Page 107 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

The books of Poetry concentrate on:

 Personal, spiritual and religious experience
 Theological and philosophical questions about God, Man and the purpose and the meaning of
life.
 Principles on how to live life well.
 Feeling the heart of God and the heart of man.
 Revealing the character and attributes of God.

Each of the five books of Poetry has its own unique emphasis:

Job—dealing with unjust suffering in light of God’s sovereignty
Psalms--- a hymn book of praise and worship
Proverbs--- principles by which life can be lived wisely
Ecclesiastes---the meaninglessness and purposelessness of life without God.
Song of Solomon ---The glory of Biblical love in marriage.

Keep in mind that Hebrew poetry does rhyme sounds and has no meter. It does rhyme images, thoughts
and concepts through use
A. Hebrew Parallelism—A seconding structure for emphasis or heightened effect where the first
line and the second line form a culprit so that the second line will do something to the first line,
e.g.
1. Restate it,
2. Complete, explain or amplify it.
3. Contrast it
4. State a cause and effect.

B. Figures of Speech--- involves the use of vivid “word pictures and highly figurative and symbolic
language to:
1. Add force to truth conveyed
2. Add emphasis
3. Add depth of meaning
4. Intensify feeling and emotion
5. Adds color
6. Attract attention
7. Make abstract ideas concrete

But figures of speech still convey literal truth.

As you read and study the books of Poetry, look for the parallel and for figures of speech. Try to place
yourself in the position of and identify with the writer or the ones written about. Poetry is meant to be
“sensed” and “felt” as well as to be understood for the basic truth taught. Poetry can a very effective
means of communication. lxxx

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