Hebrew poetry: There are only 7 books in the Old Testament that do not have any poetry. Approximately 1/3 of the Old Testament is written in poetic form. Hebrew poetry is not exactly the same as English poetry. English poetry Mary His fleece was Every where that The lamb was
had a white as Mary went sure to
little lamb snow go
Gene 4:24 (KJS) If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold(7659), truly Lamech seventy(7657) and sevenfold(7651). 7659 shib`athayim {shib-aw-thah'-yim 7657 shib`iym {shib-eem'} 7651 shiba` {shih'-bah} Parallelisms in Hebrew poetry Parallel statements Precisely the same idea, but different words: Ps 25:4 Show me your ways, O God; Teach me your paths. Opposite staatements Contrasts the idea with its opposite Pr.11 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. Expansive parallels Psa 96:7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 2ki. 20:1, 3
Redundancy
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Is. 1:1-3 "An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master's manger, [But] Israel does not know, My people do not understand."
Types and Illustrations of Hebrew Poetry
2 ox = owner =
donkey master's manger
Israel = does not know =
My people do not understand
Prov 17:4 (NASU) An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. evildoer listens wicked lips
= = =
A liar pays attention destructive tongue.
Pr.1:4 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion: prudence simple
= =
knowledge and discretion young man
Illustration of interpretation of Ps.103:1-3 Reflection on “Healing” Thank you for your honesty and openness in your reflection concerning “Who heals all your diseases (Strong’s #s <8463>)” (Ps.103:3) The word, “all” that presents the challenge. I greatly identify with you. My wonderful, godly mother died from severe rheumatoid arthritis and its physically degenerative effects. Yet at the same time, I have also experienced gracious instances of healing to our family. When Jolene gave birth to our first child, God intervened and saved Jolene’s life when she was bleeding to death. When our second son, Philip, got Epiglotitus and his epiglotis swelled, closing off his air passage, the elders prayed for him and God kindly saved his life. When my daughter, Bella, was born, she stopped breathing in the hospital. God answered prayer and preserved her life. It is the word, “all” that you referred to. I have thought that perhaps (in my case) my view of ‘healing’ has had to be enlarged. I think sometimes God heals in a way that is not my preferred manner. Yet actually, as I think about it, when my mother entered into the arms of Jesus (1Jn.3:1-2) she experienced the ultimate healing. (I)t has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." At that instant, all of her deficiences were removed (or at the time of fulfilment of 1Jn.3:2) and she got (or will get) complete restoration (healing.)
Types and Illustrations of Hebrew Poetry
3
To heal means to mend, or to restore to wholeness. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, definition #7: In Scripture, to forgive; to cure moral disease and restore soundness. I will heal their backsliding. Hosea 14.” - Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. Definition #7
is probably the particular definition that applies in Psal 103:3. Notice the structure of the Hebrew poetry with its use of parallelism.
103:
3 (NASU) Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Notice the equating by the parallels in103:3 (NASU) \ pardons iniquities
= =
redeems from the pit
heals diseases =
crowns with lovingkindness and compassion
Webster’s 1828 defines: crown: definition #3. Honorary distinction; reward. “They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; we, an incorruptible.”1Cor.9. definition #4. Honor; splendor; dignity. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Prov.12. -- Webster's 1828. God forgives us from all of our guilt so that we are restored to spiritual wholeness. Thus He delivered our lives from the condition that was impossible for us get ourselves out of. And crowns us (honors us, dignifies us) with His loving-kindness and compassion.
How does the verse relate to the physical realm? In the physical realm though, we see that the situation is not completely absolute or (at least not immediately) universal. God does heal us from physical conditions within the discretion of His infinite intelligence. Yet in the case of the Apostle Paul, God said, “My grace if sufficient for you.” But regarding the moral realm, David worships God because God has the disposition to bring universal moral healing and does so when we meet whatever are the appropriate conditions for such to occur: For example: 2Chr.7:14 upon certain conditions being met, God heals our land. Brings it back to restoration, wholeness, etc. Deut 29:17,22 (NASB) "Moreover, (God) you have seen their abominations and their idols [of] wood, stone, silver, and gold, which [they had] with them); . . . and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, when they see the plagues of the land and the diseases< 8463 > with which the Lord has
Types and Illustrations of Hebrew Poetry
4 afflicted it, will say . . . ,
He heals our land. Its plagues are removed. Its national problems are corrected and He arights the wrongs through His intervention. Also in regard to salvation: in regard to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose to restore us, to mend or heal us back into relationship with our Shepherd and Guardian of our souls: We see this in 1Pet.24-25 1Pet.2:24-25 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. Just as a physically broken arm needs to be healed (mended again back to a condition of restoration or whole-ness) likewise, Jesus brought moral healing to us in salvation, mending us back (to spiritual wholeness, restoring us to relationship) with the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. Our relationship is restored and no longer as we used to be We used to be straying like sheep.