Transcript The Books of Poetry © John Stevenson, 2009 Pentateuch Historical Books Poetic Books Prophetic Books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Job,

The Books of Poetry
© John Stevenson, 2009
Pentateuch
Historical
Books
Poetic
Books
Prophetic
Books
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, Deuteronomy
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2
Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles,
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Job, Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,
Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel,
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Book
Problem
God as… Man as…
Job
Pain &
suffering
On his face
before God
Sovereign
Psalms
Prayer &
Worship
Holy
Proverbs
Conduct
All-wise
Meaning &
Ecclesiastes significance
Song of
Solomon
Love
Creator
Before the
throne of
God
Receiving
instruction
Under the
sun
Lover of His In a love
people
relationship
Poetic
Literature
Wisdom
Literature
Psalms
Song of Solomon
Job
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Poetic
Literature
Wisdom
Literature
Narrator is viewed
as a normal man
Narrator is viewed
as the wise voice of
experience
Touch the mind
Touch the heart
Focus on human
emotion
Love for God and
for others
Focus on wisdom
Living before God
and with others
The Book of Suffering
Chapters Chapters Chapters Chapters
1-2
3-31
33-37
38-41
Historical
prologue:
Job
Tested
Job’s
three
friends
Elihu’s
speeches
God
speaks
Dialogue & Discourse
Chapter
42
Historical
epilogue:
Job
Restored
Prose Section
Poetry Section
Plain language
Written in pure
Hebrew
Highly ornate
Contains many expressions
characteristic of Chaldaean
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
Job maintains his innocence
• I made a covenant with my eyes that I
would not look on a woman to lust
(31:1).
• I gave food and clothing to the poor
and the widow and the orphan (31:1620).
• I did not let my own prosperity get in
the way of my relationship with God
(31:24-28).
Elihu
Then these three men ceased
answering Job, because he was righteous in
his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son
of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram
burned; against Job his anger burned,
because he justified himself before God. 3 And
his anger burned against his three friends
because they had found no answer, and yet
had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job
because they were years older than he. (Job
32:1-4).
1
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 38:1-3
Then 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 40:1
Then the LORD said to Job, "Will the
faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it."
Job 40:6-9
Then the LORD answered Job out
of the storm, and said, "Now gird up
your loins like a man; I will ask you,
and you instruct Me. Will you really
annul My judgment? Will you condemn
Me that you may be justified? Or do
you have an arm like God, And can you
thunder with a voice like His?
Job 42:1-2
Then 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 42:7
And 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 allpowerful
• 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
What are some of your favorite
Psalms?
Book 1
Chapters
1-41
Book 2
Chapters
42-72
Mostly written by
David
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Chapters
73-89
Chapters 90106
Chapters
107-150
Mostly by
Asaph
Mostly
anonymous
Mostly by
David
Psalm 1
How blessed is the man
not...
Walk...
In the
counsel...
Stand... In the path...
Sit...
In the seat...
who does
Of the
wicked
Of sinners
Of scoffers
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:3
He will be like a tree firmly planted by
streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever
he does, he
prospers.
Psalm 2:1-2
Why are the nations in an uproar,
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand,
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His
Anointed.
Psalm 2:6-7
But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion,
My holy mountain.
7 I will surely tell of the decree of the
LORD:
He said to Me, “Thou art My Son,
Today I have begotten Thee.”
6
Psalm 2:8-9
Ask of Me, and I will surely give the
nations as Thine inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Thy
possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron,
Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.
8
Psalm 22-24
• Psalm 22. The Suffering Servant
• Psalm 23. The Good Shepherd
• Psalm 24. The Sovereign King
Psalm 33:1-3
Sing for joy in the LORD,
O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten
strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Book 1
Chapters
1-41
Book 2
Chapters
42-72
Mostly written by
David
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Chapters
73-89
Chapters 90106
Chapters
107-150
Mostly by
Asaph
Mostly
anonymous
Mostly by
David
The title Elohim is used much more
than is the name Yahweh
Psalm 42:1-3
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for Thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and
night,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
1
Psalm 42:4
These things I remember, and I pour out my
soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and
lead them in procession to the house of
God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a
multitude keeping festival.
• You cannot rest on yesterday’s experiences
• Mutual support & encouragement
Psalm 42:5
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within
me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
Psalm 42-43
• Psalm 43 has no superscription.
• Psalm 42 is a Psalm of Lament,
but has no supplication at the
end unless it is found in Psalm
43
• A continuing refrain to “hope in
God.”
The Refrain
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence (Psalm 42:5).
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
(Psalm 42:11).
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
(Psalm 43:5).
Psalm 45:1
For the choir director; according to the
Shoshannim.
A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
A Song of Love.
