Royal Court in Jerusalem

 WHEN c. 950 B.C.

 

WHYTo teach people how to attain wisdom, discipline, and a prudent life,

and how to do what is right and just and fair—in short, to apply divine wisdom to everyday life

KEY PEOPLE

The Wise, The Fool, The Simple

FOCUS PROLOGUE PROVERBS PRECEPTS

DIVISIONS1: Purpose & Theme

2-9: A Father’s Counsel10-21: Words of Solomon 

(part 1)22-24: Words of Wise Men25-29: Words of Solomon 

(part 2)

30: Words of  Agur31: Words about a Virtuous Wife

TOPICS

Person of Wisdom Principles of Wisdom Practice of Wisdom

Solomon Agur & Lemuel

PLACE Judah Unknown

TIME c. 950-700 B.C.

PROVE

RBS

Themes in Proverbs

•God’s will is intensely practical.•A life lived in God’s will is a happy life.•A life lived in God’s will is a useful life.•A life lived in God’s will is achieved by

diligence and discipline.• Such a life is available to those to seek it.

•Comparisons, Contradictions, Consequences

PROVERBS: The Way of Wisdom

•Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

PROVERBS: The Way of Wisdom

• Proverbs 3:13-1813 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15

She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

PROVERBS: The Way of Wisdom

•Proverbs 9:1010 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 4:2323 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

PROVERBS: Deception & Discernment

• Proverbs 16:22 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

Proverbs 16:25 25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 21:22 A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.

PROVERBS: Parenting

•Proverbs 22:66 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 23:1313 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

PROVERBS: Everyday Wisdom

• Proverbs 14:2323 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 14:31 31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 31:1010 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

PROVERBS: for Independence Day

•Proverbs 14:3434 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

 

 ECCLESIASTES 

AUTHOR Qoheleth, “The Preacher”; Solomon?

 WHAT Reflections on the Meaning of Life

 WHERE Jerusalem

 WHEN c. 935 B.C.

 

WHYTo spare future generations the bitterness of learning through their own 

experience that life is meaningless apart from God

KEY PEOPLE

Qoheleth

ECCL

ESIAST

ESFOCUS Life Under the Sun Life Above the Sun

DIVISIONS1-2 The Emptiness of Life’s Pursuits

3-6 The Emptiness of Life’s Possessions7-10 The Emptiness of Life’s Passing

11-12 The Solution to Life’s Emptiness

TOPICS

Hear God! Fear God!

“Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (1:2)

PLACE Inside the Human Heart

TIME In the Days of King Solomon

Ecclesiastes

•Qoheleth• “The Preacher”• “The Speaker”• “The Teacher”

Themes in Ecclesiastes

• The tragic reality of the Fall• The “vanity” of life• Sin and death• The joy and frustration of work• The grateful enjoyment of God’s good gifts• The fear of God

ECCLESIASTES: Cynicism Enshrined

• Ecclesiastes 1:22 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

Ecclesiastes 1:1818 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

ECCLESIASTES: Cycles of Life

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Ecclesiastes 3:1111 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

ECCLESIASTES: A Wise Conclusion

• Ecclesiastes 12:13-1413 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

 

 SONG OF SONGS 

AUTHOR Solomon?

 WHAT A Steamy Love Story

 WHERE Jerusalem, Shunem

 WHEN c. 960  B.C.

 

WHYTo tell of the love between a bridegroom and his bride,

and to picture God’s love for His people

KEY PEOPLE

The Shepherd, the Shepherdess, the Chorus of Friends, perhaps Solomon

SONG OF SO

NGS

FOCUS Fostering of Love Faithfulness of Love

DIVISIONS 1:1-3:5Adoration of Lover

3:6-5:1Joined to Lover

5:2-7:10Separated from Lover

7:11-8:14Devoted to Lover

TOPICS

Courtship Consummation Conflict Cultivation

Love Growing Love Fulfilled Love Tried Love Enduring

PLACE Israel, in the country and in the palace

TIME About a Year

Understanding the Song of Songs

Allegorical Interpretation

•God’s love for Israel•Christ’s love for the

church•Christ’s love for the

individual

More Literal Interpretation• Love between Solomon and his

Shulammite bride• Love between a simple shepherd

and shepherdess• A love triangle between the

shepherd, the shepherdess, and Solomon• A collection of unrelated sensuous

love poems

Subliminallytheological

The story of two betrothed Israeliteswho look forward to their marriageand the pleasure of their union . . . .

