THE BIG THREE: JOB, PSALMS, & PROVERBS

1
The writings, or Kethubim, make up the
third and final section of the Hebrew Bible.

This section contains 11 Books:
Big 3 = Job, Psalms, Proverbs
Megilloth (Scrolls): Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes,
Song of Songs, & Lamentations
Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles, Daniel

2
Poetry is used by an author either to
communicate a truth more vividly or more
memorably than can be done with prose or
to communicate a truth that has a meaning
too profound adequately to be
communicated by straightforward prose.
(Cate, p. 433)
3
Does not rhyme.

The rhythm, meter, or beat of Hebrew
poetry is one of its major characteristics.
This has to do with the number of stressed or
emphasized syllables in a line or verse.
4
A line of Hebrew poetry is called a stich.

One line of a two-line unit is called a distich.

One line of a three-line unit is called a tristich.
5
1. Each line has three beats.
The 3:3 is the most frequently used pattern of
beats.
Psalm 24:1 (KJV) A Psalm of David.
The earth / is the Lord's / and the fullness thereof;
the world / and they that dwell / therein.
Psalm 103:3
Who forgives / all / your . . . diseases.

6
2. Each part of a verse has two beats.

Psalm 46:6
The nations / rage, / / the kingdoms / totter;
he utters / his voice, / / the earth / melts.
Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he / whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin / is covered.
7
3. The 3
rd
common rhythm is 3:2.
It is a slower, off-beat rhythm and named qinah
which means lament.
Psalm 7:1
O Lord my God, / in thee do I take refuge;
save me / from all my pursuers, / and deliver me.
Psalm 22:12
Many bulls / encompass me,
strong bulls/ of Bashan / surround me.
8
1. Synonymous parallelism

2. Antithetical parallelism

3. Synthetic parallelism
9
1. Synonymous parallelism
Psalms 2:4-5 ( NIV )
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath

10
2. Antithetical parallelism
Psalms 1:6
For the LORD watches over the way of the
righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
11
3. Synthetic parallelism
Psalms 1:1
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
nor stand in the way of sinners
nor sit in the seat of mockers.
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

12
Book is based on a character from the
patriarchal age

Book is much later

Book challenges a narrow understanding
and application of the Deuteronomic
Formula:
Righteousness brings blessings
Sin brings curses
13
1. God was just and gave justice to mankind.
2. This life was all there was.
When people died they went to Sheol, the
abode of the dead.
There was no life after death with rewards
and punishments.
3. If justice was to be done, it had to be done
in this life.

14
1. The good person prospered, while the
wicked person failed.
2. Sickness was a sign that a person had
sinned. It was part of Gods judgment on
sinners.
15
12 Prologue
3 Jobs First Soliloquy
427 Cycle of Dialogue Speeches
28 Hymn on Wisdom: (v. 12)
29-41 Three Monologue Speeches
2931 Jobs Second Soliloquy
3237 Elihu Speeches
38:42:6 Yahweh Speeches
42:7-17 Epilogue
16
Dialogue (chs. 4-27)
Soliloquy (ch. 3)
Discourse (chs. 29-41)
Narrative (chs. 1-2)
Hymn (ch. 28)
17
To explore (without solving) the
various aspects of suffering,
especially as it related to those
who are righteous.
18
The book of Job offers a biblical
perspective on suffering

(to be distinguished from offering
an explanation of suffering).
19
The satan is introduceda part of the
heavenly council.

