Get Wisdom: Wisdom Literature in the Bible
Scripture Texts: Job 28:12-13, 20, 28; Proverbs 4:5-9
Introduction.
Arguably the most famous highway in America is Route 66 from LA to Chicago. It is called the Mother Road, and it is featured in countless movies, songs and television shows. It is studded with iconic, unique tourist sites and stops. Our sons Christian School in Oklahoma City was on Route 66. Nearby was a famous round red barn and the world largest soda pop bottle in front of Pops 66 soda stand, over 700 brands of soda.
What’s my point? We are traveling another famous road through the 66 books of the Bible. We passed mile marker 17 and we have seen some great sites. This is in some ways the most important road trip we can ever make, through the 66 Holy Spirit inspired Books of God’s holy Word.
Highway 66 passes through eight states from California to Illinois. So do the books of the Bible.
The OT passes through the Law, History, Wisdom (Poetic), and Prophets.
The NT passes through the Gospels, History, Letters, and Revelation (prophetic).
Each of these states are the different genres of literature in the Bible. Each genre has its own style and substance which reveals something unique about the person and character of God and we need them all to see what God is revealing about Himself.
We have journeyed through the Law (the 5 Books of Moses, Torah, Pentateuch) and the 12 histories. So we arrive now at the next state, the poetic section or the wisdom literature. These are the five books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon (Song of Songs).
Before looking at each of these five books, I have decided to take a forest and trees approach. This evening will be the forest, before we get to the five trees.