WISDOM, POETRY, PSALMS & PROVERBS

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Hebrew Wisdom

The OT books of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes are commonly referred to as "wisdom books", but the Bible contains many Psalms, Song of Solomon, and portions of other books which can also fall under the wisdom category.  Wisdom can be briefly defined as the ability to properly use knowledge in order to make godly choices in life.  The quality of our life will be determined primarily by the choices we make.  One of the primary purposes of Biblical wisdom literature is to help the reader make wise choices.

In interpreting wisdom writings, always read the snippets of wisdom in context with the overall message.   This is especially critical when reading Job.  The statements from Job's friends reflect the world's wisdom, not Biblical wisdom.  Thus we learn that not all wisdom in Biblical times is godly, and needs to be subjected to the whole of Scripture to achieve the proper end.

Wisdom can be expressed through narratives, poetry, psalms, and proverbs.  Refer to the proper sections for more information regarding these literary types.

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Poetry

Poetry is one of the most frequent literary types found in the Bible, most commonly in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah and the other prophets.  The easiest way to recognize poetry (in most modern Bible translations) is to look for "white space".  Pages containing prose will be filled with text, but lines of poetry are much shorter and appear in broken lines.  In some older translations, you must look for its poetic characteristics.  To see a visual comparison between poetry and prose, there are two locations in the Bible where we have poetry and prose side by side describing the same event, Exodus 14 & 15 and Judges 4 &5.

The writer of poetry is less concerned with explicit description or technical accuracy than with creating certain impressions and touching our emotions.  The language of poetry is usually highly figurative.  If we interpret poetry as prose, this will almost always lead to misunderstandings.  For example, going back to Exodus 14, we see a historical account (prose) of the forces of Pharaoh "drowning" in the Red Sea, but the poetic song in Exodus 15 says they were "consumed like stubble".  If we interpret Exodus 15:7 literally, rather than metaphorically (as it was written), we would create a contradiction.  When interpreted as poetry ("consumed like stubble" is a common metaphor for God's judgment), we are consistent with the historical account.  This interpretation does not impugn the integrity of the Scriptures.  The doctrine of Bible inerrancy is tied to the author's intent.  The writer subjected himself to the rules of poetry (including "poetic license") and expected the reader to do the same, so we are interpreting in accordance with the author's intent. 

A common form found in poetry is parallelism.  Specific forms are "Synonymous Parallelism", in which lines express the same or similar thought in different words (Is 51:11, Lk 6:27-28), "Antithetical Parallelism", in which the second line contrasts with the first (Prov 10:1, Lk 16:10), "Step Parallelism", in which the second line advances the thought of the first (Mt 10:40), and "Chiastic Parallelism", in which two thoughts are repeated in reverse order (Mt 23:12, Mk 8:35).

Poetry is extensively used in wisdom literature.  We've already mentioned its use to evoke an emotional response.  Another primary reason for the abundant use of poetry was as a memory aid.  We know from personal experience that song lyrics are some of the easiest data to memorize.  This is due to its rhythmic nature.   The Israelites did not possess cassette recorders back then, so the speaker would heavily utilize poetry, to help the listener retain more of the divine message.  As an example, which is more likely to capture your attention, "You will have joy and peace when you follow God, which will cause you to celebrate", or "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands"? (Is 55:12, ESV).

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Psalms

The book of Psalms is one of the best known and most lost loved books of the OT, and we also find this genre in other books of the Bible (2Sam 22, for example).  Psalms are basically musical poems, hymns and prayers.  In order to express the entire range of human emotions, the language of the psalms is very comprehensive. particularly hyperbole and metaphors.  They are subject to the literary rules governing poetry and wisdom. 

The primary purpose for the Book of the Psalms is to teach us how to express ourselves to God in prayer and worship.  We find psalms of salvation, lament, petition, confession, complaints, praises, distress and deliverance, thanksgiving, history, proverbs, celebration, wisdom, creation, trust and others.

In understanding the Psalms, one of the most important keys is that these scriptures are not primarily commands or moral instructions from God to us, but are of much benefit when we utilize them for their intended purposes.  We've just mentioned their primary purpose, that of providing us with a guide to worship God, expressing our thoughts and feelings in prayer, then listening for His answer.  Many psalms contain doctrine, but we must always examine our conclusions in light of the whole of Scripture.  This bring us to a second crucial rule for evaluating a psalm, always interpret individual verses within the full context of the entire psalm.  Most psalms are self-contained musical stories whose ideas develop within the flow before being brought to a conclusion.  Taking verses out of context can easily lead to a wrong conclusion of its purpose and message.

The Psalms also reveal that we can honestly and openly express our emotions before God.  David, the author of many of the Psalms, could almost simultaneously express anger and praise within the same thought.  He could quickly move from spiritual despair to confident assurance, from deep sorrow to rejoicing.  I think many of us can identify with the Psalms in that the mood changes reflect our own feelings, particularly during times of struggling with our faith.   Finally, the psalms help us to meditate and reflect on the greatness of God and His Word.

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Proverbs

A proverb is short statement, often utilizing metaphorical language, which expresses a general truth and offers practical advise, usually regarding attitudes, behavior and values.  The best known book  containing proverbs is called Proverbs (I'll refrain from wisecracks here), but major sections of Job, Ecclesiastes, and the NT book of James consist of proverbs.  In addition, we find proverbs scattered throughout the Bible, including the teachings of Jesus.  Proverbs are also categorized as wisdom and poetry, so see these sections for additional information.

 In interpreting a proverb, the most important principle that we must understand is that a proverb functions as a general truth.  The statement is true in the majority of cases, but is not an iron-clad guarantee.  From example, Proverbs 22:6 states, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.   In general, a child of Christian parents has a much better chance of becoming a committed follower of Christ than those from non-Christian families, but we all know exceptions to this rule.  The larger truth is that children, in most cases, tend to follow in their parents footsteps regarding spiritual matters.

Another principle is that proverbs are phrased to be catchy, usually for ease of memory.  Writers of proverbs are more concerned with the reader retaining the message than with being technically precise.  They don't state a truth exhaustively, frequently only pointing toward or suggesting a broader truth, often figuratively.  Thus, proverbs should be balanced with other proverbs and interpreted in context with the rest of Scripture.

Finally, we must be cautious not to use proverbs to support a selfish materialistic lifestyle.  Proverbs, rightly used, are meant to provide practical advise for leading a life pleasing to God.

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