Old Testament heroes groped their way upward to better
things, and established their belief in one God upon a firm
foundation. Their story is the epic of the soul's struggle and
victory; but it is also the revelation of humanity's past, the mirror
of its present of progress and defeat, the prophecy of its triumphant
future. The Psalms, in the words of Heine, collect within themselves
"sunrise and sunset, birth and death, promise and fulfillment--the
whole drama of humanity." Excepting only those of the New Testament
literature, no authors of any land or time have seized upon truths so
unchanging and so everlasting as the writers of Job and the books of
the Prophets. Ignoring life's vanities, soaring far above the things
that are temporal, these writings ever summon the minds of men to
dwell upon things eternal.

Finally in the literature of the New Testament the victories of faith
replace the victories of war; the groping instinct of survival is
justified in the Demonstration of Immortality; the Cult of the Chosen
People gives way to the Gospel of Universal Brotherhood; the
Omnipotent Creator is revealed also the God of Love; the Deity of
Retribution and Justice becomes a Father; Man, the Child.

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QUESTIONS BRINGING OUT THE BIBLE'S LITERARY VALUE

1. The Poetry of the Bible

What is the difference between the rhythm of Hebrew
poetry and that of English poetry? 11 S.A.

What three forms does this rhythm take? 12 S.A.

In the words quoted from Jesus are any
of these forms used? 13 S.A.

What is the richest part of Biblical poetry? 13 S.A.

Rhythm and Feeling

What form of rhythm illustrated on page 12 S.A.
is used in the psalms:

The Righteous Man. 19 S.A.

A Morning Prayer. 20 S.A.

A Song of Deliverance. 26 S.A.

A Song in Time of Trouble. 61 S.A.

The Cry of the Needy. 98 S.A.

Idols of Silver and Gold. 136 S.A.

Our Father. 118 S.A.

A Pilgrim Song. 156 S.A.

What two qualities, necessary to Hebrew poetry,
are found in Deborah's Song of Triumph? 54-59 T.J., 11 S.A.

What deep feeling prompted the Song of Judith? 105-107 T.J.