1- All of life is gathered up in the Psalms. It's truly comprehensive, nothing's left out: joys sorrows, praise, complaints, victory and defeat. The Psalms were written by people from all walks of life: priests, kings, musicians, and shepherds. Implication: when we pray (the Psalms), we bring all of life to the Lord.
2- The Psalms are not arranged in a nice, neat order. This is because life cannot be ordered neatly. The Psalms are not polite because life is not polite. Psalm 22 and 23 are side by side, even though their mood is completely opposite; likewise with Psalm 102 and 103.
3- The Psalms give us permission for a full range of human thought and emotion. Psalm 119, for example, is brilliantly and beautifully crafted. It's like a work of embroidery, stitched piece by piece (CS Lewis). The aim of prayer is for the real "I" to meet the real "You", and the Psalms allow for this kind of encounter.
4- The Psalms go together in 5 books. Introduction to the books is Psalm 1 and 2 (Psalm 1 begins with "Blessed", and Psalm 2 ends with "Blessed"). Book 1, is Psalm 3-41, ending in "Blessed be YHWH! Amen! Amen!" Book 2, 42-72, ending with "Blessed be YHWH! Blessed be his Glorious Name! Amen! Amen!" Book 3: 73-89, ending "Blessed be YHWH! Amen! Amen! " Book 4 is 90-106, and it ends with "Blessed be YHWH! Let the people say 'Amen! Amen!'" Book 5 encompasses Psalm 107-145, ending in "All flesh will bless his Holy Name." Psalm 146-150 are conclusion Psalms, 5 "Hallelujah" songs, one song for each of the 5 books.
5- Psalm 1 and 2 are introductions that prepare our hearts for the "real" Psalms. Psalm 1 functions as a 'settle down' Psalm: it centres us, gets us on track, brings us back, to the word of God. Psalm 2 puts everything in perspective: kings and rulers wrestling for power: God 'laughs' at such a project, because his Messiah will rule all of creation. The message: 'get with it', get 'in line' with God's reign.
2- The Psalms are not arranged in a nice, neat order. This is because life cannot be ordered neatly. The Psalms are not polite because life is not polite. Psalm 22 and 23 are side by side, even though their mood is completely opposite; likewise with Psalm 102 and 103.
3- The Psalms give us permission for a full range of human thought and emotion. Psalm 119, for example, is brilliantly and beautifully crafted. It's like a work of embroidery, stitched piece by piece (CS Lewis). The aim of prayer is for the real "I" to meet the real "You", and the Psalms allow for this kind of encounter.
4- The Psalms go together in 5 books. Introduction to the books is Psalm 1 and 2 (Psalm 1 begins with "Blessed", and Psalm 2 ends with "Blessed"). Book 1, is Psalm 3-41, ending in "Blessed be YHWH! Amen! Amen!" Book 2, 42-72, ending with "Blessed be YHWH! Blessed be his Glorious Name! Amen! Amen!" Book 3: 73-89, ending "Blessed be YHWH! Amen! Amen! " Book 4 is 90-106, and it ends with "Blessed be YHWH! Let the people say 'Amen! Amen!'" Book 5 encompasses Psalm 107-145, ending in "All flesh will bless his Holy Name." Psalm 146-150 are conclusion Psalms, 5 "Hallelujah" songs, one song for each of the 5 books.
5- Psalm 1 and 2 are introductions that prepare our hearts for the "real" Psalms. Psalm 1 functions as a 'settle down' Psalm: it centres us, gets us on track, brings us back, to the word of God. Psalm 2 puts everything in perspective: kings and rulers wrestling for power: God 'laughs' at such a project, because his Messiah will rule all of creation. The message: 'get with it', get 'in line' with God's reign.
