Psalms: A way to pray

·       The Psalms are the prayers of Israel, the prayers of the God’s people, a people to whom God revealed Himself most clearly.

·       The people of Israel, inspired by God, put in writing this unique book.

·       Thus giving us a masterpiece of songs, and poems.

·       The Psalms are like mirror of the Jewish community throughout their existence. People of Israel turned their prayers into Psalms.

·       The Psalms have come from the Jewish people and express the purest and prayerful emotions of the monotheistic faith of Israel.

·       They express the true attitudes, supplication, trust, praise and hope of the people of Israel.

Are all Psalms equal?

·       Every Psalms is a compartment in itself.

·       Every compartment has its own key. To enter into the heart of Psalm, we need to find the right key. Every situation in life was different for the group who created each Psalm; some express happiness, others revolt, others a desperate cry for help, others a comforting peace etc.

·       Every Psalm is based of the experience of the particular person and persons; situation in which they prayed. Hence situation is diverse.

Types of Psalms

A.     Hymns:

1.     Hymns of Praise

2.     Psalms that showed the kingship of God: 47, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99.

3.     Songs of Zion (city of Jerusalem): 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122, 132.

B.     Individual Psalms:

1.     Individual Supplication: a prayer done during the time of suffering of an individual or group.

2.     Actions of grace: in which person/s recognise a grace given by Yahweh.

3.     Trust in God: people express that God is their ultimate security.

Individual Supplication: 7; 12; 5; 6; 13; 17; 22; 25; 26; 28; 31;

35; 36; 38; 39; 42; 43; 51; 54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 61; 63; 69;

70; 71; 86; 88; 102; 109; 120; 130; 140; 141; 142; 143.

C.     Collective Psalms:

1.     Collective Supplication

2.     Collective graces

3.     Collective trust in God.

Collective Supplication: 44; 58; 60; 74; 77; 79; 80; 82;

83; 85; 90; 94; 106; 108; 123; 126; 137.

D.     Royal Psalms: Theme of Kings, political authority, a function to liberate the people form the enemies and promote justice and right: 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144.

E.     Didactic Psalms (teaching, morals): reflections to teach the people to live a life according to God’s will,

1.     Liturgies: Shows the celebrations at the temple of Jerusalem.

2.     Prophetic exhortation: 14, 50, 52, 75, 81, 95.

3.     Historical Psalms: narrate a history of the people of Yahweh: 78, 105, 106.

4.     Wisdom Psalms: teach and reflect a concrete experience and teach a way of life: 1, 19, 8, 14, 37, 49, 73, 91, 112, 119, 127, 128, 133, 139.

Who wrote Psalms?

In the first verse of many of the Psalms give us the information such as author (David: 7:1), the type of Psalm (Lament 7:1), the musical instruments used to accompany the tale (eight strings 12:1), Collection and repertoire of the Psalm (master of singing 12:1), statement that express situation the Psalm was composed (song to Yahweh, concerning Cush and Benjamite 7:1 = 2 Samuel 18:21).

At that time it was customary to attribute the authorship of the Psalms to famous person like king David, a musician, poet and man of prayer. So he is seen as the patron of the Psalm as Moses was the patron of Law and Solomon was the patron of wisdom.

9 November 2014

Fr. Jerry Dias SJ