Celebration 3 Flashcards
What are other names for the book of Psalms?
Israel’s prayer book or meditations on Deuteronomy or what would Jesus think
When were the Psalms written?
They span 1,000 years from Moses ~1400BC to the Return from the exile in 500BC though most are written during David and Solomon’s time which makes sense because this was a unique time of peace
Who wrote the Psalms?
David, 73 - or at least this is how many are associated with David (by, for, or about) (50%)
Sons of Korah - 11, part of the temple choir/ choir directors
Asaph - 12, choir director at the temple
Heman and Ethan - 2
Moses and Solomon - 3
Anonymous - 49 (33%)
How are the Psalms organized?
- The psalms conclude with five Psalms (146-150) that begin and end with “praise the LORD,” the Hebrew word HalleluYAH
- May the LORD God of Israel be Blessed Forever Amen and Amen shows up four times, breaking the Psalms into five books
- Book I: 3-41 prayers of David
- Psalm 1 and 2 introduce the book
- Laments decrease and praise increases throughout the book emphasizing the effects of Psalm 1 and 2
Where does the Title of the book of Psalms?
Hebrew word (Tehilm) meaning Praises
Greek word Psalmos means songs
- from LXX Septuagint: 70 Hebrew scholars that translated the OT from Hebrew to Greek (about half of OT quoting in NT is from LXX Septuagint)
What types of technical words are in the Psalms?
Although we are not exactly sure what they mean, we believe that they
- Describe content
- Describe Time for singing
- Denote a Melody or Instrument
- Give Directions
- Others really obscure
What are the technical words in the psalms that describe the content?
Maskil - teach us to be skillful at living (learn from another’s example)
Mikhtam: witty, ingenious poem
What are the technical words in the Psalms that describe the time of singing?
To the choir director = public worship and temple choir
Song of ascent = on the way UP to Jerusalem (because it was on a mountain). To be sung during the three festivals when everyone was to come to Jerusalem
What are the technical words in the Psalms that indicate a melody or instrument?
Gittith: stringed instrument
Shoshanim: a melody (means Lillies)
Al-tasheth: a melody (means Do Not Destroy)
What are the technical words that give directions or are really obscure?
Selah: Pause and think about it during a musical interlude
We really don’t know what they mean: Mahalath, Leannoth
What are the types of Psalms?
Thanksgiving, Individual Praise/Lament, National Lament, Royal, Songs of Zion (patriotic), Confessional (Penitential), Imprecatory (calling down Judgement on God’s enemies), Messianic, Wisdom
What about Psalm 1?
Introduction to the entire book and final Hebrew section “writings” focusing on the good Torah of God
Begins with Blessed
- v1: constructive parallelism
- v1,2: antithetic - does not mean don’t hang out with the wicked but don’t follow their values
- Meditates: gnaw on, will be like a tree
- v 3,4 antithetic: trees do not blow away rather they are strong and stable (reliable)
What about Psalm 2?
Introduction to entire book with focus on Messianic
- Four parts with different speakers
1-3) Narrators speaks: fits many scenarios but ultimate raging is against Jesus to kill him
4-6) Father speaks and laughs at the nations’ futile rage
7-9) King speaks: Jesus’ baptism and David’s coronation
10-12) Narrator Speaks: Father and anointed one are together. You get to the Father by relating well with the son
Ends with Blessed
What does Job begin? What is the purpose of it and how is it different from the rest of the OT?
Begins the Wisdom Literature that teaches universal lessons applying to all people that are crucial and timeless (Suffering, Justice, Death, Life, Sex) instead of just the Grand storyline of one nation we have seen so far
What is the background for Job?
Isn’t much
- Timing isn’t described: ancient b/c wealth from animals
- Location: Uz, far away from Israel
- Characters: non-Israelites
WHY: these are universal lessons to apply to all people not just Israelites
What is the point of the book of Job?
Incorrect: why the righteous suffer (Job never finds out), how trials purify God’s people (that’s James, Job actually turns away from God half-way through the book)
Actual: why Job obeys God
*Know from heavenly conversation: what the entire book turns on
What is the description of the man Job? Why is this important?
Blameless (deals with sin rightly) upright, fears God and turns from evil
- God says this and Satan doesn’t disagree but wants to know why
- Suggests Job obeys because God blesses
Is it wrong to serve God because it’s good for us? What’s central to this question?
Central: what is the essence of our salvation?
- A relationship based upon economic advantage is not really a relationship at all: God calls it a relationship and Satan calls it a business transaction
*Motives do matter in a relationship
(Is Satan right? Test by taking all possessions away)
Why do Job’s trials come? What were the trials and the results?
Not to purify but to isolate the more important question of Why Job serves God
- Lose wealth and children: blesses God and does not sin by charging God with wrongdoing (author’s claim)
- Lose health (no one suffered more or responded better) did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing
What are the cycles of dialogue in Job? What happens as the dialogue progresses? What is the purpose? Who wins?
Good friends: sit for a week without talking then three cycles: E, J, B, J, Z, J except last cycle Z doesn’t speak b/c has nothing more to say
- At beginning Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, dominate conversation but toward end Job dominates
- Purpose: ideas are clarified: minds are changed or solidified
- Job “wins” the battle with his friends
What do we see in the first cycle of dialogue in Job? Where are Eliphaz and Bildad coming from?
E: Job is not righteous, God loves you enough to punish, feel better and repent (He did not know what we know)
J: Not true, didn’t sin
B: (bad cop) God did not make a mistake and punish when you did not sin
- Retribution Theology: Get what deserve. Righteousness–>prosperity, Unrighteousness–>poverty
Is retribution theology biblical? What happens if Job assumes it is true?
