Psalm 1 - Wisdom and Torah

If you read here, you know the interest in Wisdom Literature that we have.  What is interesting to note in Psalm 1 is how it intertwines Wisdom themes with the Torah, and this at the head of the Psalter.

Like Proverbs, for example, Psalm 1 speaks of two paths, two results (prosperity or destruction), certain characters to avoid (sinner, wicked, mocker), vivid metaphor (tree, chaff), which are both natural images (wisdom embedded in creation), and logical processes of choice and consequence.  So Wisdom themes run from the first to the last.

Like the Prophets, Psalm 1 stands in judgment over us depending on how we respond to the words of the LORD, the covenant making God.  Wisdom usually avoids such strongly worded covenantal language as law, judgement, assembly and even the LORD’s name.

The focus of Wisdom is not always directly focused on God’s word.  It is also found in God’s word in nature, (go to the ant, O sluggard).  Here in Psalm 1 the focus is on a meditative and obedient relationship to the God of the covenant through the scriptures.  (”Law” means more than commandments, it certainly includes all of the “Torah”, but also all scripture).

We circled words about Wisdom in green and about Law/Covenant in red and they were intertwined through the Psalm.   So here lies one clue to drawing the two threads of scripture together.

The Fear of the Lord is a key idea in Wisdom Literature, and Psalm 1 links that to the Word of the LORD.

FR

Library Day

Well, Fresh Read has a library card at the local state university.  It is a very good investment of $30 per year.  For there are lots of resources there for biblical study.  Not all books help us read the text, in that they are so clouded with their own theories of meaning or origin that they never bother to read, listen and ponder.  However, there is nothing quite  like a library browse to stimulate the grey cells.  Even if we don’t buy the ideas presented, they can jump start the cerebellum into action.

So in reading about 6 commentaries on John 15 - the vine and branches image - we were looking for insight into what “abiding” or “remaining” means.  It is clear enough how a branch remains in the vine, but how does that translate. 

We discovered that most commentators punt and say that “abide” means something like “commune” or “fellowship”.   Ok, but are we talking about dim lights, candles and liver-shivers?

Two (i only picked out 5, so there are others out there) helped.  One “The Message of John” by Bruce Milne, IVP, 1993, gave a nice pastoral sort of application of how that meant 1. being pruned = cleansed 2. dependence with obedience 3. fruitful is evangelism, justice (Isaiah 5:7) and character (Gal 5). 4. prayer that is built on his teaching and 4. love of fellow believers on Christ’s model.  Well, that is something to hang your hat on - or since Fresh Read preaches, there is a 4 point sermon.

The other surprise is a commentary by Ben Witherington III, of Asbury Seminary, “John’s Wisdom: A Commentary on the Fourth gospel” , Westminster, 1995.   Now BWIII (who blogs  http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/ ) opens a new door, and connects John with another FRESH READ passion - Wisdom Literature.   The book suggests that John is written as an ancient biography (distinct from the modern genre) and that “The Beloved Disciple” is the primary source for eyewitness accounts of Jesus expressed through the wisdom literature’s mood (hmmm, kind of like “muse”).  Wow, I’d never thought of that.  WL has an interest in Wisdom (Logos - word - Jesus), in beautiful language (how we enjoy John’s elevated style), is international (Samaritan woman), and more than we were able to digest in one sitting.  the Synoptics, because of the use of parables seems a more obvious wisdom literature connection, but BWIII seemed to make his point.  Watch the Wisdom Lit tag line for more on this in the future.

Our Point?  Even though the goal ought to be a Fresh (uncluttered by dulled expectations and dogmatic presuppositions) Read, a trip to the library can be an aid.

FR

Wisdom Literature Bibliography

 click HERE

A select, incomplete, annoted bibliography of Wisdom Leterature

Preaching Job

I am looking for brave souls that have preached Job.  The intro and conclusion would be easily handled bc of the dramatic narrative quality.  However, how about the middle 30+ chapters of poetry?  Dynamic reading?  Drama? Certainly not point by point exegesis!

Chapter 28 is marvelous, and Ch 16 has some beautiful theology.  Reading Job is like knowing Shakespeare, it will leave you with quotes for any occasion.

“man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.”

FRESH READ

Job’s Friends Reconsidered

Socrates stated that he was wiser than all men simply because he knew that he did not really know anything, whereas other people thought they did.  (see his “Apology”)

I feel that way after several weeks of reading Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job.  It is a daunting task to read these books and some of what has been written about them.

But isn’t that the nature of each of these books - they are invitations to think.  People who take a proverb or a maxim and try to mechanically apply them to all situations are missing the very nature.  A proverb usually puts two ideas beside eath other without stating the relationship - it is for us to notice and think and reflect and give it time to process in our minds.  (Often our English translations add a “because” or a “therefore” that is not actually stated in the original text.)

Here is what I am pondering.  Were Job’s friends in error because of their theology?  They rightly said that God is just, will punish sinners, discipline his children, adn welcome us back when we repent.  However they were wrong in the case of Job.  Was it a failure of theology or of application of what they knew?

They thought  

A - God punishes people

B - He does when they sin.

They noticed Job’s suffering -

and concluded

B’ - Job is suffering

A’ - Because God is punishing him.

The error was “flipping” the formula A-B to B-A and declaring that they knew why Job suffered.  Whereas the text tells us clearly that Job was blameless, upright and that he feard the Lord.

How often are we “right” in our theology but “wrong” in our application?

