Session #5. Encountering the Poetic (& Wisdom) Books

Covering the books of Psalms, Song of Songs

Establishing the worship of God

(Deut. 6)

A place for his name A pattern of worship A lifestyle of worship

Removing the worship (& practices) of the false gods

(Deut. 7)

Idols (Deut. 32:17) Idolatry (Deut. 18:9-13) Warfare (Deut. 20)

The offerings (ch. 1-7)

1. Burnt offering2. Grain offering3. Peace (fellowship) offering

4. Sin offering5. Guilt offering

The laws (613)

o The Priesthoodo Sacrificial systemo Day of Atonemento Festivals

• The Holiness code• Lifestyle & health• Social justice

“Be holy, for I am holy” (11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26)

Sabbath (weekly) NT application

1. Passover (1st month 14th day) Redemption2. Unleavened bread (15th day)

3. Firstfruits Resurrection4. Weeks (50 days after Passover) Coming of

the Spirit

5. Trumpets (7th month) A new day6. Day of Atonement (10th day) ..now & not yet7. Tabernacles (15th day) Life together

Categories of law:

Justice & righteousness

Love & mercy

Grace & generousity

Wisdom & godliness

The example of Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15)

The example of Jesus (Matthew 7:24ff.)

The example of James (James 1:5; 3:13-18)

The example of Paul (Ephesians 5:15ff.)

“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite (Ps. 89) - wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” (1 Kings 4:29-34)

“Wisdom is the basic principle in God’s revelation…in which he imparts under-standing to mankind. Without it the world and human life would be devoid of meaning. It is the all-pervasive force created by God even before the world – it permeates the universe, the natural world and the social order of all human beings.”

C. Hassell Bullock

The Torah (5 books of the Law)

The ProphetsFormer: Joshua, Judges, Samuel & KingsLatter: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel & The Twelve

The WritingsMajor: Job, Psalms, ProverbsThe Five Scrolls: Song of Songs, Ruth,

Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther

Poetic books (for wisdom & worship)

Proverbs (right, wrong & daily decisions)Job (why do good people suffer)Ecclesiastes (what’s the meaning of life)Song of Songs (true love & how to find it)Psalms (songs – wisdom in worship & prayer)

Wisdom is practicalWisdom is everywhereWisdom is a gift from GodWisdom is a lifestyleWisdom must be chosen (Wisdom literature)Wisdom in a proverbWisdom in a songWisdom in a poem

The home

The school

The “fear of the Lord”(personal relationship)

“Wisdom is not something you do, rather it is a way of doing things. This is born out by the bewildering variety of human endeavours mentioned in the OT in connection with wisdom…such as governing a nation, the interpretation of dreams, the construction of the Tabernacle, the management of a crisis, the efficient keeping of ones home or even so simple a matter as chopping wood. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success to those who possess it. Whatever you do – can be done with wisdom. It is invariably displayed in concrete, practical living. Wisdom is basically skill – to be wise is to be skilful at living.” (William Mouser)

Songs of worshipSongs of joySongs to shout!Songs to help you crySongs for the roadSongs for the blues

Heartfelt prayers

A poem

(or collection of poetry)

An erotic love poem

An unusual, erotic love

poem (470 words)

An unusual – but wise

erotic love poem

“Seize the day boys, and make your life extraordinary!”

“The Hebrew language has an intrinsic musical quality that is inclined naturally toward poetic expression. Beneath the translation lies a poetic beauty & grandeur that is not surpassed in any other language. Even though the English reader is at a decided disadvantage as they approach Hebrew poetry, the rhythm & meter can be detected fairly well with persistent study.”

(Bullock)

It’s all about (1) pattern & (2) rhythm

Parallelism

The main feature!

Main task is to find the connection between A & B

Figures of speech

Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Ellipsis, Metonomy, Irony, Synecdoche, Idiom, Anthropomorphism, Personification, Rhetorical questions

Synonymous (repetition of same thought)

Antithetic (contrast between two lines – “but”)

Synthetic (2nd line completes the 1st)

Don’t forget those amazing Acrostics & Chiasms!

Remember you’re reading a poem or a song!

What do you do with poems? ReadWhat do you do with songs? SingWhat do you do with prayers? Speak

Don’t read poetry like Historical prose He did this. Don’t read poetry like Law Do this! Don’t read poetry like Prophecy …or else!

Song of Solomon (later addition)Canticles (Latin: “Songs”)“Song of songs, which is Solomon’s” (Heb.)Song of songs

ie. Of all songs, this is the best – the most beautiful!

Adam & EveRomeo & JulietParis & Helen of TroyAntony & CleopatraHenry & Catherine… &

Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine & Catherine

Casanova & everyoneCharles & Diana

…or CamillaKen & Barbie

Miss SaigonHunchback of Notre DameWest Side Story

Wuthering HeightsGhostKing KongLove StoryGone with the windCasablanca

O, my love is like a red, red rose,that's newly sprung in June.O, my love is like a melody,that's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair thou art, my bonnie lass,so deep in love am I,And I will love thee still, my dear,till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,and the rocks melt wi' the sun!And I will love thee still, my dear,while the sands of life shall run.

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!     

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.     

The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. 

(Romeo & Juliet Act 1 Scene 5)

117 verses8 chapters1 scroll (part of “The Writings”)10 pages (in my NIV)…& yet…

500 commentariesWritten over 17 centuries

1. Solomon (the “lover”)

2. His wife (the “beloved”)

Daughter of the prince of Egypt

A Shulammite

3. The friends

The setting: …a garden & a bedroom

“Back to the garden…of Eden”

Title (Song of songs)

Anticipation of love (1:2-2:7)

Blossoming of love (2:8-3:5)

Consummation of love (3:6-5:1)

Maturing of love (5:2-8:4)

Conclusion (Love is…)

“The passion of love bursting into flame    is more powerful than death,    stronger than the grave. Love cannot be drowned    by oceans or floods;    it cannot be bought,    no matter what is offered.” (8:6-7 CEV)

“It’s like a lock for which the key has been lost”

Allegorical vs. Literal

Yahweh & Israel Solomon & his wife

Christ & the Church Man & a woman

It’s about love

In Greek - 4 words, philos, storge, eros,& agape

…in Hebrew - 1 achabah

It’s about sexual intimacy

It’s about marriage

Negative attitudes (from the “Church”)

Love is personified by God

Sex was designed by God

Marriage was instituted by God

“History began with a wedding & will climax with a wedding banquet”

You were made for intimacy

Look for it. If you find it, treasure & nurture itSex is good, from God - it should be enjoyed

and protected

Get into poetry, get creative & get romantic