Finding Your Way Around the Bible, Part 3

Last week we looked at the history books of the Old Testament. This week we begin with the Old Testament books of wisdom and poetry.
The Books of Wisdom/Poetry (OT):

Job

This is the account of Job, a righteous man who was tested and tried. This is the oldest book in the Bible, having been written before the Law of Moses. Job was roughly a contemporary of Abraham. In this account Job loses his wealth, his family, and his health, yet does not turn away from God. Authorship is unknown.

Psalms

This is the longest book in the Bible, containing 150 different psalms. Each psalm is a specific song. There are many varied themes, as well as different authors. There are psalms of praise, psalms asking for help, psalms of thanksgiving, and psalms prophesying of the Christ (among other subjects). Perhaps the most famous author of some of the psalms is David.

Proverbs

For the most part, this book is filled with short proverbs. A proverb is a short, pithy statement filled with wisdom. Wisdom can be found on nearly any subject imaginable. One of the more famous passages is in chapter 31, where the wife of noble character is described. Solomon is the author of most of this book.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is Solomon recounting his efforts to find what is good and worthwhile in this life. He tries everything from work to pleasure, from wealth to power. And in his final conclusion, he realizes that without God, it is all meaningless. He sums up by stating the the whole of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.

Song of Solomon/Song of Songs

There are two common titles given for this book. It recounts the story of Solomon wooing a Shulamite shepherdess. We learn much of the nature of romantic love in this book, both what is pure and acceptable, and what is wrong and sinful.

The Major Prophets (OT): (so-called due to the length of their books)

Isaiah

This is a lengthy book, detailing the prophecies of Isaiah. Much of the book is spent in condemnations of nations, as well as prophecies of Israel's deliverance. There is much in Isaiah of the coming Messiah (that is, Christ). Isaiah is the author of this book.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah is similar in m any ways to Isaiah, as well as the other prophets. The majority of the subject matter is the upcoming destruction of Israel because of the nation's disobedience to the Lord. Jeremiah is occasionally known as the “weeping prophet” because of the sorrowful things he is used to foretell and warn of. Jeremiah is the prophet.

Lamentations

This is another book by the prophet Jeremiah and is essentially a lament for Jerusalem, and the destruction the city faces. Once again, the link to punishment and disobedience is made clear. And once again, there is hope offered in returning to God.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel was a prophet who was carried into Babylonian captivity before the final fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is full of visions and symbolic imagery. In subject matter is much the same as the warnings and hope offered by other prophets: punishment for disobedience and hope in returning to the Lord. He looks forward in his prophecies to the return of Israel from captivity.

Daniel

Daniel wrote this account. He was a prophet in captivity who rose to prominence in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires. Contained in this book are the stories of Daniel in the lion's den, the fiery furnace, and the handwriting on the wall of Belshazzar's feast. He also writes of several important visions which detail what was future chronology of nations, the coming of the Christ, and the establishment of His kingdom.