Chapter 21

THE POETICAL BOOKS (INCLUDING ALSO ECCLESIASTES AND CANTICLES). 1. Books reckoned as Poetical by the Hebrews--Hebrew System of Accentuation--A. _Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry_--_Its Spirit_--Harmony with the Spirit of the Theocracy; Vivid Consciousness of God's Presence; Originality; Freshness and Simplicity of Thought; Variety--Job and Isaiah. David, Solomon; Diversity of Themes; Oriental Imagery; Theocratic Imagery--_Form of Hebrew Poetry_--3. Its Rhythm that of Clauses--Antithetic Parallelism; Synonymous Parallelism; Synthetic Parallelism--Combinations of the above Forms--Freedom of Hebrew Poetry--Peculiarities of Diction--_Office of Hebrew Poetry_--4. The Celebration of God's Interpositions in Behalf of the Covenant People; Song for the Sanctuary Service; Didactic Poetry; Prophetic Poetry--B. _The Several Poetical Books_--I. _Job_--1. Survey of its Plan--6. Its Design to Show the Nature of God's Providential Government over Men--7. Age to which Job belonged--Age and Authorship of the Book--8. Its Historic Character--II. _The Book of Psalms_--9. Its Office--Authors of the Psalms--Date of their Composition--10. External Division of the Psalms into five Books--First Book; Second Book; Third Book; Fourth Book; Fifth Book--Subscription appended to the Second Book--Principle of Arrangement--Attempted Classification of the Psalms--Frequent Quotation of the Psalms in the New Testament--11. Titles of the Psalms--the Dedicatory Title; Titles relating to the Character of the Composition to the Musical Instruments, or the Mode of Musical Performance--These Titles very Ancient, but not in all Cases Original--III. _The Proverbs of Solomon_--12. Place of this Book in the System of Divine Revelation--13. Its Outward Form--First Part; Second Part; Third Part; Fourth Part--14. Arrangement of the Book in its Present Form--IV. _Ecclesiastes_--15. Authorship of this Book and its View of Life--16. Summary of its Contents--V. _The Song of Solomon_--17. Meaning of the Title. Ancient Jewish and Christian View of this Song--18. It is not a Drama, but a Series of Descripture Pictures--Its Great Theme--Caution in Respect to the Spiritual Interpretation of it