Dear Members and Friends of Christ Lutheran Church...
The Sunday Bible Study in March studied the book of Psalms. This was all new to me, except the 23rd Psalm, of course. So, I asked myself, “Who wrote them? Why? What purpose?” The book of psalms is designed to be the prayer book of God’s people, who are striving to be faithful of the commands of the Torah and waiting and hoping for the Messiah.
There are five separate books in the psalms. (Book 1: vs 1-41, Book 2: vs 42-72, Book 3: vs 73-89, Book 4 vs 90-106, and Book 5: vs 107-150). The reason for this division is that each section has a final poem which concludes with a similar line that looks like an editorial addition; “May the Lord, the God of Israel be blessed forever” Amen Amen.
There are a total of 157 “psalms”. The most (73 in fact) were written by David. 50 do not mention authorship, and the remaining are credited to 6 other contributors, mostly names unfamiliar to me: Korah, Asaph, Hemen, and Ethan. Moses wrote 1 psalm, and 2 were from King Solomon – writing about 450 years later.
The psalms read as conversations with God. Thanks for your mercy, affirmations that God, you were there at my lowest conditions, you rescued me from my enemies. Occasionally, we all struggle with what to pray, how to pray, repeating the same Lord’s Prayer or creeds, feeling the desire or need to pray more or differently. I guarantee that browsing through the book of Psalms will put new meaning and depth into your prayer life.
Psalm of Karen
Glory and honor to my God
You are with me in the light and the darkness;
as close as my breath and my heartbeat.
Your thoughts are my thoughts.
Your holy spirit holds me in difficult times and times of guilt.
My sorrows and grief are known by you.
Your spirit rejoices within me for my happiness and joys.
Your words stand as truth.
I am comforted when I’m scared or lonely;
or make mistakes I regret.
Lord you lead me to places to show your mercy and love to all. Amen. Amen.
Karen Kovacs, Bible Study Teacher
and Church Council Secretary
There are five separate books in the psalms. (Book 1: vs 1-41, Book 2: vs 42-72, Book 3: vs 73-89, Book 4 vs 90-106, and Book 5: vs 107-150). The reason for this division is that each section has a final poem which concludes with a similar line that looks like an editorial addition; “May the Lord, the God of Israel be blessed forever” Amen Amen.
There are a total of 157 “psalms”. The most (73 in fact) were written by David. 50 do not mention authorship, and the remaining are credited to 6 other contributors, mostly names unfamiliar to me: Korah, Asaph, Hemen, and Ethan. Moses wrote 1 psalm, and 2 were from King Solomon – writing about 450 years later.
The psalms read as conversations with God. Thanks for your mercy, affirmations that God, you were there at my lowest conditions, you rescued me from my enemies. Occasionally, we all struggle with what to pray, how to pray, repeating the same Lord’s Prayer or creeds, feeling the desire or need to pray more or differently. I guarantee that browsing through the book of Psalms will put new meaning and depth into your prayer life.
Psalm of Karen
Glory and honor to my God
You are with me in the light and the darkness;
as close as my breath and my heartbeat.
Your thoughts are my thoughts.
Your holy spirit holds me in difficult times and times of guilt.
My sorrows and grief are known by you.
Your spirit rejoices within me for my happiness and joys.
Your words stand as truth.
I am comforted when I’m scared or lonely;
or make mistakes I regret.
Lord you lead me to places to show your mercy and love to all. Amen. Amen.
Karen Kovacs, Bible Study Teacher
and Church Council Secretary