1) Corporately (whole Israelite nation) but not always individually true
2) Cannot work from right to left (result to cause)
- Lead to belief that God is not just
What do we see in the progression of Job’s responses? What do we question?
Ch 1: Job did not charge God with wrong doing
First response to B: third person wish for God to show up
First response to Z: first person desire/declaration to argue with God
Ch 19: first person condemnation that God has wronged Job
Has Satan won? (Has Job cursed God to His face as Satan predicted)
What are the aspects of Job’s reflection after the dialog cycles? Has Satan won? Problem?
29: The past: nostalgically - his respect
30: the present: lost respect
31: Job’s commitment: Lust (understood problem with desires, Jesus’ standard), just, merciful, loyal to God, hospitality, handling the land
No, Satan has not won yet. Job is angry and believes God has wronged him but chooses to serve God. Satan probably pleased with progress.
Still at impasse, how does Job move forward? Solution: Elihu
What are the post-dialogue speeches of Elihu?
1) Cannot say Job sinned to bring trials (Contra E,B,Z) Right!
2) God is NOT wrong (Contra Job) Right!
- Broken up impasse, both sides ready to listen to someone else (GOD)
What is round one of YHWH speaking?
(Job gets what he wants, sort of)
- Obscures my plans: Does Job really think God acted haphazardly?
- Asks Pertinent Questions: God asks questions only He can answer because Job had been talking as if he were God
- Problem: Job began recognizing God as Judge and himself as mortal but through the dialogue they became equals and then switched places
What is Job’s response to round one of YHWH speaking?
God has to pull it out (What is your response)
Job says he’ll shut up
- no apology so need round 2, Job didn’t get it
What is round two of YHWH speaking?
- Discredit My Justice?
- Do what only God can do?
- Behemoth and Leviathan: if you cannot take on these creatures, can you take Me on?
What is Job’s response to round two of YHWH speaking?
Job volunteers to speak
- too wonderful for him to know
- Job recognizes difference between himself and God
- repent in dust and ashes (of calling God wrong and not trusting Him through entire process, return to proper places)
If I serve God because its good for me…
- Am I serving Him at all?
- test: still do it even when we don’t want to
What are the final questions of the book of Job? Which is more important?
1) Will you be blameless and upright?
2) WHY (most important)
What is proverbs with respect to wisdom literature?
It is wisdom literature in its purest form
What are the definitions of wisdom?
Modern: knowing lots of stuff and how to use it
Ancient times: universal search to learn by observation of the world and human experience how the Creator designed the creation to function and then ordering one’s behavior in accordance with that plan to achieve life as it’s supposed to be
What is the general principle of wisdom literature?
See how God has generally designed the world to work (especially in Proverbs) and where following his ways directs us to human flourishing
TWO QUALIFICATIONS
1) exception to the rule (Job: good guys don’t always finish first)
2) Ecclesiastes: curse introduces alien invaders (pain, suffering, death) are enemies but not conquerors of human flourishing
don’t let exceptions distract from wisdom
What is the uniqueness of “wisdom” literature?
- It is not God directly speaking to man who writes it down “Thus says the LORD”
- God revealing things in life experiences man condenses them seeing reoccurring things to book: “usually”
What are the foundational assumptions of Biblical wisdom?
- To all of reality: no secular/sacred
- God embedded truth (secrets about how things work) within all reality: God creates; we discover
- Essential answers can be learned from experience & careful observation
- God embedded universe with order: live accordingly you will do well, not: you are to blame (consequences, forgiveness)
- “hedonsim” asks “What is good for humans?” so “Hedonism” next to godliness because God’s ways lead to life now
What is the tension between the OT Prov 1 and NT 1 John 1:9?
Prov 1: (wisdom calls out, if reject, will laugh @ calamities) Consequences
1 John 1:9: (Confess will forgive) Forgiveness
No tension, there is both. Do not pray for God to take away consequences.
How do we interpret wisdom literature?
1) Not usually prophecies or promises: usually very general, exceptions do exist–a spectrum on the “guarantee vs principle” scale exists (always to most of the time)
2) “Opposing” proverbs occur - depends on situation
3) few are anachronistic: covenant conditioned (ie physical prosperity, for Mosaic covenant)
4) Hyperbole, or deliberate overstatement for emphasis is not unusual
What is the structure of Proverbs?
Context: 1-9
Introduction & purpose, two appeals to youth, encourage toward Wisdom and Warnings against folly, and ends with two appeals to youth
Anthology of Solomon’s Proverbs: 10-22
Various Collections: 23-30
Final example of wisdom: 31
What is the introduction to the book of proverbs?
Purpose: to make simple wise and wise even wiser
Audience: MY SON, but does not neglect daughter, as wisdom is embodied as female
What are the counterfeits in the book of Proverbs? Summary?
Ch 1: Taking vs working
Don’t murder: stealing vs work, taking vs giving, no effort vs effort: Don’t cut corners or take shortcuts
- God designed the universe for you to work for what you need
Ch 2-9 sexual pleasure vs marriage
Summary: Satan will tempt you to attain in a wrong way the good things God wants you to have
What are the various views on Ecclesiastes? The problem?
- Bruce Walter: most misunderstood book of the entire Bible
- Old Scofield Reference Bible: Conclusions and reasonings of a man–not truth from God
Problem: Solomon is the author (similarly described to Solomon in 1 Kings) & Conclusion of book: book says this is wisdom