My heart overflows with a good theme;
I address my verses to the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45:7-8
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated
wickedness;
Therefore God, Thy God, has anointed
Thee With the oil of joy above Thy fellows.
8 All Thy garments are fragrant with myrrh
and aloes and cassia;
Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments
have made Thee glad.
7
Prayer for
individual
restoration (1-2)
Confession
(3-6)
Prayer for
national
restoration (18-19)
Thanksgiving
(13-17)
Prayer for Restoration
• Cleansing from sin (7-9)
• Inward renewal (10-12)
David’s flight from Saul
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
Maskils of David
Mikhtams of David
“Meditation”
“Golden Prayer”
Lkf - To be Prudent
~tK - Gold
Psalm 57:1
For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth.
A Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul,
in the cave.
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to
me,
For my soul takes refuge in Thee;
And in the shadow of Thy wings I will take
refuge,
Until destruction passes by
Book 1
Chapters
1-41
Book 2
Chapters
42-72
Mostly written by
David
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Chapters
73-89
Chapters 90106
Chapters
107-150
Mostly by
Asaph
Mostly
anonymous
Mostly by
David
Focus upon Israel, Jerusalem and
the Temple
Psalm 73:1-2
A Psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet came close to
stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:16-17
When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the sanctuary of
God;
Then I perceived their end.
16
Psalm 89:1-2
Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
I will sing of the lovingkindness of the
LORD forever;
To all generations I will make known
Your faithfulness with my mouth.
2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will
be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your
faithfulness.”
Psalm 89:3-4
I have made a covenant with My
chosen;
I have sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your seed forever
And build up your throne to all
generations.
Selah.
Book 1
Chapters
1-41
Book 2
Chapters
42-72
Mostly written by
David
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Chapters
73-89
Chapters 90106
Chapters
107-150
Mostly by
Asaph
Mostly
anonymous
Mostly by
David
Yahweh used
predominantly
over Elohim
Psalm 90:1
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling
place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born,
Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and
the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
Thou art God.
Psalm 92:1-2
A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
And to sing praises to Thy name,
O Most High;
2 To declare Thy lovingkindness in the
morning,
And Thy faithfulness by night,
1
Psalm 92:3-4
With the ten-stringed lute, and with the
harp;
With resounding music upon the lyre.
4 For Thou, O LORD, hast made me glad
by what Thou hast done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Thy
hands.
3
Psalm 100:1-3
Psalm for Thanksgiving.
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we
ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His
pasture.
1
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.
4
Psalm 103-108
For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, So great is His lovingkindness
toward those who fear Him (103:11)
As for man, his days are like grass; As a
flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it
is no more; And its place acknowledges
it no longer (103:15-16).
He established the earth upon its
foundations (104:5).
Psalm 103-108
He has remembered His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a
thousand generations,
9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
10 Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant (Psalm
105:8-10).
8
Psalm 103-108
He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up;
And He led them through the deeps, as
through the wilderness (106:9)
7 God has spoken in His holiness: "I will
exult, I will portion out Shechem, And
measure out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet of My head;
Judah is My scepter. (Psalm 108:7-8).
Book 1
Chapters
1-41
Book 2
Chapters
42-72
Mostly written by
David
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Chapters
73-89
Chapters 90106
Chapters
107-150
Mostly by
Asaph
Mostly
anonymous
Mostly by
David
Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David.
The LORD says to my
Lord:
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Thine
enemies a footstool for
Thy feet.”
The Psalms of Praise
Psalms 113-118
(Sung at Passover)
Psalm 118:21-23
I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast
answered me;
And Thou hast become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the LORD's doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
21
Psalm 120:1-2
A Song of Ascents, of David.
I Was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD."
2 Our feet are standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem,
1
Psalm 120:3-4
Jerusalem, that is built
As a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the
tribes of the LORD-An ordinance for Israel-To give thanks to the name of the LORD.
3
Psalm 134:1-3
A Song of Ascents.
Behold, bless the LORD, all servants
of the LORD,
Who serve by night in the house of the
LORD!
2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD.
3 May the LORD bless you from Zion,
He who made heaven and earth.
1
Psalm 137:1
By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and wept,
When we remembered Zion.
Psalm 137:2-4
Upon the willows in the midst of it We
hung our harps.
3 For there our captors demanded of us
songs,
And our tormentors mirth, saying, "Sing
us one of the songs of Zion."
4 How can we sing the LORD's song
In a foreign land?
2
Psalm 137:5-6
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
May my right hand forget her skill.
6 May my tongue cleave to the roof
of my mouth,
If I do not remember you,
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
5
The Value of the Psalms
• A Commentary of the Old
Testament
• Liturgy for Worship
• A Pattern for Prayer
• Wisdom for Living