Syllabus – Old Testament Books of Poetry
Instructor: Russ Earl
PURPOSE:
To gain more knowledge of God's word, especially pertaining to the books of poetry
To apply what we learn in this study to use in service of the Lord
TEXTBOOKS:
The King James Version Bible
The Wisdom Literature and the Psalms, by James E. Smith (Optional)
Selected Psalms, by Robert Taylor, Jr (free PDF book)
Denton-Schertz - Song of Solomon, Proverbs, & Ecclesiastes (free PDF book)
The Testing of Job (free PDF book)
Ecclesiastes (free PDF book)
Proverbs (free PDF book)
For info about book orders, please visit our book orders page.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance and participation in all homework and reading material are required
All work is assigned a due date; work submitted a week late receives a late grade. No work will be accepted that is more than two weeks late. Overseas Students and those who work on Saturdays are given an extra 24 hours.
OUTLINES:
Students will be required to complete 1 outline from Job, 2 from Psalms, 1 from Ecclesiastes, and one from Song of Solomon
Outlines will be due the week following completion of the book in class
A sample outline will be provided on the first day of class
Tests:
Tests will be given on Job (1 test), 2 from Psalms, 2 from Proverbs, one on Ecclesiastes, and one from Song of Solomon.
COURSE GRADING:
Students will be graded on attendance, outlines,participation in class, tests and attitude toward the subject
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Fall Classes Begin – First Saturday in August
First Break – 3rd Week of September
Second Break – Thanksgiving Break (Week of Thanksgiving)
End of Classes – 2nd Saturday in December
Two 50 minute sessions per class
Class time - 2pm CTZ
1. Job 1–2 – The Heavenly Test & Job’s Integrity
2. Job 3–5 – Job’s Lament and Eliphaz’s First Speech
3. Job 6–10 – Job’s Response & The Problem of Suffering
4. Job 11–14 – Zophar, Job's Response, & Innocence Defended
5. Job 15–21 – Second Cycle: Harsh Accusations, Growing Tension
6. Job 22–28 – Final Round of Dialogues & Wisdom Poem
7. Job 29–31 – Job’s Final Defense & Personal Righteousness
8. Job 32–37 – Elihu’s Speeches: God’s Justice & Discipline
9. Job 38–42 – God Speaks, Job Humbles Himself, Restoration
10. Intro to Psalms – Types, Structure, and Theology
11. Psalms of Lament – Honest Suffering and Faith (13, 22, 88)
12. Psalms of Praise & Thanksgiving – Rejoicing in God (8, 100, 103)
13. Messianic Psalms – Prophecies and Portraits of Christ (2, 22, 110)
14. Royal Psalms – The King and God's Reign (45, 72, 89)
15. Psalms of Trust – God as Refuge (23, 27, 46, 91)
16. Wisdom Psalms – Living Righteously (1, 37, 73)
17. Imprecatory Psalms – Justice and Judgment (35, 69, 109)
18. Psalms of Ascent – Pilgrimage and Worship (Psalms 120–134)
19. Psalm 119 – Love for God’s Word (Structure, Themes)
20. Psalm 90 & 103 – God’s Eternality, Compassion, and Mercy
21. Closing Doxologies & Summary Themes – God’s Faithfulness (Psalms 145–150)
22. Proverbs 1:1–7 & 1–9 – The Beginning of Wisdom, Lady Wisdom vs. Folly
23. Proverbs 10–15 – The Righteous Life: Speech, Attitudes, Relationships
24. Proverbs 16–22 – Sovereignty of God & Daily Conduct
25. Proverbs 23–27 – Warnings on Wealth, Alcohol, and Laziness
26. Proverbs 28–29 – Leadership, Justice, and Consequences
27. Proverbs 30 – Humility & Observations from Agur
28. Proverbs 31 – The Virtuous Woman & Wisdom in Action
29. Ecclesiastes 1–2 – The Vanity of Earthly Pursuits
30. Ecclesiastes 3–4 – Time, Oppression, and Companionship
31. Ecclesiastes 5–6 – Worship, Wealth, and Emptiness
32. Ecclesiastes 7–10 – Practical Wisdom & Life’s Complexities
33. Ecclesiastes 11–12 – Fear God & Remember Your Creator
34. Song 1–2 – Love’s Desire and Delight
35. Song 3–5 – Seeking, Finding, and the Beauty of Intimacy
36. Song 6–8 – Lasting Love, Commitment, and God’s Gift of Romance
Instructor: Russ Earl
PURPOSE:
To gain more knowledge of God's word, especially pertaining to the books of poetry
To apply what we learn in this study to use in service of the Lord
TEXTBOOKS:
The King James Version Bible
The Wisdom Literature and the Psalms, by James E. Smith (Optional)
Selected Psalms, by Robert Taylor, Jr (free PDF book)
Denton-Schertz - Song of Solomon, Proverbs, & Ecclesiastes (free PDF book)
The Testing of Job (free PDF book)
Ecclesiastes (free PDF book)
Proverbs (free PDF book)
For info about book orders, please visit our book orders page.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance and participation in all homework and reading material are required
All work is assigned a due date; work submitted a week late receives a late grade. No work will be accepted that is more than two weeks late. Overseas Students and those who work on Saturdays are given an extra 24 hours.
