Unit Six Section C

”Psalm 8” ”The Book of Psalms” is a collection of religious poems and songs in the Old Testament of the Bible. Many of the poems are songs of praise and celebration. Why does the speaker in this Psalm praise the Lord? O Lord our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, And whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Developing Comprehension Skills 1. According to the speaker, whose name is “excellent ... in all the earth"? 2. From where can the Lord draw strength? What can the Lord use this strength for? 3. How does the speaker view humans in relation to the Lord? What does this relationship with the Lord mean to the speaker? 4. Where do humans fit into God's plans for heaven and earth? What does the speaker think about God's plan for people? 5. What kind of emotion does the speaker in Psalm 8 seem to be feeling? Do you think people today feel similar emotions when speaking of this subject?

”Psalm 24” Psalm 24 is a song of joy and reverence. According to this psalm, what must people do if God is to accept them? The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, That seek thy face, O Jacob. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Developing Comprehension Skills 1. To whom does the speaker say the world belongs? 2. According to the psalm, what type of person can approach the Lord and receive His blessing? 3. What do you think is meant by the "gates" and "doors" in the second stanza? What is it that they keep out? 4. What are the different qualties and abilities of God that the speaker mentions in this psalm? 5. "Psalm24" is one of the most popular psalms in the Bible. What, in your opinion, makes this psalm so appealing?

“Ecclesiastes 3:1-8” People have always wondered about the meaning and purpose of life. What wisdom does this well--known verse offer about the experiences of life? To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Developing Comprehension Skills 1. According to the speaker, what is true of every thing in life? 2. What does this poem suggest about the way experiences in life are balanced? 3. What are a few of the events that each person experiences in a lifetime? 4. In this poem, the speaker says there is a time and a purpose for everything. Do you agree with the speaker's philosophy about the nature of life? Explain your answer.

“Proverbs 31:10-31” In the Bible, The Book of Proverbs contains essays, poems, and proverbs. What advice does this essay give to young men? Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth our her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. O Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Developing Comprehension Skills 1. In the first paragraph, what does the writer say about the value of a "virtuous" woman? 2. According to this essay, what are the duties and responsibilities of the ideal wife? 3. What qualities, or personality traits, does the writer consider worthy in an ideal wife? Do you think the writer respected a woman's intelligence as well as her other skills? 4. According to the writer, how should a woman with these qualities be treated by others? 5. Do you think it is possible for anyone to live up to this ideal? Was it possible when the writer wrote the essay? Explain your answer.

"Bible Epigrams" An epigram is a brief saying or poem that makes a clever point. Would a person who lived by these Biblical epigrams be happier and more content? It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew, 19:24 It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts, 20:35 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs, 16:18 The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Mark, 2:27 Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians, 6:7 Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew, 6:21 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John, 15:13 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews, 1 1: 1 If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark, 3:25 A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house. Matthew, 13:57 Wisdom is better than rubies. Proverbs, 8: 11 He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Proverbs, 28:20 No man can serve two masters. Matthew, 6:24 All they that take the sword shall perish by the sword. Matthew, 26:52

Developing Comprehension Skills 1. According to the speaker in Proverbs, 16:18, what is the problem with pride? 2. In John, 15:13, what does the speaker say about love and friendship? 3. In Mark, 3:25, the speaker says a divided house cannot stand. What might a "divided house" be symbolic of? 4. What advice about wealth and possessions appears in a number of the proverbs? What possessions do the writers of the proverbs consider most valuable? 5. How does the speaker in Hebrews, 1 1: 1 define faith? 6. Which of these proverbs do you feel are most important for modern life? Explain your answer.