SONG OF SONGS: Scandalous Sensuality• Song of Songs 2:2-5

2 Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. • 3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. 5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

• SIMPLE• IMPOSSIBLE• “Never determine the truth of a situation

by looking at the circumstances.”

•PERSISTENT• (Simple, Impossible and Persistent

can also be irrational and insane.That’s what the other 3 markersprotect against.)

Range Marker #1: Opportunity

• Is this consistent with the Bible?•With the Teaching of Jesus?•God will never ask you to do

anything inconsistent with the Word.•But you have to KNOW the Word

in order to apply this test.

Range Marker #2: God’s Word

•Does this help God’s Kingdom “to come on earth as it is in heaven?” or is this something that honesty would have to call selfishness and self-interest?

Range Marker #3: God’s Kingdom

Life is not about stuff.Neither is it about you.

•All of creation is moving toward the fulfillment of God’s eternal purposes, and, while following God’s guidance calls out the best that we have to give and brings great adventure and satisfaction, God’s guidance never leads us to magnify ourselves. • Following God’s guidance

is not an ego-trip.

• If God is in an opportunity, you’ll have spiritual peace about pursuing it, even if you have to move forward with unanswered questions.• You’ll miss most of the adventure

God plans for you if you choose safety over obedience.

Range Marker #4: God’s Spirit

Jesus said, “If you tryto keep your life

for yourself, you will lose it.

But if you give up yourlife for me, you will find

true life” (Luke 9:24).

“I don’t like my assignment.”

• “The world’s a better place because Michelangelo didn’t say, ‘I don’t do ceilings.’”

The world’s a better place because . . .

•Noah didn’t say, ‘I don’t do arks.”•Abraham didn’t say,

‘I don’t do destinations unknown.”•Moses didn’t say, ‘I don’t do Pharaohs.”•Ruth didn’t say, ‘I don’t do mothers-in-

law.”•David didn’t say, ‘I don’t do giants.”

•Mary didn’t say, ‘I don’t do virgin births.”•Peter didn’t say, ‘I don’t do Gentiles.”•Paul didn’t say, ‘I don’t do letters.”• Jesus didn’t say, ‘I don’t do crosses.”

The world’s a better place because . . .

All of these got orders that were simple, impossible, and persistent.

•They were tempted to say, as we are, “I’m sorry. I’m not going to do that.”

Henry Blackaby

• “Anytime God leads you to do something that has God-sized dimensions, you will face a crisis of belief.• “When you face a crisis of belief,

what you do next reveals what you really believe about God.• “When God invites you to join Him

in His work, He has a God-sized assignment for you.

Henry Blackaby

• “You’ll realize that you cannot do it on your own. If God doesn’t help you, you’ll fail.• “This is the crisis point where many decide

not to follow what they sense God is leading them to do.”

Steven Curtis Chapman: “The Dive”

• “The long-awaited rains have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground and carved their way to where the wild and rushing river can be found. And like the rains, I have been carried here to where the river flows.• “My heart is racing and my knees are weak as I

walk to the edge. I know there is no turning back once my feet have left the ledge, and in the rush I hear a Voice that’s telling me it’s time to take the leap of faith. . . .

Steven Curtis Chapman: “The Dive”

• “There is a supernatural power in this mighty river’s flow. It can bring the dead to life and it can fill and empty soul and give a heart the only thing worth living and dying for. . . .• “We will never know the awesome power

of the grace of God until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood . . . .”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own

understanding. Seek his will in all you do,

and he will direct your paths”

(Proverbs 3:5-6).

Trusting Jesus #578

Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;even when my faith is small,

trusting Jesus – that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,trusting as the days go by:

trusting Him whatever befall,trusting Jesus – that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shineinto this poor heart of mine;

while He leads I cannot fall,trusting Jesus – that is all.

 Trusting as the moments fly,trusting as the days go by:

trusting Him whatever befall,trusting Jesus – that is all.

Singing if my way is clear,praying if the path be drear;

if in danger, for Him call, trusting Jesus – that is all.

 Trusting as the moments fly,trusting as the days go by:

trusting Him whatever befall,trusting Jesus – that is all.

Trusting Him while life shall last,trusting Him till earth be past;

till within the jasper wall,trusting Jesus – that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,trusting as the days go by:

trusting Him whatever befall,trusting Jesus – that is all.