Praying the Psalms ... God's Covenant with David, Part II
As we pray the Psalms sometimes it seems like they are a random collection: a praise psalm may be next to a lament psalm next to a thanksgiving psalm next to a royal psalm. But there really is some order.
We also
noted that the Psalms predominantly focus on themes relating to God’s Covenant
with David (and not His covenant with Moses). The Davidic themes are:
As we pray the Psalms sometimes it seems like they are a random collection: a praise psalm may be next to a lament psalm next to a thanksgiving psalm next to a royal psalm. But there really is some order.
Last week
we noted that the Book of Psalms is divided into five books indicated by a
closing doxology at the end of Psalms 41, 72, 89, 106 and the final Psalm 150
is entirely a doxology.
 |
| David Composing on a Psalter (Paris, 10th C.) |
- an
everlasting covenant for all peoples (not just Israel) – fulfilled in the New
Covenant [Jer 31] of Christ [1 Cor 11:25; Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20; Heb
8:6; 9:15; 12:22-24];
- with
focus on Mt. Zion/Jerusalem (not Sinai/Horeb) – fulfilled in the new Zion, the
new Jerusalem [Heb 12:22-24; Rev 14:1; 21:1-4, 10; 1 Pet 2:6].
- on the
Temple (not wilderness tabernacle) – fulfilled in Christ’s Body [Jn 1:14 (Gk.
“tabernacled” among us); 2:19, 21], the sanctuary of heaven [Heb 9:12, 24]
which/who is the Lord [Rev 21:22], and Christ’s Body the Church [Col 1:18; 1
Cor 12:27];
- on wisdom
(not the law)– fulfilled in Christ the wisdom of God [1 Cor 1:24, 30; Ro
16:25-27];
- on the
sacrifice of the thank offering (not burnt offerings) – fulfilled in the
sacrifice of the Eucharist (“thanksgiving”) [1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 6:50-51; Heb
9:12, 26] joined with the living sacrifice of Christ’s Body, the Church [Rom
12:1; 1 Pet 2:5], and
- on a
musical liturgy (not silent liturgy) – fulfilled in the voice of heaven singing
new song [Rev 14:2-3] and the song of the Church [Eph 5:19-20].
So, then,
what order is there to this book of Psalms which focus on the Davidic covenant?
Scholars
John Bergsma and Brant Pitre in A Catholic Introduction to the Bible, The
Old Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2018), Ch. 24, give this
outline of the five books of the Psalms:
Book 1: Introduction
(Ps 1-2) and Laments of King David (Ps 3-41)
Book 2:
Rise of the Davidic Kingdom (Ps 42-72)
Book 3:
Fall of the Davidic Kingdom (Ps 73-89)
Book 4:
Reflection on the fall of the Kingdom and Exile (Ps 90-106)
Book 5:
Rejoicing and Restoration of the Temple (Ps 107-150), in which there are three
cycles from lament to praise: Ps 108-118, 120-136, and 137-150.
As Bergsma
and Pitre comment, “[T]he five books of the Psalter provide us with an
overarching framework and thus an important key for interpreting the book in
its final, canonical form” (p. 567).
So as we
pray the Psalms, we might take note of this framework to help understand the
Psalms better. Which of the five books is the psalm we are praying over located
in? What is the mood of that psalm? What themes relating to God’s covenant with
David, or the history of his Kingdom (and descendants, such as exile) is there
in this book and specifically this psalm? How are these themes fulfilled in
Christ? And then, what does this psalm say about your own relationship with our
Lord today? With you – a baptized believer, called to the obedience of faith,
abiding in Christ Jesus a recipient of God’s covenant promises in Christ, a
child of the family of God – what does the psalm say to you today?
Bergsma, John, Psalm Basics for Catholics (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2018).
Bergsma, John and Pitre, Brant, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible, The Old Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2018), Ch. 24 “Psalms.”
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on October 10, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.
Dibby Green
Sources: .Bergsma, John, Psalm Basics for Catholics (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2018).
Bergsma, John and Pitre, Brant, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible, The Old Testament (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2018), Ch. 24 “Psalms.”
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on October 10, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.