Lahore College of Theology

Research Paper

Study of Poetic Literature in Old Testament

Submitted to

Sir Shaleem J. Robert

Submitted by

Sharoon

08-10-2021

Lahore, Pakistan.
 Table of Content

 Job
 History
 Theme
 Characteristics
 Outline
 Significance
 Application
 Psalms
 History
 Theme
 Characteristics
 Outline
 Significance
 Application
 Proverbs
 History
 Theme
 Characteristics
 Outline
 Significance
 Application
 Ecclesiastes
 History
 Theme
 Characteristics
 Outline
 Significance
 Application
 Song of Solomon
 History
 Theme
 Characteristics
 Outline
 Significance
 Application
 Sources Consulted
 Book of Job
Theme:
Job begins in tragedy. It’s a famous Bible story about an innocent man who loses
everything. He calls God, demanding an explanation for the hardship he is experiencing.
God responds by showing him just how big and complex the world is and the kind of
wisdom it takes to create and maintain such a world. Job realizes how God’s wisdom
works that mostly we humans just can’t see.

Characteristics:
Job’s trials of extreme suffering emphasize God’s great authority. This book is
named for a righteous and faithful man who was challenged to remain faithful through the
loss of everything in his life. However, in the end and by remaining firm, God rewards Job
by not only replacing all he lost but multiplying it as well.

Outline:
1:1—2:13 15:1-35
Trials of Job Second Speech of Eliphaz
3:1-26 16:1-16
Job’s Lament Fourth Speech of Job
4:1—5:27 18:1-21
First Speech of Eliphaz Second Speech of Bildad
6:1—7:21 19:1-29
First Speech of Job Fifth Speech of Job
8:1-22 20:1-29
First Speech of Bildad Second Speech of Zophar
9:1—10:22 21:1-34
Second Speech of Job Sixth Speech of Job
11:1-20 22:1-30
First Speech of Zophar Third Speech of Eliphaz
12:1—14:22 23:1—24:25
Third Speech of Job Seventh Speech of Job
25:1-6 Job’s Discourse
Third Speech of Bildad 32:1—37:24
26:1—27:23 Elihu’s Discourses
Eighth Speech of Job 38:1—41:34
28:1-28 God’s Discourses
Wisdom Hymn 42:1-17
29:1—31:40 Job’s Restoration

History & Significance:

Application:
Pain and suffering is unavoidable in this life. Our relationship with God must be
strong enough when trials come. We must trust Him through our suffering. Spending time
with the Almighty. Pray for a stronger faith in the powerful Creator described in this book.
Pray for a right perspective of Him so that we might see our situation through His eyes.
 Book of Psalms
Theme:
The book of Psalms is a five-volume collection of poems that the Jews used to
worship and understand God. It begins with two promises: blessings for those who delight
in the Torah (which also has five parts), and a promised Messiah who will restore
Jerusalem and rule the nations in peace and justice. The book demands readers to praise
the Lord, and trust in his justice, mercy, and love.

Characteristics:
The Book of Psalms is a collection of supplications, prayers, songs, and beautiful
poetry. King David is recognized to be the psalmist for most part of this book. In addition,
some of the earliest psalms were written by Moses many centuries before David. Here are
prayerful songs and poetry describing man’s relation to God in times of trials and the
words of a loving God.

Psalms 1—41 Book One

Book 1 consists largely of psalms spoken by David individually, rather than by
Israel as a nation. They address matters that concern David. Later books bring in the social
and common aspects of life and work.
Psalms 42—72 Book Two
Book 2 shows that all of us suffer from feelings of insecurity, and financial collapse
increase our worries. In this we see a number of texts that relate to the fears that surrounds
people and the paths to which they turn for help. We learn about the true and the false
grounds for hope in a world of uncertainty.
Psalms 73—89 Book Three
Book 3 of Psalms contains most of lamentation and complaint. Divine judgment
both positive and negative, comes in many of the psalms. Expecting these psalms gives us
a mirror in which to explore our faithfulness or lack of it, to express our actual feelings to
the God who is able to settle everything.
Psalms 90—106 Book Four
Book 4 of Psalms shows brokenness of the world including human mortality in the
context of God’s dominance. None of us is able to make our own life let alone the whole
world as it should be. We suffer, and we cannot protect those we love from suffering. Yet
God remains in custody.
Psalms 107—150 Book Five
The psalms in Book 5 have a common theme than other books. However, among the
variety of forms and settings, work appears more directly among these psalms. Issues of
economic, business ethics, , productivity, the work of raising children and managing a
household, the proper use of power, and the glory of God in and through the material
world.

Outline:
Psalms about man and creation
Ps (1-41) resembles to Genesis.

Psalms about Israel and redemption

Ps (42-72) resembles to Exodus.

Psalms about worship and the Temple

Ps (73-89) resembles to Leviticus.

Psalms about our sojourn on the earth

Ps (90-106) resembles to Numbers.

Psalms about praise and the Word of God

(107-150) resembles to Deuteronomy.
History and Significance:

Application:
These psalms teach us about deliverance, humanity, authority of God in our
personal and devotional life. If we Read Psalm 1, and Psalm 150 these shows thanking to
God for allowing us to express your deepest emotions to Him. If you are hurt, read Psalm
13 as a guide. If we are rejoicing, meditate on Psalm 30 and echo the praise found there.
No matter our circumstance, the psalms contain a corresponding word that will help us
share our heart with the Lord.
 Proverbs
Theme:
Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, many of which are associated with the wise
King Solomon. This book welcomes us to gain wisdom, bringing our decisions and actions
in alignment with God’s good order for the universe.

