Reading: The Place and Purpose of Wisdom Literature (Video Slides)
Biblical Wisdom: Understanding Life through Old Testament Sages and Poets
Two helpful resources to consider for further study:
Wayne Brouwer, Hear Me, Oh God: Meditations on the Psalms
Wayne Brouwer, Covenant Documents: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time
#1 Understanding the Place and Purpose of Wisdom Literature within the Biblical Canon
We seek meaning to four critical questions:
- Origins - How did we get here?
- Unity - What holds life together (coherence)?
- Purpose/Meaning - Why are we here?
- Destiny - What happens when we die? What will be the fate of the universe?
There are three root cosmological options:
- Closed System Naturalism
All meaning is confined to the system
The system operates by natural law, cause & effect
Evolution may produce change, but not transcendence
Where "life” exists, purpose is survival
- Closed System Intelligent Design
There are two organizing properties:
"Time” - ensures process that moves in only one direction
"Life” - mysterious creative force that powers the universe
These two together form the impersonal design we call God
The meaning of "life” is to go with the flow, not against it
- Creator/Creature Interactive System with Dynamic Purpose
The world was created as a home for humankind
Humanity reflects God's character, is meant for multiple relationships
Freedom, necessary for true love and relationships, allowed the entrance of evil, which the Creator responded to redemptively
There are three root cosmological options:
- Closed System Naturalism
Origin: steady state evolutionism, perhaps initiated with Big Bang
Unity: shared history
Purpose: survival, if possible
Destiny: recycle material substance and energy to keep system running
- Closed System Intelligent Design
Origin: steady state evolutionism, perhaps initiated with Big Bang
Unity: the intelligence that runs the system, keeping it all together
Purpose: enhance the expression of "Life,” add to its experiences
Destiny: recycle material substance and energy to keep system running
- Creator/Creature Interactive System with Dynamic Purpose
Origin: Creator brought all into being
Unity: common design source and divine purpose
Purpose: enhance human capacities to reflect Creator's relational character and multiply creative activity
Destiny: live well, share creative activity, love God and others, join in renewing creation debilitated by evil, resurrect to eternal life where these purposes will be perfected and ongoing forever
Hebrew Bible review: "TaNaK”
- "Torah” ("Law/Covenant”):
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
"The Five Books of Moses”/"The Pentateuch”
- "Navi'im” ("Prophets”):
"Former Prophets”: Joshua, Judges, Kings
"Latter/Writing Prophets”: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, "The Twelve”
- "K'tuvim” ("Writings”):
Ruth, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Daniel
Bible "Big Picture”
- Covenant Making - God establishes a covenant relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based upon direct encounter)
Pentateuch
- Covenant Living - God guides the covenant relationship with the missional community by way of authorized spokespersons (secondary revelatory authority based upon unique individual calling & equipping)
Joshua - Possessing the Land/Rest/Promise
Judges - Nearly losing the Land/Rest/Promise
Ruth - Recovering Covenant Land/Rest/Promise through obedience
"Kings” - Establishing the Covenant Monarchy & Temple, coming under Covenant judgment
Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther - Restoring the Covenant Community
- Covenant Questions - God nurtures the covenant relationship with a missional community by way of spiritual wisdom and insight (tertiary revelatory authority based upon communal spiritual insight)
Poetry
Introductory Notes: "Wisdom Literature"
- Probes human issues, problems, needs, values
- Usually anonymous
- Assumes a divinely initiated "moral matrix”
- Assumes human sin and responsibility
- Often expressed in poetry