Old Testament

((( Doctrine:  Poetical or Devotional )))

Job:  The book provides a profound statement on the justice of God in light of

human suffering.  God lets the adversary have his way with Job so that God and

the righteous Job may be vindicated and the great accuser silenced. In the end the adversary

is silenced.  Job's friends are silenced and Job is silenced.  But God is not.  And when he

speaks, it is to Job that he speaks, bringing the silence of regret for hasty speech in days of

suffering.  Furthermore, as his heavenly friend, God hears Job's intercessions for his

associates and he restores Job's beatitude.  In summary, to the godly sufferer is that his

righteousness has such supreme value that God treasures it more than all.

Psalms:   Is a compilation of songs of praise and devotion, prayers, lamentations,

expressions of faith, resignation, repentance, joy.  When the Psalms speak of the King on

David's throne, they speak of the King who is being crowned (as in Ps 2; 72; 110).  They

proclaim his status as God's anointed and declare what God will accomplish through

him and his dynasty.  In the Psalms righteous sufferers cry out to God in their distress,

 they give voice to the sufferings of God's servants in a hostile and evil world.  These cries

became the prayers of God's oppressed "Saints". 



Proverbs:  Is a collection of practical rules of life, in which the teaching is largely by

contrast, wisdom against folly, righteousness against unrighteousness.  At times the book

of Proverbs is very direct and earthy.  This is the nature of wisdom literature as it seeks to

drive home truth and to turn sinners from their wicked ways.  God's work as Creator is

especially highlighted.  The role of wisdom in creation is the subject where wisdom as an

attribute of God is personified.  Twice God is called the Maker of the poor.  He also directs

the steps of a man and his eyes observe all his actions.  God is sovereign over the kings of

the earth and all history moves forward under His control.



Ecclesiastes:  Is a discussion of the problem:  can the world satisfy a man's need without

God, and the writer's conclusion after trying it.  As the author looks about at the human

enterprise, he sees man in mad pursuit of one thing and then another, laboring as if he could

master the world, lay bare it's secrets, change its fundamental structures, break through the

bounds of human limitations and master his own destiny.  But faith teaches him that God has

ordered all things according to his own purposes and that man's role is to accept these,

including his own limitations, as God's appointments.  Man, therefore, should be patient and

enjoy life as God gives it.  He should know his own limitations.  He should be prudent in

everything, living carefully before God, above all fearing God and keeping his commandments.



Song Of Solomon:  Is the evolution of a simple love story.  It shows the victory of humble

and constant love over the temptations of wealth and royalty.  In the Song, it is love that finds

words, inspired words that disclose its exquisite charm and beauty as one of God's choicest

gifts.



 

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