Old Testament Introduction – part 2
Old Testament Introduction – Part 2 27th September 09
There are 39 books in the OT – 17 of them are books of History; 5 are books of poetry; 17 are books of prophecy.
Poetry is a broad term. Much of ancient eastern poetry consists of lines repeated and expanded on – see, for example, Psalm 24 v 1-4. There is also a genre known as “Wisdom Literature” – which explores the meaning of wisdom, and what goes to make up wise thinking and living. Proverbs is a good example of this.
Job
Ø Set in the days of the Patriarchs
Ø Questions why God allows suffering
Ø Job 38. 1-11 – a key passage
Ø The answers to these important questions are only found in the NT
Psalms
Ø Drawn from real human experience
Ø A collection of five books (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150)
Ø 73 are called Psalms of David – and he may have written these
Ø There are various ways of classifying the psalms
Ø Don’t forget that they are poems and songs – not sermons!
Proverbs
Ø A collection of wise sayings
Ø Did Solomon write them all?
Ø Chapters 1-9 are an introduction; Ch 10 onwards is different
Ø Proverbs 14 1-8 is a typical passage
Ø Some proverbs are controversial & need to be read in context
Ecclesiastes
Ø The theme is meaninglessness and vanity ( a very modern theme)
Ø The tone is set in Eccles 1.1-9
Ø Did Solomon write this?
Ø Read Eccles 12.1-5 – a good passage for those who are growing older!
Song of Solomon
Ø A series of poems about love between a man and a woman
Ø Written by Solomon? Or for Solomon? Or about Solomon?
Ø Some passages are a little too frank for Church reading!
Ø Read Song of Sol 1.1-4; 4.1-4.
All of these books were written at the time of Kings David & Solomon, when the Kingdom of Israel was settled and peaceful. Does poetry and art flourish most when people have time and space to devote to things other than war and survival?
