Poetic Books of The Bible

Poetical Books (Job–Song of Solomon). 

These are sometimes called the “Wisdom Books” because they focus on worship, suffering, wisdom, and the fear of God.

Bible Survey Notes 

Author: Kenneth Malenge 



Bible Survey Notes – The Poetical Books

1. JOB

  • Author: Unknown (possibly Job, Elihu, or Moses).
  • Date: Possibly the time of the patriarchs (c. 2000 BC).
  • Theme: The problem of suffering and God’s sovereignty.
  • Name Meaning: “Persecuted” or “Hated.”

Purpose

  • To address why the righteous suffer.
  • To show God’s wisdom and sovereignty over all things.

Outline

  1. Prologue: Job’s Trials (1–2)
  2. Dialogues: Job and His Friends (3–31)
  3. Elihu’s Speech (32–37)
  4. God’s Answer (38–41)
  5. Epilogue: Job’s Restoration (42)

Key Verse: Job 1:21

Theological Emphasis

  • God’s sovereignty over suffering.
  • Human limitation in understanding God’s ways.
  • The need for faith in God amidst suffering.

Relevance for Today

  • Comfort for believers in trials.
  • Encourages trust in God’s wisdom.
  • Points to Christ, the suffering yet vindicated Servant.

2. PSALMS

  • Author: Various (David, Asaph, sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others).
  • Date: 1400–400 BC.
  • Theme: Worship and praise in all life situations.
  • Name Meaning: “Songs of Praise.”

Purpose

  • To provide Israel with inspired songs for worship.
  • To express the whole range of human emotions before God.

Outline (Five Books within Psalms)

  1. Psalms 1–41 (Book 1)
  2. Psalms 42–72 (Book 2)
  3. Psalms 73–89 (Book 3)
  4. Psalms 90–106 (Book 4)
  5. Psalms 107–150 (Book 5)

Key Verse: Ps. 150:6

Theological Emphasis

  • God as Creator, King, Shepherd, Judge, and Redeemer.
  • Messianic prophecies pointing to Christ.
  • Honest prayer and worship in every circumstance.

Relevance for Today

  • Teaches believers how to pray and worship.
  • Provides encouragement, comfort, and hope.
  • Points to Christ as the ultimate King and Shepherd.

3. PROVERBS

  • Author: Mainly Solomon; some by Agur and Lemuel.
  • Date: c. 950–700 BC.
  • Theme: Wisdom for daily life.
  • Name Meaning: “Short wise sayings.”

Purpose

  • To teach wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
  • To provide practical instruction for godly living.

Outline

  1. Prologue: The Fear of the Lord (1–9)
  2. Proverbs of Solomon (10–22:16)
  3. Sayings of the Wise (22:17–24:34)
  4. More Proverbs of Solomon (25–29)
  5. Words of Agur and Lemuel (30–31)

Key Verse: Prov. 1:7

Theological Emphasis

  • True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
  • Contrast between wisdom and folly.
  • Righteousness vs. wickedness.

Relevance for Today

  • Practical guide for godly living.
  • Wisdom applies to work, family, speech, money, and morality.
  • Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24).

4. ECCLESIASTES

  • Author: Solomon (“The Preacher”).
  • Date: c. 935 BC.
  • Theme: Vanity of life apart from God.
  • Name Meaning: “Preacher” or “Assembler.”

Purpose

  • To show the emptiness of life lived only under the sun.
  • To call people to fear God and obey Him.

Outline

  1. The Vanity of Human Effort (1–2)
  2. The Cycles of Life (3–6)
  3. Counsel for Wise Living (7–11)
  4. The Conclusion: Fear God (12)

Key Verse: Eccl. 12:13

Theological Emphasis

  • Life without God is meaningless.
  • God gives meaning and purpose.
  • True fulfillment is found in fearing God.

Relevance for Today

  • Warns against chasing worldly satisfaction.
  • Calls believers to find purpose in God.

5. SONG OF SOLOMON (Song of Songs)

  • Author: Solomon.
  • Date: c. 950 BC.
  • Theme: Love, marriage, and intimacy as God designed.
  • Name Meaning: “The Greatest Song.”

Purpose

  • To celebrate the beauty of love in marriage.
  • To picture the love of Christ for His people.

Outline

  1. The Bride and Bridegroom’s Love (1–3)
  2. Growth in Love (4–5)
  3. Mature Love (6–8)

Key Verse: Song 8:7

Theological Emphasis

  • Love is God’s gift.
  • Marriage reflects God’s covenant love.
  • Symbol of Christ’s love for the Church.

Relevance for Today

  • Upholds purity and faithfulness in love.
  • Illustrates Christ’s love for believers.

