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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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 word best summarizes the book of Proverbs?

Praises


Vanity


Wisdom

Excellent

Creaturehood


Romance


Which is NOT a theme of the Book of Psalms?

God is Trustworthy

Sorry, see Lecture 29

God is Help

Sorry, see Lecture 29

God is Love

Well Done

God is King

Sorry, see Lecture 29

God is Praiseworthy

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

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 29
The Book of Job has a happy ending.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 28
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
Which section is highlighted by the organization of Job?

Monologues

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Hymn on Wisdom

Excellent

Epilogue

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Dialogues

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Prologue

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which is NOT a theme of Ecclesiastes?

Qoheleth

Good Job

Fear of the Lord

Sorry, see Lecture 31

Vanity

Sorry, see Lecture 31

Find Joy

Sorry, see Lecture 31
Which is NOT part of the proper way to read the Book of Proverbs?

Compare proverbs with other proverbs on the same topic

Sorry, see Lecture 30

Consider them as commands from God

Correct

Read them slowly and ponder their life implications

Sorry, see Lecture 30

Pay attention to the Parallelism

Sorry, see Lecture 30
What word best summarizes the Book of Job?

Praises


Romance


Vanity


Wisdom


Creaturehood

Great Job
The expression of disorientation is typically expressed by which form type of Psalm?

Thanksgiving

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Complaint

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Hymn

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Lament

Good Job
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 preamble of Proverbs summarizes the purpose of the whole book.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 30
Which of these is NOT a possible explanation of the nature of the Song of Songs?

It is a dramatic love story

Sorry, see Lecture 32

It is a series of love poems

Sorry, see Lecture 32

It is a wisdom treatise describing the folly of love

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

Orientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Disorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Preorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Reorientation

Good Job
What is the best explanation of the idea of "creaturehood" in Job?

Having the same fate (death) as the animals

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Being unable to question God

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Our inability to control nature

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Humbly knowing the limits of human wisdom

Great Job
Solomon is the author of the entire Book of Proverbs.

True

Sorry, he authored much of it, but not all, see Lecture 30

False

Correct
Ecclesiastes tells us to find joy even in the midst of vanity.

True

Good

False

Sorry, see Lecture 31
Job is vindicated as righteous in the Book of Job

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which best describes the problem of Job?

We don't know why Job is suffering

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Will Job remain faithful to God?

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
The prose into to the Book of Job has two rounds of a very similar pattern.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which Psalm "life context" best describes a time when life is going well and God's blessings are experienced?

Disorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Orientation

Good Job

Reorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Preorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29
Which of these is NOT one of the questions addressed by the Book of Job?

Is Job Righteous?

Sorry, see Lecture 28

Why do the innocent suffer?

Well Done

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

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 30
What is the meaning of the word Qoheleth?

The purpose for the book of Ecclesiastes

Sorry, see Lecture 31

Leader of an assembly/teacher/preacher

Good Job

A Proverb which counsels the reader to gain wisdom

Sorry, see Lecture 31

A Lament which asks God for help against enemies

Sorry, see Lecture 31
The Book of Job challenges human arrogance that thinks we can figure out everything.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which is the correct order of the organization of Psalms?

Orientation, Reorientation, Disorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation

Great Job

Reorientation, Disorientation, Orientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Disorientation, Reorientation, Orientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Reorientation, Orientation, Disorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29

Disorientation, Orientation, Reorientation

Sorry, see Lecture 29
In the Book of Proverbs, a proverb is a promise from God.

True

Sorry, see Lecture 30

False

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

"I still hope"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I want to ask God why this is happening"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I need an intermediary to talk to God"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"The wicked are always punished"

Correct

"I'm innocent"

Sorry, see Lecture 28

"I'm miserable in suffering"

Sorry, see Lecture 28
Which best describes Job's response to God's monologue?

He repents for being sinful


He asks to have his fortune restored


He thanks God for explaining why he had suffered


He asks clarifying questions

Sorry, see Lecture 28

He repents for questioning what he did not understand

Correct

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 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?
  2. 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?
  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 "real" questions of Job and how do they apply to your life today?
  6. What is the message of Ecclesiastes and how does it apply to today?
  7. What are the three "life contexts" of the Book of Psalms? How do each apply to life and ministry today?
  8. 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?
  9. What are the four themes of the Book of Psalms? What difference does this make to everyday life?

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.