His name means Adversary.
(See Numbers 22:22)

Gods policies are placed on trial here,
not Job.
20
1. One wife (2:9)
2. Seven sons (Died; 1:19)
3. Three Daughters (Died)
4. Servants (All but four died; 1:15, 16, 17, 19)
5. Great Wealth (Lost; 1:14-15, 16, 17;
= oxen, asses, sheep, camels)
6. Greatest Man of the East (1:3)
21
Inright He was blameless (Integrity)

Upright He feared God (Reverence)

Outright He lived honestly before
others (Character)

Downright He turned from evil (Godly)

22
Job attended to his own piety first and foremost
(1:1)

Job sought to cover his children, sanctifying
them with his reverence (1:5)

Job worshipped & blessed the Lord even in the
face of bad news (1:20-22)

Job retained his integrity even when sick (2:9-10)
23
Job breaks his silence:

1. 3:1-10 Erase the day of my conception:
I wish Id never been born.

2. 3:11-19 Why could I not have died at
birth?

3. 3:20-26 Why cant I die now?


24
Purpose of Job 3 = to emphasize the
intensity of his suffering

Job was the greatest man (1:3)
& had the greatest suffering (3:1-26)

What Job learns is relevant for everyone!

25
What is essential to the development of
the books purpose is not that God
vindicate Job (the audience knew of his
innocence from the start), but that Job
vindicates Gods policy of blessing
righteous people by maintaining his
integrity even when he is not being
blessed for it.
26
Chapter
Reference
Friends
Name
Source of
Personal
Tragedy
Character
Of
Theology
Approach
Of
Presenting
4-5
15
22
Eliphaz Revelation Mystical
4:12-21
Moves From
Courteous To
More Direct
8
18
25
Bildad Research
8:8-10
Tradition Moves from
Direct to
Blunt
11
20
Zophar Reason Dogmatic
11:13-20
Sharp And
Harsh
11:1-6
27
6:14-30 Deceitful Brooks

13:4 Worthless Physicians

16:2 Miserable Comforters

42:7-10 You Have Not Spoken What Is Right
28
A person can deal with the worst this life has
to offer if their faith in the Lord is strong.

Our desire for the presence of God in our lives
should be so strong that all else (including
negative things) pale in comparison.

Everything is manageable if God is with us.
29
Israels Book of Prayer and Praise
30
In the MT it bears the title of Praises.

In the LXX it is identified by the title Psalmoi,
whose best translation is melodies or songs.
The LXX title has come down to us through the
Latin Vulgate.

One ancient codex identified the book by the
title of Psalterion, which refers to songs
accompanied by stringed instruments. From this
word we get the Psalter.


31
The book of hymns, prayers, anthems, and
liturgical readings the ancient Hebrews
used in worship.

The Book of Psalms is the longest book of
the OT.
It contains 150 Psalms
They should not be referred to as chapters.
32
Book I Psalms 141

Book II Psalms 4272

Book III Psalms 7389

Book IV Psalms 90106

Book V Psalms 107150
33
Book Yahweh Elohim
I (1-41) 273 (86:4%) 43 (13:6%)
II (42-72) 30 (15.5 %) 164 (84.5%)
III (73-89) 44 (43.6%) 57 (56.4%)
IV (90-106) 103 (84.4%) 19 (15.6%)
V (107-150) 190 (87.6%) 27 (12.4%)
34
1. Psalm (mizmor) : appears to indicate a piece of
music to be sung with an instrumental
accompaniment.

2. Song (shir): seems to be a general term for a song.
Occurs about 30 times (cf. Ps. 46, 48, 66, 67)

3. Maskil: usually only transliterated; meaning is
uncertain. The root relates to wisdom.
Occurs 13 times (cf. Ps. 42, 44, 45, 55, 74)

4. Miktam: transliterated; meaning uncertain;
occurs 6 times (cf. Ps. 16, 58, 59)
35
5. Prayer (tephillah): a term with an obvious
meaning which occurs 5 times (cf. Ps. 17)

6. Praise (tehillah): came to be used as a title for
the entire Psalter; derived from the word hallel,
meaning to praise.
It occurs one time only in Ps. 145.