OUTLINES:
Students will be required to complete 1 outline from Job, 2 from Psalms, 1 from Ecclesiastes, and one from Song of Solomon
Outlines will be due the week following completion of the book in class
A sample outline will be provided on the first day of class
Tests:
Tests will be given on Job (1 test), 2 from Psalms, 2 from Proverbs, one on Ecclesiastes, and one from Song of Solomon.
COURSE GRADING:
Students will be graded on attendance, outlines,participation in class, tests and attitude toward the subject
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Fall Classes Begin – First Saturday in August
First Break – 3rd Week of September
Second Break – Thanksgiving Break (Week of Thanksgiving)
End of Classes – 2nd Saturday in December
Two 50 minute sessions per class
Class time - 2pm CTZ
1. Job 1–2 – The Heavenly Test & Job’s Integrity
2. Job 3–5 – Job’s Lament and Eliphaz’s First Speech
3. Job 6–10 – Job’s Response & The Problem of Suffering
4. Job 11–14 – Zophar, Job's Response, & Innocence Defended
5. Job 15–21 – Second Cycle: Harsh Accusations, Growing Tension
6. Job 22–28 – Final Round of Dialogues & Wisdom Poem
7. Job 29–31 – Job’s Final Defense & Personal Righteousness
8. Job 32–37 – Elihu’s Speeches: God’s Justice & Discipline
9. Job 38–42 – God Speaks, Job Humbles Himself, Restoration
10. Intro to Psalms – Types, Structure, and Theology
11. Psalms of Lament – Honest Suffering and Faith (13, 22, 88)
12. Psalms of Praise & Thanksgiving – Rejoicing in God (8, 100, 103)
13. Messianic Psalms – Prophecies and Portraits of Christ (2, 22, 110)
14. Royal Psalms – The King and God's Reign (45, 72, 89)
15. Psalms of Trust – God as Refuge (23, 27, 46, 91)
16. Wisdom Psalms – Living Righteously (1, 37, 73)
17. Imprecatory Psalms – Justice and Judgment (35, 69, 109)
18. Psalms of Ascent – Pilgrimage and Worship (Psalms 120–134)
19. Psalm 119 – Love for God’s Word (Structure, Themes)
20. Psalm 90 & 103 – God’s Eternality, Compassion, and Mercy
21. Closing Doxologies & Summary Themes – God’s Faithfulness (Psalms 145–150)
22. Proverbs 1:1–7 & 1–9 – The Beginning of Wisdom, Lady Wisdom vs. Folly
23. Proverbs 10–15 – The Righteous Life: Speech, Attitudes, Relationships
24. Proverbs 16–22 – Sovereignty of God & Daily Conduct
25. Proverbs 23–27 – Warnings on Wealth, Alcohol, and Laziness
26. Proverbs 28–29 – Leadership, Justice, and Consequences
27. Proverbs 30 – Humility & Observations from Agur
28. Proverbs 31 – The Virtuous Woman & Wisdom in Action
29. Ecclesiastes 1–2 – The Vanity of Earthly Pursuits
30. Ecclesiastes 3–4 – Time, Oppression, and Companionship
31. Ecclesiastes 5–6 – Worship, Wealth, and Emptiness
32. Ecclesiastes 7–10 – Practical Wisdom & Life’s Complexities
33. Ecclesiastes 11–12 – Fear God & Remember Your Creator
34. Song 1–2 – Love’s Desire and Delight
35. Song 3–5 – Seeking, Finding, and the Beauty of Intimacy
36. Song 6–8 – Lasting Love, Commitment, and God’s Gift of Romance