THE BOOK OF PSALMS
The book of Psalms is an anthology of Hebrew hymns. In the Jewish and Western Christian traditions, there are 150 psalms, The book is divided into five sections, each ending with short verse or a hymn of praise. There are several types of psalms, including songs of praise, communal and individual laments, royal psalms, imprecation, and individual thanksgivings. The book also includes psalms of communal thanksgiving, wisdom, pilgrimage. While many of the psalms contain attributions to King David and other Biblical figures including Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Solomon.
So how can reading the psalms help us in our daily lives. See the big picture; when we read the Psalms, itsvery easily get stuck on one line or verse, often referred to as 'my favourite psalm is' (which I myself am guilty off). Look at the patterns, the Psalms are poetry, the writers often use certain patterns (styles). Although I'm unsure that at the time they were written the writer gave them a style name like Prose, Haiku and sonnet, I'm happy to be proven otherwise.
I've recently tried to write a poem on the psalms, as we've been looking at various ones over the summer within our church (two sundays left). But how can you write a poem on a book that in itself is poetry. The book of Psalms, greatest poetry ever formed, for which one cannot compete. I've definitely enjoyed this short series, its opened my eyes to more than just a pretty book of biblical poetry, but to the true essence to how, who and why they where written. 'A psalm a day keeps the devil at bay. '
Thanks again for your time, may you be blessed in the psalm and beyond.
Midlife Writer
Comments
"Although I'm unsure that at the time they were written the writer gave them a style name like Prose, Haiku and sonnet, I'm happy to be proven otherwise." The sonnet poetic form originated in Italy in the 13th century, a very long time after the psalms. The Japanese haiku is even younger, it dates from the 17th century.
We still have the Hebrew musical and liturgical terms for psalms included in our English translations (thankfully) but they're so ancient we have no way of knowing what the music in the Temple would have sounded like. Sadly!