The Old Testament of the Bible has been an important part of the world’s literature for centuries, containing many stories and books of poetry which have been an influence to many generations. But which books of the Old Testament are composed of poetry? Many readers may be surprised to learn that five whole books of the Old Testament are known to be entirely composed of poetry, and for centuries readers have enjoyed the powerful and sometimes mysterious words contained within these books.
These books of poetry are known as ‘The Poetic Books’ and consist of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Between these five books, there are over 700 hundred chapters, which contain thousands of individual poems, making it one of the largest collections of poetic work in the world. Despite all the differences in tone between the books, they each use the same common themes, such as man’s struggles and aspirations in life, God’s power and guidance, and the beauty of nature.
One inspiring example of the poetry found in the Old Testament is Psalm 46, which says: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging”. This psalm has been quoted many times throughout history, and the powerful words within can be seen to have been very inspiring to many generations.
The authors of the books are not certain: some suggest that many of the authors were kings or prophets of ancient Israel such as King David and Solomon, but others have argued that much of the poetry was composed by anonymous poets, who have never been identified. Nevertheless, the impact of their words has been felt heavily all over the world.
The books are often used as sources of comfort, instruction and wisdom by millions of people today, not just Jews but Christians and those of any other faith, or those without any faith. To some they act as sources of inspiration, while to others they make up the foundations of a moral code. The Words of wisdom found within the books are just as relevant today as they were in the ancient times.
Fear
It is undeniable that fear is a prevalent theme in the poetry of the Old Testament. Many of the psalms are about facing or struggling with fear, for instance, Psalm 23, which begins “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”. This psalm is still often used today by those in need of comfort when facing challenges in life, or difficulties within oneself.
In other books, such as those of Proverbs, fear is presented as something to be avoided; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction”. Here, fear is related to reverence, humility and respect, rather than a feeling of dread. Fear can also be seen in Ecclesiastes, with the famous phrase “Fear God and keep his commandments”, emphasising morality and warning against a life of sin.
What is undeniably seen throughout is that fear is not just an emotion or feeling, but rather a path to a greater understanding of one’s own self and faith. Just as fear can be a destructive force, it can also lead to positive changes within one’s life.
God’s Power
Another theme that is constantly present within the books of the Old Testament is that of God’s power and guidance. Psalms is especially known for its discussion of how God works in the lives of human beings. One powerful example is Psalm 46, which begins with “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging”. It is clear from this that God is positioned as a provider of help and strength, to those in need of it.
In Ecclesiastes, there is the phrase “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens God has made everything beautiful in its time…” This emphasises God’s paramount importance in the lives of men, showing how He has made the world, with both sorrows and joy, and is in control of all.
Although the books are often written in a poetic form, the recurrent theme of God’s power and guidance remains strong, and serves to remind readers of the importance of faith and prayers.
Nature
As well as these two themes, many of the poems found within the books of the Old Testament discuss the beauty of nature, often using powerful and vivid imagery to do so. For example, in Psalms 104:24, we read ‘How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures’.
In Ecclesiastes we have phrases such as “But God has made everything beautiful for its own time”, and in Proverbs 27:14 “If anyone loudly blesses their neighbour early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse”. Both of which emphasize the importance of appreciating the natural beauty of the world, and how its divine beauty cannot be taken away.
In the Song of Solomon, nature is used as a metaphor for passion and feelings of love, as well as a representation of what makes us human. For example, in 2:11-13 we read, “See the fig tree, beginning to blossom! You daughters of Zion rejoice with joy. You will see the glory of the Lord for the winter is past, the rain makes way for the flowers of spring”. This passage is believed to symbolise the renewal of love and emotion, which nature can provide.
Through all the beauty of its poetry, the books of the Old Testament offer us a reminder of how nature’s beauty is part of life and should be cherished. It is therefore no surprise to see why they remain an important part of world literature today.
Culture
It is undeniable that culture plays a large role in the poetry of the Old Testament. Though all of the books of poetry were written at different times by different authors, they were all written in a similar cultural context, with all of them expressing their shared beliefs and values, which were expressed through poetry.
For example, Psalm 19, begins “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands”. This emphasises God’s power and majesty, a common theme of the books, showing how beliefs have transcended time and time again throughout the world. Another example is Proverbs 11:24-25 “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” This shows the importance of protecting one’s family, which is a common belief all over the world.
One can see how, although written centuries ago, many of the beliefs and values expressed in the books are still relevant today. It is this timeless relevance that helps to make them some of the most read pieces of literature around.
Life
The final and perhaps most prominent theme found in the books of the Old Testament is that of life. The poems express many of the struggles of everyday life as well as glorifying the beauty of life itself and God’s gifts.
A great example of this is found in Psalm 127, which says “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” This expresses the joy of the struggles of raising children, with the references to arrows representing how they must be guided through life and encouraged to fight their own battles.
In Song of Solomon we also find messages of love and affection: “Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than any spice”. This captures the powerful emotion of love, as only poetry can do.
The books of the Old Testament, with their mix of poetry and prose, hold a wealth of advice, encouragement and wisdom, which have been an important part of many people’s lives for centuries. They represent an important reminder of how life should be appreciated, loved and reverenced.
Prayer & Worship
The books of the Old Testament also focus heavily on prayer and worship. It is well known that many of the psalms are believed to have been written by King David as songs of worship, with words such as “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands”, found in Psalm 91. This is a particularly powerful example, as it shows how powerful prayer can be, and how God can act as guide and help to those in need.
In Proverbs 28:9, we find the phrase “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination”. This emphasises the importance of following God’s teachings when it comes to prayer and worship. The phrase “Don’t be quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9) also reflects this idea, showing that even during times of worship, one must remain true to the Lord.
Therefore, prayer and worship are an important aspect of the poetry of the Old Testament, and remind us that even in times of despair, faith and prayer have the power to bring renewed hope and strength.
Morality
The last theme which is prevalent in the poetry of the Old Testament is that of morality. This can be seen in Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright guides them but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” This highlights the importance of living a good and moral life, and warns against dishonesty of any kind.
In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, we read “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Here we see that the authors are stressing the importance of morality, and that God will not turn a blind eye to evil or wrongdoings.
The books of the Old Testament therefore offer lessons of morality, reminding us of the importance of doing what is just and right in the eyes of God.
