When I think of God I think of His character. His kindness, His mercy, and His long-suffering. I also think of His beautiful words that are sewn in a leather-bound book beside my bed. The Holy Bible God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and is picturesque and personal. It is also filled with beautiful musical metaphors straight from His heavenly places. These metaphors are one of the most common traits of poetry, along with rhythmic verses with melodious ring. The Bible is full of poems. Here are five examples (that also happen to be some of my favorite verses) of poetry in Scripture.
Lamentations
Did you know that the book of Lamentations, written by the prophet Jeremiah after the foretold fall of Jerusalem, is a collection of acrostic songs? While the alphabetical order of the verses does not translate to English, the lyrical rhythm of the book has not lost its ring. Take for example this excerpt from Lamentations 3. While the writer is grieved by the trespasses and punishment of his brethren, he chooses to take refuge in the Lord with this awing poetry:
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness."
The Song of Solomon (or "The Song of Songs").
The Song of Solomon is one of the most intimate pictures of love in writing. It repents a pure and perfect love, one symbolized by Christ's love for His Church, and the marital union between believers. Its vivid details are music to the ears throughout the book. It uses metaphors and similes similar to poetry today, as in chapter two:
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me."
Proverbs
The mathematical emphasis in rhythm is not the only things that makes the book of Proverbs poetic:
"These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him..."
(I can't help but think of similar counting poetry applied in other cases. For instance, J.R R. Tolkien's famous prelude to "Lord of the Rings":
- "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
- Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
- Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
- One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne.
- One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them,
- One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them").
Amos
One of my favorite verses is probably so because it is so musical:
"He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land-- the LORD is his name."
(This descriptive poem composed of elements that elevate the imagery in each verse are similar to Shakespeare's famous quote from Hamlet:
"Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love").
Revalation
One of the most descriptive instances of poetry in the Bible is in the very last book.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
The words of the Lord are sweet and pleasant. As a Christian writer, there are few things more inspiring --(excepting Jesus Christ) that poetry is the language of God.
