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Ecclesiastes, chapter 3
| 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[106]. |
Psalm 23
| The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever[107]. |
After Reading
Literary Analysis
1. Identify MetaphorA metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things that are basically unlike but have something in common. What metaphor does the speaker use in verses 1–4 to describe his relationship with the Lord?
2. Analyze Word ChoiceIn verses 1–3, the speaker refers to the Lord using the pronouns he and his. However, beginning in verse 4, the speaker switches to thou and thy. What does this shift seem to suggest about the relationship between the speaker and the Lord?
3. Make InferencesWhy does the speaker expect goodness and mercy to follow him all the days of his life? Give details to support your response.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke,
Chapter 15
| And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants[108]. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. |
After Reading
Comprehension: Recall and Interpret
1.Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, begins: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” What is meant by this statement?
2.In Psalm 23, what kind of relationship does the speaker have with the Lord?
3.Review the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Describe the responses of the father and the elder son to the return of the Prodigal Son.
Literary Analysis: Evaluate and Connect
4. Interpret ImageryThe King James Bible is widely admired for the beauty of its imagery—words and phrases that create vivid sensory experiences. Explain how each of the following images from Psalm 23 appeals to your senses. Which example creates the most memorable mental picture?
• “leadeth me beside the still waters” (verse 2)
• “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (verse 4)
• “anointest my head with oil” (verse 5)
5. Analyze ParableMany characters in parables are allegorical—that is, they stand for abstract ideas and principles. Describe the following characters from the Parable of the Prodigal Son. What might each character symbolize?
• the younger son (verses 11–21)
• the father (verses 22–27)
• the elder brother (verses 28–31)
6. Make InferencesReview the chart you made as you read. What wisdomor spiritual advice does each selection convey? Cite evidence in your answer.
7. Synthesize InformationEach biblical selection dates back thousands of years and derives from the traditions of the ancient Hebrews. Using evidence from all three texts, what general statements can you make about the values and way of life of these people?
8. Evaluate Scriptural WritingThe three selections in the lesson are among the Bible’s most famous passages. In what ways does each selection fit the pattern of its literary form? Cite specific evidence to support your answer.
Literary Criticism
9. Different PerspectivesHow might readers of varying ages—for example, a young adult and an elderly person—differ in their reactions to the passage from Ecclesiastes, the psalm, or the parable? Use details from the text and your own knowledge to support your ideas.
Reading Focus VIII. from Paradise Lost
(Poem by John Milton)
KEY IDEA You’ve probably been encouraged to take pride in your accomplishments or your heritage.
Were John Milton alive today, he may not have approved. As a devout and learned Puritan, he knew that the Bible cautions that “pride goeth before destruction,” a warning he illustrates brilliantly in Paradise Lost.
Before Reading: Meet John Milton (1608-1674)
| FYI Did you know that John Milton . . . • coined the word pandemonium? • loved the Arthurian legends and nearly based his great English epic on them? • deeply influenced the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy? |
Youthful DreamsAs a youth, Milton applied himself eagerly to his studies, often reading by candlelight until the early hours of morning. In 1625, at the age of 16, he entered Christ’s College at Cambridge University. Although he was critical of the school’s rigid curriculum, he remained there for seven years, eventually earning a master’s degree in 1632. After leaving Cambridge, he continued his education independently, reading history, literature, and philosophy and writing his first eight sonnets.
A Dedicated PuritanWhen civil war erupted in 1642, Milton, a critic of the monarchy, allied himself with the Puritan faction, the Roundheads, who supported Parliament over the king. During this time Milton produced very little poetry, instead writing various political tracts and pamphlets in support of a republican government. Following the execution of Charles I in 1649, a republic was established under the Puritan leadership of Oliver Cromwell. Milton was appointed to a post as one of Cromwell’s secretaries, with duties that included handling foreign correspondence and writing defenses of the actions of the Puritan leadership.
Blind DespairThe year of 1652 was one of tragedy for Milton. His wife, Mary, died shortly after giving birth to their third daughter, Deborah. Weeks later, Milton suffered the death of his infant son, John. Compounding his misery, Milton’s eyesight, weak since childhood, failed completely. It was a shattering year for a man who had dedicated his life to family, faith, and literature.
Crowning AchievementAround 1658, shortly before the restoration of the monarchy, Milton began work on a poem he had been planning since he was 19, a great Christian epic that would “justify the ways of God to men.” Using the biblical account of the Fall of Man as his basic source, Milton dictated long sentences in rhythmic blank verse to his daughters and various assistants and friends. After five years, he completed his epic poem, Paradise Lost, achieving what many had considered utterly impossible.
While Reading
Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1669
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