The Psalms

Book of Prayers - Songs

• Written from a wide range of feelings and situations

• Written for a wide range of feelings and situations

• Joy, despair, praise, complaint, certainty, doubt, defeat, success, suffering, liberation

• The Psalms are used in Liturgy• Liturgies of the Temple and synagogue• Liturgies of the Church: Mass and Divine Office• Jesus prayed the Psalms• Psalms are meant to be said aloud or sung in

Public Worship

Four Categories of Psalms

• Adoration: praising God, worshipping God• Repentance: asking God’s forgiveness,

acknowledging sinfulness, iniquities• Petition: begging God for something, healing,

victory, • Thanksgiving: giving God thanks for something

Primary Theme of the Psalms

• Adoration, Praise, Worship every Psalm has some form of this primary theme

• Praise: looks at God for God is God – not looking at oneself, not asking for anything

• Adoration 18, 100• The Psalms were written over about 1000 years• Many authors including, David, Ezra,Solomon,

Moses