Characteristics:
Proverbs was written mostly by Solomon, but is a collection which passes on words
of knowledge and experiences that God has for us. Though short and concise, most
proverbs offer sound advice that covers a wide range of topics. Such as messages on
chastity, controlling our tongues, drinking too much wine, the love of money, having true
wisdom etc.

Outline:
1:1—9:18
Wisdom Encouragements
10:1—22:16
Proverbs of Solomon
22:16—24:34
Sayings of the Wise
25:1—29:27
Proverbs of Solomon Gathered by Hezekiah’s Men
30:1—31:9
Sayings of Agur and Lemuel’s Mother
31:10-31
Noble Wife
History and Significance:

Application:
Proverbs contains some of the most applicable truths in our daily life. Most of the
proverbs are brief statements filled with imagery from the real world. This allows us to see
very clearly how a proverb might be applied to everyday situations. Proverbs reminds us
that God concerns Himself not just with the big, extra-ordinary events of life but even
those ordinary, “invisible” moments in our lives as well.
 Ecclesiastes
Theme:
Ecclesiastes explores the uncertainty of life we have an idea of how the world
should work, but it rarely goes that way. Book teaches us to be loyal to God and enjoy the
simple things in life because we really don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.

Characteristics:
Ecclesiastes, meaning gathering, it deals with self-importance and shows that
fullness of life is found only in God. It is a book that is often misunderstood and ignored.
This book addresses the often asked questions on the “meaning of life.” Ecclesiastes
illustrates that faith and patience are keys to enjoying the victorious life God has for us.

Outline:
1:1-11. 4:4-8.
The Vanity of Life The Vanity of Selfish Work
1:12-18. 4:9-13.
The Grief of Wisdom The Value of a Friend
1:9-11. 4:13-16.
All old things are forgotten; Popularity Passes Away
1:12-18. 5:1-7.
In the studies of wisdom. Fear God, Keep Your Vows
2:1-11. 5:8-6:12
The Vanity of Pleasure The Vanity of Gain and Honor
2:12-26. 7:1-8:1.
The End of the Wise and the Fool The Value of Practical Wisdom
3:1-8. 8:2-8:9.
Everything Has Its Time Obey Authorities for God’s Sake
3:9-15. 8:10-9:12.
The God-Given Task Death Comes to All
3:16-4:3. 9:13-10:20.
Injustice Seems to Prevail Wisdom Superior to Folly
11:1-12:8. 12:9-12:14.
The Value of Diligence The Whole Duty of Man

History and Significance:

Application:
Ecclesiastes shows a human who lived through the process of getting pleasure in
this world works and came up with a wiser, more experienced perspective. When we’re
surrounded by the temptation to proclaim life’s ultimate emptiness, we can find in
Ecclesiastes a vision tempered by experience and ultimately seen through divinely
perspective. Life is destined to remain unsatisfying apart from recognition of God’s
involvement. We must place our trust in His sure and able hands.
 Song of Solomon
Theme:
The Song of Solomon, which is associated with Solomon, is a romance poem that
paints a picture of paradise found in human love. This little book represents love as an
intense and powerful element between humans and humans, God and humans.

Characteristics:
Its unique theme is of beautiful love. The collection of songs is of marriage, purity,
and morality. This book is a symbolic parallel to our relationship (as pure and righteous
people the Bride of Christ) with our groom, (Messiah Jesus Christ). Written as a love
poem, it describes the intensity between two people in love and affirms the pleasures and
satisfactions found uniquely within marriage. Songs of Solomon’s demonstrates perfect
God’s love for Israel and Christ’s love for His believers.

Outline:
Preparation for the wedding
1–3
The bride prepares
1–3:5
The groom prepares
3:6–11
The couple professes their love and desire:
The groom professes his love
4
The bride professes her love and longing
5
Both are united in love
6–8

History and Significance:

Application:
Song of Solomon presents a broad range of events and feelings in the days leading
up to and during marriage, offering encouragement toward a lasting love within fears to
threaten even the strongest of relationships. We should notice the Song’s uplifting words
by continuing to value marriage as one of the foundations of society, appreciating the
goodness and the beauty of the union of two people in holy matrimony.
We must consider our marriage a sign of God’s goodness and beauty working in our
life. Song of Solomon reminds us that both marriage and the physical union that follows
originate in God; we should consider each of them as evidence of His grace working itself
out in the world for all believers.
Sources Consulted:

Jensen’s Survey Of The Old Testament Search and Discover by Irving L. JENSEN, 1978,
Moody Publishers, Chicago.
Kamoos ul Kitab by F.S Kher Ullah, 1993, Masihi Ishyat Khana, Lahore.
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper Collins Publishers, 1952.
The Lion Handbook to the Bible Edited by Pat and David Alexander, 2009.
The Oxford Bible Commentary Edited By John Barton And John Muddiman, 2000,
Oxford University Press.
The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Donald K. McKim, Published by
Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky, 2014.