Wisdom Literature, part 2

The Bible journey continues and the path that leads through the wisdom literature has challenged me and refreshed me all at the same time. So, I'll update you on the highlights of this last week:

Song of Songs
he he,
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, let me just say. It's one that we don't tackle too much because of the nature of its writing. It's either awkward and embarrassing or we over-spiritualize it. There are a lot of differring view points on the interpretation of this book. Is it talking about a relationship between a man and a woman, or between Christ and the church? There is a lot happening in the church and the 24/7 prayer movement around the world that takes a particular stand on the issue. I listened to some of the music coming out of that movement while I charted (aka...studied and interpreted) this book...it made for some interesting thought processes as I looked at the text and what I believe it is saying.

One thing I've ALWAYS struggled with is that this book is credited to being written by Solomon. How can a man who had 700 wives and 300 concubines be the authority on relationships and love? How can God use him as an example, especially when he led the entire nation of Israel into a downward spiral of idolatry because of his wives? (see 1 Kings 11 for more on that). After studying this book, I can say with near absolute certainty, I don't think Solomon wrote it.

And I can also say with near absolute certainty, I don't think this was intended to be interpreted as Christ and the church. (gasp!) (The intent of this post is not to theologically defend this position, though if you're interested in further conversation on this, I'd be up for that dialogue). This is a documentation of a relationship of commitment and a example of marriage, fidelity and healthy sexuality that stood in opposition to the immorality and the extravagance of Solomon's lifestyle choices.

As an area that spoke to me personally, in Songs 8:8-10 the woman's friends are questioning her what to do with their sister who has not reached puberty yet. How do they help her when she begins a relationship? The conclusion is if she guards herself (is a wall) then they will encourage her. If she however is loose morally (a door) they will lock her up and guard her for themselves. The woman's response is the following:
"I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace."
So, she's saying that she guarded herself as a grown woman and it brought peace to her marriage. That to me was an encouragement in my own lifestyle choices. I don't throw myself on every man that crosses my path. I don't flirt for fun. I guard my heart....but that means i will have a peaceful marriage in the future. A man will not doubt my commitment to him some day.

This is a book worthy of study and contemplation on an area that sometimes the church is really silent about but the world speaks so loudly to us, our sexuality. We should be asking God for his highest in this area.

Ecclesiastes
This is a book I'd like to spend more time thinking through. It is quite an interesting read and I admit, I'd love to sit down with someone who was not a Christian, who was maybe agnostic or a bit a of a skeptic, and just ask them about this book. This book views life through an earthly viewpoint--seeing the meaninglessness of daily life and the futility of all human effort because we all end up in the same plight--dead. And yet there is a hope that is woven throughout the book that God is bigger than the hopelessness of this world and one's greatest way of living is to fear God. There is a balance of good and bad in life. All are part of the human experience and we aren't to run away from any of it. But, neither are we to find life's greatest meaning there. We studied through this book quickly and this is a book that needs some more thought and meditation. I hope to come back to it after SBS and think more on it.

and now...the prophets
The prophets are the part of the Bible I think I could tell you the least about before I started SBS. We are finishing the rest of the school with them and then capping it off with Matthew (we begin and end with Jesus). So, I hope to have some great revelation and understanding over the next few months. Stick around....

Wisdom Literature

Well, break is over.
And we're back into the swing of things. Third quarter had begun and the next break I get will be graduation from SBS. Hard to believe it's going by so fast.

This week and next we have the privilege of Ron and Judy Smith teaching the OT wisdom literature: Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. They are the founders of SBS and very wise people themselves.

Proverbs
The proverbs assignment was so enjoyable. I was so amazed at how much great stuff is in this book. We picked four themes of the proverbs and then assembled all the proverbs related to that theme from the book. I've always intended to do something like that out of the book, but now I actually had the time. I encourage you to do that if you are able. One of the themes I looked at was the fear of the Lord. I am realizing now how much of the Christian life requires the fear of the Lord. And wisdom is not something you get without it. Another thing I was challenged by in this book is that it repeatedly says "Get wisdom." I always viewed wisdom as something that passively happens to you as you experience life and learn from those experiences. But, Proverbs says that we must work to get wisdom....we cultivate the fear of the Lord, we put ourselves around wise people, and we do humbly but actively learn from our experiences. I want to make it a life journey to get wisdom.

Job
What an intense book....the great OT book on suffering. Though, I'm realizing how much Job is also about wisdom. Job demonstrates the failure of human wisdom in the face of suffering and in comparison to the wisdom and sovereignty of God. When we did our first outloud read through of this book and I had listened to Job's friends repeatedly trying to get Job to repent from some great sin he had committed so it would alleviate his suffering, and listened to Job cry out to God asking why wasn't he answering him, when God finally answers, I nearly wanted to cry. God's answer is essentially was "Job, who are you? And who am I?" And I believe this is the great fundamental question of human existence....who are we? And who is God? And when those two things get put into perspective....worship is the response.

I was greatly challenged by Job in the midst of my own grieving and suffering over the last few years...and seeing more of the reality of human suffering in general. Our God is great. And we are small. And there is so much in life we don't understand.

So, next week we are diving into Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. I'm sure it will make for some interesting discussions with my fellow classmates!
And as promised, a few select photos from the last few weeks of my time in Taiwan:
With a friend visiting the National Palace Museum


Mmmmmm....fresh grilled squid anyone?


A peek inside a temple as I walked by. It's been interesting going from an Islamic culture to a Buddhist/Daoist one. There is definitely so much to learn and understand here. But, bottom line is, we are all looking for something/someone to worship.



A gorgeous sunset at a beach party over the break. This was also during the Moon Festival so after the sun set, people lit tons of red lanterns and set them floating off over the ocean. This was probably one of my favorite evenings of the break. I'm so thankful to be experiencing so much beauty.