Wisdom Collection

The Wisdom Collection includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. It’s an eclectic set of books that dwell on the deeper matters of life like joy, sorrow, righteous suffering, time, pain and everything else that keeps you up at night.

They don’t provide straightforward answers to these matters, maybe there are none, but they dive into them thoroughly and refreshingly and draw your heart towards Jesus in the process.

The thematic design of the Wisdom Collection comes from the fundamental duality of wisdom and folly that each of these books explores in its own way. So while each bookmark of this collection appears totally unique, they all share the stark dualism which is characteristic of wisdom literature.

The Collection

Job

The dualism of the Job bookmark captures the superlative powers of the legendary behemoth and leviathan. On the land we see glimpses of the behemoth’s sturdy body hidden amongst the reeds of the marsh (chapter 40) and in the sea there is the veiled sight of the leviathan’s fierce, scaly figure amidst the chaotic waves (chapter 41). Who can tame the two but God alone?

Psalms

The dualism of the Psalms bookmark expresses the potential of peace and turmoil found at the limits of human emotions. Above ground we see the calmness and fullness of life that comes with delight in the word of the Lord, like a tree planted by streams of water (chapter 1). Below ground we see the dark mire of despair when it appears that God is far from us (chapter 88), but even in such places, our tears do not fall uncollected (chapter 56).

Proverbs

The dualism of the Proverbs bookmark highlights the opposing calls of wisdom and folly. Both sides appear as refreshing fountains but the waters of wisdom lead to the fear of the Lord which leads to life (chapters 10, 13, 14, 16), while the waters of folly are truly thorns which bring ruin to everything around it (chapters 15, 24). Proverbs would advise that you pursue wisdom at every turn.

Ecclesiastes

The dualism of the Ecclesiastes bookmark calls attention to the paradox of simultaneous burden and transience of life. One side pictures the harsh burden of life under the hot sun and the other the ungraspable winds of transience that make up life (chapter 1). Superficially, it would seem that these two cannot exist together but Ecclesiastes has a more complex view of the world.

Song of Songs

The dualism of the Song of Songs bookmark brings out the darkness and loveliness of love. One side bears all kinds of fruit and aromas and is teeming with life, while the other is infested with brambles, suffocated with smoke and hides cunning predators. How many of the elements featured on the bookmark can you find in the book?