Poetic Commentary

Introduction: Last week we discovered from the book of Esther that, “God providentially delivers His people.” Fred Yoder and I were chatting after the sermon last week, and he mentioned an interesting observation. God’s providence is often easier to see in hind sight. Sometimes, even years later, looking back upon a situation and then seeing how God was working out all the little details for the good of His people. As the old adage goes, “hind sight is 20-20.”

Transition: The reason I bring this up is because today we are focusing on the section of the Old Testament that has been called poetry; the books of Job-Song of Solomon. One of the most helpful perspectives of this section of Scripture is that it is giving commentary on the history of Israel. In other words, these books of the Bible are using poetry to explain what God has done in the past. With 20-20 vision, Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, and Song of Solomon are giving poetic interpretation of the past.

Transition: Today, you may be having a hard time making since of your present situation. Perhaps the confusion of the current events of our day have you in fear, worry, or despair. Be encouraged… The poetry portion of God’s word is full of explanation about God’s operations and how we should respond to him as His people. Basically this, in the same way that Gods word give poetic commentary on the history of Israel, He is also interpreting for us our present day situations.

Transition: Begin with a brief statement about each of these five books of poetry with key verse.

Job

Job: Godly wisdom for suffering.

Many times in our lives we are faced with obstacles or hardships that we cannot seem to find answers for. Just this week, my sister and brother in law were hit by a guy fleeing from police in a car. Thankfully, by God’s mercy they were spared, but we are left to wonder, “where is the justice in a reckless criminal nearly killing a young couple newly married and excited about life.?” The book of Job helps us answers these kinds of questions. For example, one passage from Job 42:1-6

Job 42:1–6 ESV

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Psalms

Psalm: Godly wisdom for singing.

This book contains 150 songs that together made up the hymn book of Israel. These are the songs that they sang in worship to God and various seasons and festivities throughout their year. You know, you can tell a lot about a group of people by the songs they sing. Just listen to the radio today and within about 4 or 5 songs on any genre and you will be able to have a pretty good pulse of the current atmosphere of our culture. And so it is with the Psalms. You get songs of blessedness and joy. Praise and exultation. Grief and leant. Anger and doubt. Peace and war. You get songs for the morning and songs for the evening. Songs to sing when your feeling great, and songs to sing when your feeling down. Songs full of hope and certainty of God’s presence, and songs of helplessness and fear of God’s departure. The book of Psalms has often been called the favorite of many Christians because it grants us wisdom to sing with the raw material of the soul. And so in a moment we’ll look at a particular psalm for this very reason…

Transition: But first lets get a taste of proverbs.

Proverbs

Proverbs: Godly wisdom for living.

Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, many Christians have often read a chapter a day for a month of gleaning precious gold nuggets of practical wisdom. Proverbs is full of short pithy statements that pack a wisdom punch. It is truth to make a person fear God and walk in His ways. It is a fight against foolishness and instructions for Godliness. Proverbs covers everything from money management to marriage. proverbs is a diamond mine for true counsel and help for Godly living. Example: Proverbs 12:1-6

Proverbs 12:1–6 ESV

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes: Godly wisdom for skeptics.

Ecclesiastes reveals the meaningless of having everything, and realizing you have nothing. Life in a world that is under a curse is futile, without hope, and purposeless. However, that’s not the end of the matter. God, sent His Son to crush the curse of sin and give life to those who are hopeless. (Eccl. 12:13-14

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon: Godly wisdom for marriage.

As you all are aware, we live in a strange day when the beauty that God has created for marital intimacy has been hyjacked and polluted for pornographic gain. What is good and right for marriage has been perverted. However, God’s wisdom for marital intimacy is preserved in this little love letter entitled Song of Songs. This doesn’t mean that everything about marriage is taught in this book, but it contains robust and vivid wisdom of the sweet enjoyment that God has created for marriage.

The Poetic books offer us wisdom and point us to Christ!

Transition: Again, the point that we are considering is that all five of these wisdom books are offering poetic interpretation of God’s providential activity among His people. These are the collections of those trying to figure out what God was up to during their present situations and experiences. For a deeper example turn to Psalm 146 and lets study this for some truth that we might glean for our day as well…

Psalm 146 ESV

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

I. Personal Praise 1-2

II. Poetic Commentary 3-10

Closing: The future hope of God’s rule and reign! In Christ this is our great confidence.