FRESH READ

Getting Wiser

FRESH  READ is on a mini-sabbatical with the purpose to read the biblical Wisdom Literature, mainly Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes, and short passages scattered through the OT and NT.

Today i am thinking about this proverb

Proverbs 25:11
    A word fitly spoken
        is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Have you noticed that the presentation of an idea is about as important as the idea itself? that a good idea poorly stated, or rudely, or crassly, will have little effect.  But a good word spoken beautifully, clearly and simply can have more effect.

The beatitudes of Jesus show just such thought to content and pleasing form.

Matthew 5:2-10
    And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
    [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    [4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
    [5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
    [6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
    [7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
    [8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
    [9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
    [10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   

 

   

Prelude to Proverbs

What is so hard about Proverbs - I bet, dear reader, that you think it is so easily read and understood, that it hardly merits any time.   However, notice in the opening of the book, that much of wisdom is in knowing how to understand a wisdom writing.  It is not as easy as you might think:

Proverbs 1:1-7 (ESV)
    The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
 
    [2] To know wisdom and instruction,
        to understand words of insight,
    [3] to receive instruction in wise dealing,
        in righteousness, justice, and equity;
    [4] to give prudence to the simple,
        knowledge and discretion to the youth—
    [5] Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
        and the one who understands obtain guidance,
    [6] to understand a proverb and a saying,
        the words of the wise and their riddles.
    [7] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
        fools despise wisdom and instruction.

  Take verse 7, is it saying that irrelgious people are ignorant?  What is it trying to say?

FRESH READ 

Wisdom Thumbnail and Opinion

The Wisdom Literature of the Bible is variously held to be either limited to certain books of the OT, or it can be seen in a wide variety of OT and NT passages. 

Those who limit Wisdom Literature to specific books, usually list Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes among the 66 canonical books of the Bible.  For our purposes we will mean this when we use the term Wisdom Literature in capitals.

Others see some the the Wisdom perspective in other portions of the Bible - certain passages in Isaiah, Psalms in the OT and the parables of Jesus and the book of James in the NT.  Those who hold this looser perspective vary widely on what they consider to be included.  We will use the term wisdom writing(s) for this broader concept.

Wisdom Literature has some characteristics that we will explore.  It has an international vocabulary, a conviction that God has embedded discoverable truth in the world, a love of language and literary forms, frequent use of observations of the world’s workings, infrequent use of covenantal language of law and sacrifice, respect for tradition, reverence for God and is frequently human centered.

James Crenshaw observes, “When a marriage between form and content exists, there is wisdom literature.  Lacking such oneness, a given text participates in biblical wisdom to a greater or lesser extent.”    O.T. Wisdom, p 11.

Fresh Read

How the Wisdom Quest Started

In reading the book of Proverbs, you like I will find a lengthy discussion of adultery.  Chapter 5 is totally devoted to the wisdom of avoiding adultery because of it’s consequences.  A classic statement of consequences is found in

Proverbs 6:27-28
    Can a man carry fire next to his chest
        and his clothes not be burned? 
    Or can one walk on hot coals
        and his feet not be scorched?

    Here is the question that came to me:  Why does the book of Proverbs not call for a repentance and return to the Laws of Moses?  Why does it not call for a restoration of morality to the culture of Israel by re-imposing the civil laws against adultery? 

Proverbs suggests that in the light of real world consequences, adultery ought to be avoided.  this does not mean that the intent is to disagree with the Law.  It is, I am thinking, another approach to the issue.

Wisdom in general is another approach to the issues of the Scriptures.  It does not speak in the language of the Laws of Moses, nor does it seem to assume that all its readers are under the covenant God made with Israel.

With people who have a hard time accepting a law from above - is Wisdom another way of thinking about life, choices, spirituality, community, success and so forth?

Fresh Read

Introducing Wisdom Literature

FRESH READ will be taking a sabbatical - a short one - this summer.  It will be great to take a break from the usual routines of summer, and to have some time for reading.  I plan to do some reading and thinking along with the Wisdom Literature. 

This is a title for a section of the Old Testament which has a different tone from the Law and the Prophets.  The Priests provided instruction (torah), the Prophets provided the divine word (dabar) but the Sages provided counsel (esa), according to one scholar.  (James Crenshaw, Introduction to Wisdom Literature, p. 20)

Hence we have a new category - Wisdom Literature.  Strictly speaking this is sections of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Job.  I prefer to take a broad view of the category and include as wisdom influenced writings such disparate passages as the parables of Jesus, the book of James, and other passages that share some of wisdom’s qualities.

In Wisdom Literature, the bible engagesin a way of thinking and writing that was international.  Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and other ancient near eastern cultures produced similar works.  However, the literature of the Hebrew Bible is distinct - particularly in that all the wisdom - be it fresh composition or collections of proverbial sayings - were sifted though the filter of faith.

Here is why Fresh Read is interested:  The Law (torah) is the instruction for the covenant people and the Prophets are a voice to the people of God to return to the keeping of the Law.  However, the Wisdom literature speaks of God and his instructions in  another kind of language.  It is international - so it does not assume the covenant language of law and obedience.  It is creation-centered, so it corresponds to the book of general revelation - the concept that God shows himself and his truth through his world.  It loves literary forms and beautiful language.  It asks questions that are universal.  It might just be a way to speak to those who have closed their ears to the Law, the Prophets and the Church as well.

So, watch and….it is hoped….learn.

FRESH READ