Psummer in the Psalms

Direction of Intention My God, give me the grace to perform this action with you and through love for you. In advance, I offer to you all the good that I will do and accept all the difficulty I may meet therein. Saint Ann, Pray for us. St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us.

Overview Liturgy of the Hours June 5: Introduction to the Book of Psalms June 12: Psalms of Praise June 19: Psalms of Lamentation June 26: No Session July 3: No Session July 10: Psalms of Thanksgiving July 17: The Theology of the Psalms July 24: Learning to Pray the Psalms – Liturgy of the Hours

Introduction to the Book of Psalms The Book of Psalms is part of what is know as the Wisdom Literature in the Bible Job, Psalms, Proverbs, The Song of Songs, Wisdom and Sirach Chief purpose is instruction (not so much teaching but how to live) A movement by ancient peoples to preserve and hand on collective wisdom Stories and songs

Introduction to the Book of Psalms In Greek: PSALM “a song sung to the accompaniment of a plucked instrument” The Book of Psalms is the largest and most widely used book in the Bible Personal Prayer Communal Worship It explores a full range of human experience in a personal and practical way

The Author (s) King David is attributed with authoring 73 David's personality and identity are clearly stamped on many of these psalms. While it is clear that David wrote many of the individual psalms, he is definitely not the author of the entire collection. Psalms 72 and 127 are attributed to Solomon, David's son and successor. Psalm 90 is a prayer assigned to Moses.

The Author (s) 12 psalms 50, 73—83 are ascribed to the family of Asaph. The sons of Korah wrote 11 psalms (42, 44-49, 84-85,87-88). Psalm 88 is attributed to Heman Psalm 89 is assigned to Ethan the Ezrahite. With the exception of Solomon and Moses, all these additional authors were priests or Levites who were responsible for providing music for sanctuary worship during David's reign. Fifty of the psalms designate no specific person as author.

When were the Psalms Written? Bulk of Psalms composed (orally / written) during life of David 1040 – 970 BC Psalm 90 is the oldest in the collection is probably the prayer of Moses Orally composed sometime between 1391–1271 BC Psalm 137 composed during the Babylonian Captivity, from about 586 to 538 B.C. The Book of Psalms: Compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

Layout of the Book of Psalms

Why were the Psalms recorded? Psalms are a prayerful response to life experiences. Of the Individual - Private Prayer Psalm 41 – Thanksgiving after sickness Psalm 51 – The Miserere ** Psalm 69 – Prayer in time of Old Age Of the Community – Nation of Israel Psalm 2 – For a Royal Coronation Psalm 60 – Lament after Death in Battle ** For Public Worship Psalm 24 – in Procession to Zion (Temple / Passover) Psalm 148 – All Creation Summoned to Praise God **

Types of Psalms Psalms of Praise Psalms of Laments Most likely composed for use in the temple and synagogue liturgies Major festivals - Passover Psalm 117 Psalms of Laments Individual and Communal Psalms of Thanksgiving Royal Psalms, Wisdom Poems