The Poetical Books. Following the historical books in God's Word are the poetical books, consisting of Job, Psalms, Pro­verbs, the Preacher or Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. Some also add to these the Lamentations of Jeremiah. The books prior to these are written in a more free style, with the exception of a few small parts; these books which follow are written in meter in the Hebrew language. They do not have such a historical character, but are exclusively religious.

JOB is the name of the Bible book, Job is possibly also the writer, and is the main person about whom is written. The Lord said of him that he was perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. Job is a historical person, although this is often denied in our days. This is understandable, because in this book is spoken of the strife and warfare between God and Satan. We know that the outcome was the defeat of Satan, and therefore he tries to make us believe that this book is only a tragedy out of former days – something that did not really happen. But this is not true. Job was a real person, and was later spoken of by Ezekiel in chapter 14:14 and by James in chapter 5:11. He lived in the land of Us, probably in the days of the patriarchs.

In one day Job lost his children and all his possessions. Only his wife was left, and she, as an instrument of Satan, advised her husband to curse the Lord and commit suicide. But the Lord kept His child in the darkest days of his life. The problem presented in this book is how the sufferings of the saints can be agreeable with the Divine government. The answer is that in their greatest grief and darkest days, the Lord remains the same and unchange­able for His church, as is evident in the latter part of this book.

THE BOOK OF PSALMS is a gathering or collection of songs of praise, lamentations, meditations and prayers. Our confession calls them the Psalms of David, as David made a greater number of them – a total of 73. Moses was the poet of Psalm 90 and Solomon of Psalms 72 and 127. Asaph wrote Psalm 12, the children of Korah Psalm 10, Ethan and Heman each one, namely Psalms 88 and 89. In addition there are 50 without the name of the author.

Psalms 120 through 134 are the so-called songs of Hamaaloth, or songs of degrees. They were used at the three great feasts of Israel, when the people went up to Jerusalem. The Psalms are loved by God's children because in them they can find all their conditions. Sometimes they are called the spiritual pharmacy of the church. What a great blessing when the Lord opens His pre­cious Word, and we may find our own life in the life of the saints who lived so many centuries ago. In this way the Lord encourages His people.

Boys and girls, did it ever happen in your life that the Lord gave such instructions to you? Then the Bible really becomes God's Word.

The book of PROVERBS is often called the Proverbs of Solomon (Misjle Sjelomo), but all the proverbs are not written by him. The book can be divided into three parts: (1) In chapters 1 through 9 is spoken of Wisdom, who cries in the streets for the conversion of the people; (2) In the second part, consisting of chapters 10 through 29, there are about 500 proverbs of Solomon. Of these the last five chapters were collected in the days of Hezekiah. (3) The third part is chapters 31 and 32, which contain the warnings of Agur and the instructions of the mother of King Lemuel.

We may not give the same value to the Book of Proverbs as we give to the sayings or proverbs of men. In such sayings you hear the wisdom of men, but here Divine Wisdom is speaking. He reveals Himself in chapter 8 as the eternal existing Logos, the eternal Word and Wisdom in God, Who is God Himself. (Think of John 1:1). Throughout this book we find the necessity of fearing the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Then we will accept the instructions which are given by Wisdom, will flee from sin, and desire to know the Lord.

The book of ECCLESIASTES or THE PREACHER is also written by Solomon, as indicated in chapter 1:1 & 12, and probably when he was quite old. He recalls life in all its facets of gladness and grief. But there are so many riddles in life. What is the importance of life? Science is a vexation of the spirit, the pleasure of the world does not satisfy, labor is grievous. There is no end to the disappointments of life and it is so short. At the end he exclaims, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Then he comes to the conclusion of the whole matter of life – "Fear God and keep His commandments." This is the great lesson of this book. We go to our long home, and our life is a time of preparation for eternity. How poor we are without grace, how rich when we may receive grace.

THE SONG OF SOLOMON in the Hebrew is called the Song of Songs, and is also written by King Solomon. Many explanations are given of this book, which was written in the days of his youth. It depicts for us the love of Solomon and Sulamith the communion between Christ as the heavenly Bridegroom and the church militant, His Spouse here on earth. Sometimes Psalm 45 is called the little song of Solomon.

The last of the poetical books, THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH, was written as an imitation of the songs of lamentation sung when a person died. In this way Jeremiah sang about the destruction of Jerusalem.