Poetry and Wisdom Flashcards
What is a proverb?
A short, pithy saying, usually only two lines but sometimes three or four.
How does Job contribute to our understanding of suffering?
- Those suffering are not necessarily wicked and those prospering not necessarily righteous
- Possible we don’t deserve suffering but God can use it regardless
- People can come to know God more profoundly through suffering
What is speculative wisdom?
These deal with big issues and question traditional, shallow understandings of them.
What is a figure of speech?
A word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for effect
How is the Song of Songs structured?
Based on chronology of a relationship: Courtship Wedding procession Wedding night Conflict and resolution Marital love Resolution
What is a proverb?
A form of wisdom that is generally a two-line saying that comes from observation.
What is proverbial wisdom?
A short, pithy saying that comes from observing God’s creation. Usually two lines (e.g. proverbs)
What is the essence of Hebrew poetry?
Parallelism - in thought (entire line) and in components (parts of a line)
In which parallelism does the second line continue and extend the thought of the first line?
Synthetic parallelism
What is a chiasm?
A pattern that follows an inversion, e.g. A B C C’ B’ A’
Which psalm celebrates God’s work through the king and in choosing the king?
Royal
What are the theological foundations of wisdom?
- God made everything (since observing creation)
- God is control (sovereign)
- God is wise (ultimate source of wisdom)
- God is the father (covenantal relationship - wisdom starts with relationship with God)
What is an acrostic?
A section where each line begins with a successive letter of the alphabet
How is the book of Psalms structured?
- Five sections
- Each ends with a doxology praising God
- Books 1-3 - feature David and his kingship, describe a king to come as a messiah
- Books 4-5 - celebrate God as king
- Reflects history
In which parallelism does the second line say the same thing as the first line?
Synonymous parallelism
Why are there lament psalms?
- About difficult crises find ourselves in
- Including imprecatory, asking God to help
- Model transparency in relationship with God
What is an onomastica?
Wisdom in the form of a list that catalogs items (e.g. taxonomy in nature)
Which kind of psalm gives praise for what God has done, how he has answered, or how he has delivered?
Praise
What is the purpose of wisdom?
- Passing on knowledge about God and God’s creation
- Giving advice for how to live life
- Understand our relationship to God (fear of the Lord, acknowledge our limitedness, seek wisdom and relationship)
Is Ecclesiastes positive or negative in its message?
- Positive - point is that meaning does exist and that it comes from God
- Should enjoy God and serving him
- God has given us good things in limited quantities
In which parallelism does the second line give a contrasting thought to the first line?
Antithetical parallelism
How do we understand and derive meaning from a proverb?
- Understand their purpose as wise advice for navigating God’s world
- Realize are generalizations
- Requires reflection to think about their context and where to apply them today
Which kind of Psalm celebrates God’s presence with his people in the place he chose for them to put his temple?
Song of Zion
What poetic literary device inverts parallel terms in successive lines?
Chiasm
Why are the psalms theologically rich?
- Declarations of covenant relationship w/ God
- Expressing that through all different facets and emotions
- Many different forms
Which kind of psalm celebrates God’s reign?
Enthronement
What is the connection of Solomon to the wisdom books?
- Prototypical wise person
- Wrote some of the psalms and proverbs
- His persona taken on as a character in Ecclesiastes
- Used as a foil in Song of Songs
Which kind of psalm was applicable when God solved a situation the Israelites faced?
Praise
How does the structure of the Song of Songs reinforce its message?
- Shows proper order of love in God’s creation
- Shows many forms of enjoying each others’ company, not just sex
Why is the Song of Songs a wisdom book?
- Has the components of us, creation, and God
- Looking at the world specifically about marriage, then celebrating in conclusion (vs questioning)
Which kind of psalm is an honest prayer about a crises the Israelites found themselves in?
Lament
What is a paranomasia?
A play on words; a pun
