Overview of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Isaiah

Psalms

Collection of prayers and songs for worship.

Moses

Author of some Psalms, circa 1350 BC.

Ethan the Ezrahite

Traditional author of Psalms, known for wisdom.

Solomon

King attributed with authorship of some Psalms.

Sons of Korah

Group contributing to the Psalms collection.

Asaph

Levitical musician and author of Psalms.

David

Major contributor to the Psalms, Israel's king.

Ezra

Contextual figure, active around 458 BC.

Purpose of Psalms

Guide worship and encourage God's people.

Structure of Psalms

Five books with a concluding Psalm 150.

Praise Psalm

Focuses on worship and adoration of God.

Lament Psalm

Expresses sorrow and seeks God's help.

Thanksgiving Psalm

Offers gratitude for God's blessings.

Royal Psalm

Celebrates God's kingship and sovereignty.

Wisdom Psalm

Imparts moral and ethical teachings.

Imprecatory Psalms

Invoke judgment or curses on enemies.

Parallelism

Literary device used in Hebrew poetry.

Synthetic Parallelism

Second line expands on the first.

Antithetic Parallelism

Second line contrasts with the first.

Synonymous Parallelism

Second line repeats the first's idea.

Job

A biblical book exploring suffering and faith.

Author of Job

Not named; possibly written during Solomon's reign.

Setting of Job

Takes place in the land of Uz.

Purpose of Job

Teaches about God's sovereignty amid suffering.

Doctrine of Retribution

Belief that good is rewarded, evil punished.

Inadequacy of Retribution

Job shows retribution doesn't fully explain suffering.

Job's Response

Demonstrates trust in God despite suffering.

God's Sovereignty

God's ultimate authority over creation and events.

Human Wisdom

Limited understanding of God's workings in the world.

Job

A biblical book addressing human suffering and God's sovereignty.

Sovereignty of God

God's absolute rule over all aspects of existence.

Human Suffering

Not solely caused by personal sin; complex phenomenon.

Trust in God

Revering God for His intrinsic goodness and justice.

Proverbs

Wisdom literature encouraging the pursuit of godly living.

Solomon

Traditionally attributed author of the Book of Proverbs.

Wisdom

Skill in living according to Yahweh's moral order.

Folly

Inability or unwillingness to conform to Yahweh's order.

Fear of Yahweh

Fundamental principle guiding wise choices and actions.

Instructions of Wisdom

Proverbs 1-9; foundational teachings on wise living.

Individual Sayings of Wisdom

Proverbs 10-31; specific proverbs for daily life.

Moral Concepts

Wisdom and folly are based on moral choices.

Hokhmah

Hebrew term for wisdom; transformative moral character.

Formation of Character

Wisdom aims to develop responsible moral character.

Qoheleth

The author of Ecclesiastes, exploring life's meaning.

Ecclesiastes Structure

Introduction, Investigation, Conclusions, and Conclusion sections.

Life's Investigation

Qoheleth examines the purpose and meaning of life.

Historical Context of Ecclesiastes

Possibly written during Solomon's reign or 450s BC.

Jerusalem Area

Likely location of Ecclesiastes' authorship.

Proverbs 1:7

Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.

Proverbs 2:5

Fear of Yahweh is the goal of wisdom.

Righteous Standards

Moral benchmarks set by Yahweh for living.

Life's Trials

Encouragement to trust God amidst suffering.

God's Goodness

Intrinsic quality of God, worthy of trust.

Moral Order

Yahweh's established principles governing human behavior.

Village and City Life

Proverbs reflect diverse social settings and experiences.

Broad Path of Folly

The easy, unwise choices leading away from God.

Narrow Path of Wisdom

The challenging, godly choices leading to life.

Qoheleth

Teacher or preacher in Ecclesiastes.

Solomon

Possible writer of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs.

Sage

Person who studies and imparts wisdom.

Questions and answers

Book raises more questions than it answers.

Fear of God

Foundation for living wisely according to scripture.

Life under the sun

Experience of life in a fallen world.

Life's meaning

Fear God and keep His commandments.

Mysterious providence

God's sovereignty acknowledged alongside human choice.

Vanity/hebel

Temporary or absurd; like a puff of air.

Song of Solomon

Celebrates human love and intimacy as God's gift.

Structure of Song of Songs

Three parts: Marriage progression, Wedding, Intimacy growth.

Shulammite's refrain

Cautions against awakening love before marriage.

Intimacy in marriage

Celebrated even in a cursed world.

Erotic love

Extolled as God's good gift within marriage.

Isaiah

Major prophet active between 755-700 BC.

Jerusalem

Location associated with Solomon and Isaiah.

Cursed world

Context for understanding human relationships.

Storms of life

Challenges that test marital intimacy.

Old age

Stage where love's flame continues to blaze.

God's goodness

Manifested through maintained love in relationships.

Human choice

Acknowledged as significant despite divine providence.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Whole duty of mankind summarized in fearing God.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Human understanding of God's work is limited.

Ecclesiastes 6:12

Questions the meaning of life's experiences.

Ecclesiastes 8:17

Recognition of life's complexities and mysteries.

Song 8:6

Highlights the richness of love and intimacy.

Daughters of Jerusalem

Audience cautioned against premature love.

Flame of the LORD

Symbolizes enduring love through life's challenges.

Isaiah

Prophet addressing Judah's sin and hope.

Jeremiah

Prophet warning Judah of impending exile.

Date of Isaiah's Prophecy

755-700 BC.

Location of Isaiah's Ministry

Primarily in Jerusalem.

Purpose of Isaiah

Instructs trust in Yahweh amid crises.

Day of Yahweh

Judgment day for the wicked.

New Jerusalem

Glorious future for the righteous.

Oracle against Foreign Nations

Warnings to nations in Isaiah 13-27.

Lawsuit Prophecy

God's legal case against His people.

Prophetic Parable

Illustrative story conveying deeper truths.

Remnant

Faithful survivors after judgment.

Chapters 1-12 of Isaiah

Trust God or exalt oneself theme.

Chapters 13-27 of Isaiah

Warnings against trusting nations.

Chapters 28-35 of Isaiah

Judgment mixed with hope.

Chapters 36-39 of Isaiah

God's deliverance for the faithful.