Keith Essex
Introduction to the Writings

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 20: Introduction to the Writings.

6. Introduction to the Writings [DOTWPW, 35-41]
   The Writings

   Psalms
   Job
   Proverbs

   Ruth
   Song of Songs
   Ecclesiastes
   Lamentations
   Esther

   Daniel
   Ezra / Nehemiah
   Chronicles
   1. The Character of the Writings
      1. Theme: Human life in relation to God
      2. Basic Characteristic: The emphasis on the individual godly man
         • • "How blessed is the man" (Psalm 1:1)
         • • "There was a man" (Job 1:1)
         • • "A wise man will hear" (Prov 1:5); "Hear, my son" (Prov 1:8)
         • • "A certain man of Bethlehem in Judah" (Ruth 1:1)
         • • "May he kiss me" (Song 1:2)
         • • "What advantage does a man have in all his work?" (Eccl 1:3)
         • • "I am the man who has seen affliction" (Lam 3:1)
         • • "Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus" (Esth 1:1); "There was a Jew" (Esth 2:5)
         • • "Youths in whom was no defect" (Dan 1:4)
         • • "Let him go up to Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:3); "Remember me" (Neh 13:31)
         • • "Adam, Seth, Enosh" (1 Chron 1:1); "Let him go up" (2 Chron 36:23)
      3. Characteristics
         1. Patterns for prayer & praise
         2. Insight into God's work in the world
         3. Lessons drawn from God's creative order
         4. Responses of the godly to God's ways
         5. Models of the devotion of God's people
   2. Hebrew Poetry [see W. G. E. Watson, Classical Hebrew Poetry; ESVSB, 865-6; DOTWPW, 520-5]
      1. Rhythm of Thought – Parallelism [see COTC, 225-6; CBCOT, 47; DOTWPW, 502-15]
         1. Synonymous (Ps 1:2; 7:16; 15:1; 19:1; 49:1; 51:3; Prov 9:10; 16:18, 28; 19:29)
            • The heavens declare the glory of God;
            • The skies proclaim the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:1)
         2. Antithetical (Ps 1:6; Prov 10:1, 2, 4, 7)
            • A wise son makes a father glad,
            • But a foolish son is a grief to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1)
         3. Synthetical (Ps 3:4; 29:1; 95:3; Eccl 11:1)
            • To the LORD I cry aloud,
            • And He answers me from His holy mountain. (Psalm 3:4)
         4. Emblematic (Ps 42:1; 103:13)
            • As the deer pants for the water brooks,
            • So my soul pants for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1)
         5. Formal (Ps 2:6)
            • "But as for Me, I have installed My King
            • Upon Zion, My holy mountain." (Psalm 2:6)
      2. Rhythm of Sound
         1. Acrostic (Psa 9; 10; 24; 37; 111; 112; 119; 145; Prov 31:10-31; Lam 1; 2; 3; 4; see DOTWPW, 1-4)
         2. Alliteration (Ps 122:6)
         3. Assonance (Ps 119:29)
         4. Paronomasia (Is 5:7)
         5. Onomatopeia (Ps 81:7)
         6. Inclusion (Ps 118:1, 29; see DOTWPW, 323-5)
   3. Hebrew Wisdom (see VIII. below)
   4. Bibliography:
      • Longman & Enns, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry, &Writings [DOTWPW]
      • Estes, Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms.

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.