by Joseph Edwin Pineda

Created on: May 06, 2009

The Characteristics of Wisdom Literature and the seven basic types of Psalms.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)

King Solomon, the wisest man of all, and a man of all knowing knew that all men yield to the very decisions of their heart, though some men try to hide this fact. Man's heart, where his very emotions lay continue to drive his desires, his very animal like characteristics. The very heart of man without hesitation continues to control his thought process.

The heart is the center of physical, mental, and spiritual life of humans according to Holman Bible Dictionary, and the Bible's Wisdom Literature clearly communicates this to our heart.

The three books of old that the Jews recognize as poetry are as follows, number one Psalms, number two Proverbs, and number three Job. These three books are clearly articulated and written in Hebrew. According to the contemporary biblical scholarship, we have a group of Bible books known as Wisdom Literature. These include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. The focus and intention of these books give great love for wisdom and maintain deep theological and philosophical appreciation.

As a friend once said, "These books were intended for the immature young man." Yes and know. The main objective of the Wisdom Literature was to gain insight of the biblical morality and proper standards of how to live a godly life. True understanding of the Wisdom Literature can only be understood by total submission and humility of the heart. Total surrendering of heart unto God almighty is prime and key to unlock the vastness of holy God wisdom literature.

The Characteristics of Wisdom Literature and the seven basic types of Psalms can be challenging in the Hebrew, however there are some avenues of discernment of the breakdown.

The most important factor in Hebrew poetry is parallelism. This parallelism, which is commonly used abroad in all languages helps to maintain the reader's interest of the read and provokes deep thought and understanding. According to Encountering the Old Testament, there are three kinds of parallelisms. The first is synonymous parallelism and this form is usually found in the poetic books, but not entirely. A repetition of the same thought or a similar thought. (p282) The two parts reflect the same idea. Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 15:1, "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your

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