7. Shiggaion: to wander and interpreted as
referring to a wild, ecstatic tune (only in Ps. 7)
36
Selah to pause

Stichos a term applied to a line of
Hebrew poetry (plural, stichoi)

Strophe what we would call a stanza or
verse
37
1. David 73
2. Asaph (Davids Court Musician) 12
3. Sons of Korah 10
4. Solomon 2
5. Moses 1
6. Heman 1
7. Ethan 1
8. 1/3 of the Psalms are Anonymous
38
Can be translated:
1.A Psalm by David

2.A Psalm dedicated to David or about David

3.A Psalm in Davids style or
after the manner of David

39
1. Hymns of Praise
2. Psalms of Thanksgiving
3. Psalms of Lament
4. Royal Psalms
5. Liturgical Psalms
6. Psalms of Confidence
7. Wisdom Psalms
8. Mixed Types
40
Psalm 1 (a wisdom psalm)
Psalm 8 ( a hymn on the glory of the LORD and
the dignity of humanity)
Psalm 22 (an individual lament)
Psalm 23 (a Psalm of Confidence)
Psalm 32 (an individual song of thanksgiving)
Psalm 45 (a royal psalm)
Psalm 51 (an individual lament)
Psalm 74 (a communal lament)
Psalm 117 (a short hymn)

41
1. Prayers are expression of our thoughts to
God.
2. Prayers express human emotions to God:
Joy, Anger, Despair, Hope, Fear, Gratitude.
3. Prayers are deliberate externalizings of our
innermost struggles and strengths.
4. Prayers are a form of self-awareness of God.
42
Wisdom for Living

Mashal = to be like

43
Deut. 1:13, 15 p. 215
2 Sam. 14:2 p. 393
1 Chron. 27:32 p. 526
1 Kings 4:32-34 p. 421
Jer. 18:18 p. 936
Job 29:7-22 p. 640

44
1. A wise man or wise woman: one who had
seriously pondered what was necessary to
have the good life and, based upon his
or her experience as well as being founded
upon the experience of the ages, arrived
at conclusions.

2. The Wisdom movement: that group of wise
people who passed on gathered wisdom
to others.
45
1:1-7 The Purpose of Proverbs
1:8-9:18 The Pursuit of Wisdom
10:1-22:16 The Proverbs of Solomon
22:17-24:34 The Proper Approach to Life
25:1-29:27 The Proverbs Preserved by
Hezekiahs Men
30:1-33 The Personal Observations of
Agur
31:1-9 The Prevention of Perversion
for Lemuel
31:10-31 The Preciousness of a Good Wife

46
Mashal = to be like
Proverbs (Meshalim) = Authoritative Comparisons
Theme: 1:7 The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning
of Knowledge; Fools Despise Wisdom
and Instruction
General Purpose = To Increase the Number of Wise
and Decrease the Number of Foolish

47
1. To experience wisdom and instruction
2. To perceive sayings of understanding
3. To receive the discipline of skill,
righteousness, justice, uprightness
4. To give prudence to the simple
5. To give knowledge and discretion
6. To increase traditional teaching
7. To aid in the acquisition of common sense
(knowing the Ropes)
48
The SIMPLETONgullible, silly, deceivable
Peti = open-headed 1:4 (Heb. Spacious)
The FATHEADstupid fellow, dullard, thick
Kesil = Sluggish, Brick-head 1:22
The FOOLDespises wisdom, mocks at guilt
Evil-Quarrelsome, The Kesil Hardens into this
The ARROGANTHeightened degree of evil
Chasar Leb Lacking heart, moral & religious
insensitivity
The SCOFFERTrouble maker, malignant
Lez = Scornful, set to sin
49
Wisdom is pictured as a woman calling out in the
market place, offering peace and security to an
unresponsive crowd (1:20-33).
Wisdom is described as more precious than
silver, gold or jewels (3:1320)
Wisdom (the caller and giver) was created first
and became the master workman by Gods side
(8:1-36).
Wisdom is a house-builder, she has built her
house on seven pillars (9:1-6).
50
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FEAR OF THE LORD
51
1. Wisdom General acquaintance
with the way, will & word of God
2. Understanding The specific application
of wisdom to everyday living
3. Prudence Being able to discern your
enemies plans
4. Discipline Being able to stick with
your plan no matter
52
5. Tradition awareness and appreciation for
social values, mores, & teachings passed on
from earlier generations
6. Common sense Ability to adapt traditions to
changing situations to increase effectiveness
without violating the tradition itself.
7. Skill Knowing what needs to be done
8. Discretion knowing how & when to do what
needs to be done.
53
The Events of the Days (Heb. Bible)
The things Passed Over (LXX)
54
1. People: emphasize all Israel as Gods people
2. Kingship: Kingship in Israel = Kingdom of God
3. Temple & Worship: strongest link with
pre-exilic Israel
4. Retribution & Repentance: immediate
retribution
Hyper-Deuteronomic formula
Negative: 1 Chron. 10:13-14
Positive: 1 Chron. 28:9