Summary of Poetical Books

  • Job: Why do the righteous suffer? Trust in God’s wisdom.
  • Psalms: Worship God in all of life.
  • Proverbs: Wisdom for daily living.
  • Ecclesiastes: Life is meaningless without God.
  • Song of Solomon: The beauty of love, picturing Christ’s love.

Unifying Theme: True wisdom, worship, and meaning in life come from God alone and are fulfilled in Christ.

Book Author Date of Authorship Name Meaning Recipients Theme Purpose Key Verse Key Chapter Key Characters Doctrines
Job Job/Moses (traditionally debated) c. 2000–1800 B.C. (Patriarchal era) “Persecuted” or “Hated” Suffering righteous man; universal audience Problem of suffering and God’s sovereignty To show God’s sovereignty over suffering and vindicate faith Job 1:21 Job 42 Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, Elihu Sovereignty, Providence, Suffering, Perseverance, Resurrection hope
Psalms David (primary), Asaph, Sons of Korah, others c. 1000–400 B.C. “Praises” Israel and worshippers of all generations Worship through song and prayer To express the full range of human emotions in worship of God Psalm 23:1 Psalm 51 David, Asaph, Moses, Solomon Worship, Prayer, Messianic prophecy, God’s attributes
Proverbs Solomon (main), Agur, Lemuel c. 950–700 B.C. “Wise sayings” Israel, youth, seekers of wisdom Wisdom for practical godly living To impart wisdom and fear of the Lord Proverbs 1:7 Proverbs 31 Solomon, wise teachers Wisdom, Fear of the Lord, Righteousness vs. wickedness
Ecclesiastes Solomon c. 935 B.C. “Preacher” or “Assembler” Israel and mankind Vanity of life under the sun To show meaninglessness without God and the value of fearing Him Ecclesiastes 12:13 Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon (“the Preacher”) Vanity, Judgment, Eternal perspective, Fear of God
Song of Solomon Solomon c. 960 B.C. “Song of Songs” Israel; believers as type Love between bridegroom and bride To portray beauty of marital love and typify Christ’s love for His people Song 2:4 Song 5 Solomon, Shulammite bride Love, Marriage, Christ and the Church

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

English and Swahili Teachings on Christ

  Summary: The Person and Work of God the Son (Jesus Christ) Jesus Christ, God the Son, is fully God and fully man— the God-Man . Hebrews 1:8 and John 1:1-14 affirm His eternal deity and incarnation. As man, He was born of a woman, experienced human growth, temptation, and death—yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). As God, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of a virgin, and bears titles and attributes that belong only to Deity (Col. 2:9). His Divine Sonship is affirmed by the Father, angels, prophets, apostles, devils, and Christ Himself. His deity is irrefutable to any who accept the authority of Scripture. His Sevenfold Mission : The Son of God and Son of Man – sent to save the world (John 3:17; Luke 19:10), and to share His inheritance with the redeemed (Rom. 8:17). Saviour and Redeemer – to save His people from their sins and redeem them by His blood (Matt. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Our Example – in holiness, prayer, love, humility, obedience, and overcoming temptation ...
Read more

Apostle’s Creed: I believe.

Image
I believe in God, the Father almighty,  creator of heaven and earth. 1. The Doctrine of Faith (“I believe”) This opening phrase is more than a declaration; it’s a confession of trust and a personal commitment. The word believe  goes beyond intellectual agreement; it involves faith that transforms the heart and life (Romans 10:9-10). This faith rests not on feelings or human wisdom but on the revelation of God’s Word. In saying “I believe,” the believer aligns himself with the truth of God, submitting to His authority and staking his life on His promises (Hebrews 11:1). It involves both trust and obedience (James 2:17). This emphasizes  personal faith:  Not merely intellectual agreement, but a deep trust and conviction.  2. The Doctrine of God (“in God”) The creed immediately centers belief on God; not just any god, but the one true and living God revealed in Scripture. This declaration echoes the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteron...
Read more

The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Authority and Reflecting God’s Order

Image
The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Authority and Reflecting God’s Order "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long..." — Exodus 20:12 (KJV) The Meaning and Scope of the Fifth Commandment The fifth commandment calls us to honor our parents, but its meaning extends beyond biological relationships. It establishes a broader principle of respect for all God-ordained authority in the home, church, and society. This commandment is unique because it comes with a promise: long life and blessing. It reflects God’s design for order, where submission to rightful authority brings peace and stability. While “parent” primarily refers to biological and adoptive parents, it also includes other authority figures God has placed over us: spiritual leaders (1 Corinthians 4:15), civil authorities (Romans 13:1–2), employers (Ephesians 6:5–7), and older, wiser individuals who provide guidance (Leviticus 19:32). These figures reflect God’s structure of authority in different are...
Read more