What the Bible says about Wisdom in the Law
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Judaism breaks the Old Testament down into three major sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings or Psalms. As an organizational tool, this division of books works well, but it has also served to restrict Bible students to a narrow view of the material in these sections. For instance, some are slow to notice law in the Prophets, wisdom in the Law, prophecy in the Writings, and so on.
On the other hand, commentators have always noted the prophetic character of many of the Psalms. Psalm 22 is obviously prophetic of Christ's suffering and death. Psalm 118 predicts Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem just before He was crucified (Matthew 21:9). Other chapters and verses in the Psalms are also seen as prophetic of Christ's ministry or the work of the church.
But what about some of the other books of the Writings? These include Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Daniel and the two books of Chronicles. The book of Daniel is certainly prophetic, but the others are considered as historic books or poetry and wisdom literature. Do they have any prophetic significance? Indeed, many of them do.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Prophecy in SongRelated Topics: | Daniel, Prophecies of | Ecclesiastes, Book of | Esther, Book of | Ezra | Job | Lamentations, Book of | Law, Prophets, and Writings | Nehemiah | Prophetic Nature of Psalms | Prophetic Psalms | Proverbs, Book of | Ruth | Song of Songs | Song of Songs as Prophecy