Preparing for the Psalms

 

For today and tomorrow, I will share some fun Bible nerd facts with you as we prepare to engage and encounter the Psalms.  One scholar of the Hebrew Hymnal was Hermann Gunkel, which I think is a fabulous name.  Gunkel gave us the classic categorization of the Psalms.  He said some Psalms are Hymns praising God for who God is.  “We don’t praise God for God’s personal sake (to stroke the Sacred’s ego), we praise God for the sake of helping to shape ourselves.  When we praise God fully, we let others eavesdrop on our praise!”  A few examples are Psalms 33 or 145.  A second major section of the Psalms are lament, which are one-third of the book ~ so brace and prepare yourself for this reality as we dive into the Psalms next week.  Lament Psalms recall God’s presence in the past and call upon God to participate in the bruises and brokenness and less-than-perfectness of the present moment.  Many of these Psalms end with hope or assurance.  There are individual laments (see Psalm 13 or 22) and communal laments (see 44 or 79).  And there is even a lament that doesn’t end with hope (see psalm 88 – for that day when you cannot bring yourself to see any goodness or God-ness in the world).  Finally, Gunkel said there are Psalms of thanksgiving when the singer looks back on a crisis and how God brought out a new reality or new song out of the shattered sharp shards of life.  A great example is Psalm 30 for individual prayer of gratitude and Psalm 124 for communal lifting every voice to sing with thanksgiving.  There are some minor types of Psalms because not every hymn can be neatly categorized and cataloged.  There is psalm for entering worship (see Psalm 15); one for covenant renewal (see Psalm 50) and hymns of trust (see Psalm 62 and 63). 

 

Take a breath, because I know that is a lot of information!!  Don’t worry, there is not, nor will there be a test on any of this!! Today, I invite you to pause and ponder ~ where are you at?  Was there a type of Psalm described/defined above that piqued your interest?  Once you consider the weather in your life, pick a Psalm to read aloud.  If things are good, maybe you go to a Psalm of praising God like 33.  If you are feeling down in the dumps, go to Psalm 22 or 79.  If you sense hope like a spark needing to be fanned to flamed go to Psalm 30. 

 

If you do not know ~ just randomly open the book of Psalms and read the first one your eyes land upon!

 

May this prayer practice help you experience the Eternal who has been/is/ and will be the Composer and Conductor of our unfinished symphony of life.  Amen.