55
Righteousness exalts a nation (cf. Prov. 14:34)
Individual retribution (reward or judgment)
Authority of Scripture: seen in the Chroniclers
use of massive amounts of earlier works
Constant concern for Temple, worship,
officials, & Levites
Overarching stress on the theocratic nature
of the community. (2 Chron. 7:14)
56
57
1. 450 BC Ezra & Nehemiah were responsible
for the books that bear their names.

2. 428 BC Ezra wrote 1 &2 Chronicles &
Ezra-Nehemiah

3. 400 BC the Chronicler was the final author
of Ezra-Nehemiah, but he is unknown.
58
1. The problem of foreign wives
(Ezra 9:110:44)

2. The renewing of the covenant
(Neh. 8:19:38)
59
1. The rebuilding of the Temple is not merely an
act of restoration but an act of the highest
religious significance (seen as provision for
proper atonement for sin).

2. The heavy emphasis on the Law in the
reforms of Ezra & Nehemiah was an attempt
to counteract the tendency of treating
continual atonement as mere custom.
60
3. The importance of the covenant relationship
examined in terms of Gods promises &
expectations.
4. Corresponding stress on the purity of religion
( purity of the blood line).
5. The religious-historical approach to writing
history stressing all past events (triumphs &
tragedies) as Gods will.


61
A devout Jewish layman
Cup-bearer to the Persian king
His enemies:
Sanballat (governor of Samaria)
Tobiah (governor of Ammon in Transjordan)
Geshem (an Arab king)
Finished the wall in 52 days

62
1. He bathed the entire project in prayer.
2. He gave God the glory.
3. He made a careful and compete survey of the
project before presenting it.
4. He presented the project to the people with
faith and enthusiasm.
5. He organized the project so that each family
repaired the wall beside his own house.
6. He overcame all opposition: internal/external
7. He concluded the work with worship, dedication
and celebration.
63
64
Placed among the Kethubim [rather than the
prophets] probably because of its late date
Authorship attributed to Daniel in the 6
th
century
traditionally, but other scholars date it to the
2
nd
century during the time of the Jewish
Independence or just before.
The book clearly teaches that Gods kingdom will
triumph over all and that faith in him will be
rewarded in due time.
The message of the book is: The kingdoms of this
world will be replaced by the Kingdom of God.
65
Daniel was carried into exile by Nebuchadnezzar
in 605 B.C.
Daniel was still active in the late 6
th
century
Daniels name means God is my judge.
Daniel had three friends: Hananiah, Mischael, and
Azariah
The four men were given Babylonian names:
Daniel Belteshazzar; Hananiah Shadrach;
Mishael Meshack; Azariah Abednego
66
67
This grave stele from about 530 b.c.
illustrates the concept of putting a
figure on the top of a high pedestal.

John H Walton, Zondervan Illustrated
Bible Backgrounds Commentary
vol. 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan,
2009), 536.