Module 4: Poetic Books

Hi everyone, and welcome to the fourth module for the Old Testament survey course. In this section, we'll be working through the Poetic books of the Old Testament.

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Place the Major OT people, events and books of the Poetic Books in a general chronology.
  • Explain the main message(s), organization, theme(s), and/or character(s) of the Poetic Books.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the character of God as revealed through His revelation in the praise and wisdom literature of the Poetic Books.
  • Consider how God’s revelation through the Poetic Books applies in the student’s life and ministry.

Below you will find links to all the study material for this module.

Course Documents

In this section, you'll find links to important and supplemental documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. The first group contains documents that explain and give instruction for all the course activities in this module. The second group is a set of blank lecture notes which you may use as a companion for the video lectures. And the last group contains summary sheets for each Bible book covered in this module.

Instruction Guides


Lecture Notes


Bible Summaries


Lecture Videos

In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Poetic Books module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each thumbnail to open access to each video. There is also a link with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface. In addition, there is a link to download the audio from the presentation for offline review.

27: Introduction to the Poetic Books

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27: Introduction to the Poetic Books
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28: Job

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29: Psalms

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30:Proverbs

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31: Ecclesiastes

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32: Song of Songs

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32: Song of Songs
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Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 4. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the slide show.

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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 4. By clicking the link, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the quiz.

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Review Quiz for Module 4
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Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


The Book of Proverbs teaches Deuteronomistic Theology.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 30
Which of these is NOT addressed in the Book of Proverbs?

Money - Wealth and Poverty

Sorry, see Lecture 30

Speech - Truth, Lying, Mocking, Gossip, etc.

Sorry, see Lecture 30

Relationships - Sex, Neighbor & Family

Sorry, see Lecture 30

Evil - Why the righeous suffer

Well Done

Motivation - Work and Sloth

Sorry, see Lecture 30

Attitudes - Envy/Spite, Hope/Joy, etc.

Sorry, see Lecture 30
The Book of Job has a happy ending.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which word best summarizes the book of Proverbs?

Romance


Vanity


Creaturehood


Praises


Wisdom

Excellent
The Main Body of the Book of Proverbs is a collection of apparently randomly arranged proverbs.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 30
Which best describes Job's response to God's monologue?

He asks clarifying questions

Sorry, see Lecture 28

He thanks God for explaining why he had suffered


He repents for being sinful


He repents for questioning what he did not understand

Correct

He asks to have his fortune restored


Which Psalm "life context" best describes a time when life is going horribly, when God seems to be inactive or hidden?

Orientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Disorientation

Correct

Reorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Preorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29
The Psalms force us to be honest about the difficult times of life and bring them to God in hope.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 29
Solomon likely contributed much to the writing of Ecclesiastes, but was not the final author.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 31
Which best describes the problem of Job?

Will Job remain faithful to God?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

We don't know why Job is suffering

Sorry, see Lecture 28

God's justice is called into question if Job suffers, when he is righteous

Well Done

How can we know who is right in the debate between Job and his 'friends'?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Could satan turn God against Job?

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Proverbs stresses that there are only two ways to live, the way of wisdom or the way of the fool.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 30
The Book of Proverbs commands the reader to pursue wisdom, no matter the cost.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 30
Which of these is NOT one of the questions addressed by the Book of Job?

Is Job Righteous?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Who has wisdom?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Is God Just?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Does Job serve God only for God's blessings?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Why do the innocent suffer?

Well Done
What word best summarizes the Book of Job?

Wisdom


Vanity


Creaturehood

Great Job

Romance


Praises


According to Ecclesiastes, because all of life is vanity, God cannot be taken very seriously.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 31

False

Correct
The Course Lecture argues that the best way to understand the Song of Songs is as an allegory of God's love for His church.

True

This is a possible interpretation, which has been popular in history, but the Lecture argues that it is not the best interpretation, see Lecture 32

False

Good Job
Ecclesiastes speaks of the futility of the secular view of life in order to highlight the absurdity of life without God.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 31
The expression of disorientation is typically expressed by which form type of Psalm?

Complaint

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Hymn

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Lament

Good Job

Thanksgiving

Sorry, see Lecture 29
Which Psalm "life context" best describes a time after the difficult time, when God has come through and rescued, and restored blessings?

Preorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Disorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Reorientation

Good Job

Orientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29
Which is NOT a theme of Ecclesiastes?

Fear of the Lord

Sorry, see Lecture 31

Find Joy

Sorry, see Lecture 31

Qoheleth

Good Job

Vanity

Sorry, see Lecture 31
The Lecture on Song of Songs argues that the church should overcome our culture's twisted understanding of sex and romance by demonstrating a better, healthy understanding of sex and romance.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 32
Psalms is not one writing, but a collection of individual writings.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 29
The Psalms were used in the Temple rituals.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 29
In Ecclesiastes, the fact that God brings every deed into judgment shows that everything is not, in fact, meaningless.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 31
Which is NOT a part of the Hymn on Wisdom in the Book of Job?

Encouragement that we can find wisdom

Good Job

True wisdom is from God

Sorry, see Lecture 28

The question: "Where can wisdom be found?"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

True wisdom is the fear of the Lord and turning from evil

Sorry, see Lecture 28
In the Book of Proverbs, a proverb is a promise from God.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 30

False

Good Job
Which word best summarizes the Song of Songs?

Creaturehood


Vanity


Wisdom


Praises


Romance

Well Done
Which is NOT a part of Job's perspective in the diologues?

"The wicked are always punished"

Correct

"I need an intermediary to talk to God"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I want to ask God why this is happening"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I still hope"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I'm miserable in suffering"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I'm innocent"

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which is NOT a theme of the Book of Psalms?

God is Love

Well Done

God is Help

Sorry, see Lecture 29

God is King

Sorry, see Lecture 29

God is Trustworthy

Sorry, see Lecture 29

God is Praiseworthy

Sorry, see Lecture 29
Which section is highlighted by the organization of Job?

Monologues

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Prologue

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Epilogue

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Hymn on Wisdom

Excellent

Dialogues

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 4. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. Click the Thumbnail to view the questions.

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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. What is the message of Ecclesiastes and how does it apply to today?
  2. What are the four themes of the Book of Psalms? What difference does this make to everyday life?
  3. What is meant by "Advance Choices" in Proverbs, and how does this apply to your own life?
  4. How can the Book of Ecclesiastes be used to reach our culture with the good news of Jesus?
  5. What are the three "life contexts" of the Book of Psalms? How do each apply to life and ministry today?
  6. Why does the Song of Songs advise not to awaken love until it so desires? How should this advice be applied in your current context and your personal life?
  7. What is the key to wisdom given in each of the wisdom books? How can you apply this insight to become more wise? How would your life be impacted?
  8. What are the "real" questions of Job and how do they apply to your life today?
  9. What does it mean that the Psalms are "historically ambiguous, to be universally applicable"? What difference does this make for how we read and apply the Psalms?

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the fourth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on to the next module as soon as is convenience. The button below will take you to Module 5.