The
PS 24 belongs to
Book I of the
Book of PS, composed of a collection of 150 texts arranged by five poetry books. The Book of Psalms, for its
wisdom and
basic principles of human
action, is considered the heart of the Old Testament. Book I encompasses Psalms 1 to 41. The
PS 24 is divided into ten verses.
The Psalms are
poems-prayers addressed to God, the privileged way to address and speak to Him. These prayers represent
human experiences and
religious conscience. They portray the
commoner with his faults, insecurities, fears, and hopes. Even today, we can identify with the Psalmist and draw inspiration from these texts to
pray and
plead with God when we feel
lost and
anguished or to express our
gratitude for some blessing.
"There are enemies or friends; there is life or death, health or illness, pain or joy, and, most of the time, there are no changes or gradations. Words are like stones and poetry like boulders carved by chisel"; "The Psalms are a bit like mountain paths, simple, especially when walking on snow, but they lead to the peaks; they are paths toward the peaks of meeting the Lord." - Carlo Maria Martini, Cardinal of Milan.
Psalm 24 - Processional Song
1 From David. Psalm.
To the Lord belongs the Earth and what it contains,
the world and everyone in it.
2 For He established it over the seas
and consolidated it over the deep currents.
3 Who can climb the mountain of the Lord
and remain in his sanctuary?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart
does not run after what is vain,
nor swear by what is false.
5 He will bear blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from God, his savior.
6 This is the generation of those who seek him,
those who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
7 O doors, raise your posts!
Rise, ancient entrances,
that the king of glory will enter!
8 Who is this king of glory?
It is the Lord, mighty hero,
the Lord, hero in battle.
9 O gates, raise your posts!
Rise, ancient entrances,
that the king of glory will enter!
10 Who is this king of glory?
The Lord of hosts.
He is the king of glory.
Meaning and interpretation
The
PS 24 has a large formal content, making it a distinctive liturgical Ps. Despite its short Verses, this Psalm refers to a great diversity of themes, which reflects the author's capacity for synthesis:
- affirms the universal sovereignty of God (Verses 1-2),
- it deals with the requirements concerning those who take part in the service (Verses 3-6) and
- it proclaims the resonance and symbolism of the most solemn moments of the ritual (Verses 7-10).
God is
celebrated and
glorified in all its splendor and magnitude.
Rise, ancient entrances, that the king of glory will enter! (...) The Lord of hosts. He is the king of glory.
The
Psalms of Praise are hymns addressed, above all, to God. In this sense, the Bible continues the liturgical literature of neighboring and previous religions, where
hymns are the most common way for people to address
divinity, especially in contexts of greater solemnity.
These Psalms were of great importance in the lives of biblical heroes. The preaching of the
word of the prophets or the teaching of
wisdom reflection appears closely linked to the cultural activities of the people of Israel. They express solemnly and the believer's recognition of the
productive presence of God who saves his people, for he is mercy that lasts forever; it is a refuge from the dangers of life; it is joy and joy; it is prosperity that feeds its people; it is light in times of darkness and salvation on Earth and eternal life.
The texts of the Book of Psalms oscillate between a shout and praise, supplication, and joy. Perhaps its authors understood that Man could only express his supplications, laments, or thirst for revenge before God if he is immersed in the
spirit of praise that
sings life stronger than death. Perhaps, beyond the scream, the lament, or the anger, they realize that what moves these words is nothing but that
life force that explodes in praise when it comes out of violence or when it goes through death.
These hymns narrate, thus, the
greatness or
improvements and the
thanks that flow from it. Examples of this are Ps 8; 19; 28; 33; 47; 65-66; 93; 96-100; 104-105; 111; 113; 117; 135; 146; 148-150. Hymns can also be addressed to the
king, focusing especially on the ceremony of royal enthronement, with every expectation of divine intervention for the
well-being of the people and the
just ordering of the world.
In this case, the Psalms were performed at court parties, in the king's presence, and in celebrations for victory over enemies, among others. Some examples are Psalm 2; 18; 20; 21; 27; 51; 60; 61.
With the end of the monarchy, these Psalms were accentuating the
messianic connotations, which already had implicit. This is the case of Psalm 2; 18; 20-21; 45; 72; 89; 101; 110; 132; 144. The Psalms celebrating Jerusalem, which has a special connection to God with the temple, are also considered hymns. These are Ps 46; 48; 76; 84; 87; 122.
The Book of Psalms
The Joy and Happiness of the Righteous in Communion with God
The Psalms are
prayer-poems addressed to God, the privileged way to address and speak with Him. Depicting the
commoner, with his failures, insecurities, fears, and hopes, we can still identify with the Psalmist and be inspired today in Psalms to make
prayers and
supplications to God in times of trouble or express our
gratitude for some blessing received.
Despite being written in Antiquity, the Psalms still
move,
sensitize,
awaken feelings,
inspire and
enchant. In them, we can identify
anguish and
joy, deeply human feelings, praises, supplications, teachings of reflection on spiritual wisdom, and prophetic words.
Written for
different situations, some Psalms are intimate, revealing the author's relationship with God; others provide guidelines and advice for life; others are compositions for specific liturgical events such as rituals and pilgrimages.
The
Book of Psalms comprises a collection of 150 poetic texts and is divided into five parts, called Psalm Books or Booklets. Each Book closes with short
hymns of praise to God. The division into five parts was considered to correspond to the five books of Moses, and it is assumed that each passage in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, called Torah by the Jews) was read in parallel with the corresponding Psalm. Its main forms are
lamentation,
supplication,
praise, and
gratitude.
The Power of Prayer in Dialogue with the Divine
The Psalms elevate our thoughts to the Divine, and
prayer is the
power of the word. Prayer is the language of faith. Any thought, word, or image addressed to God is called
prayer. Through it, we come into contact with our
God within; therefore, it is powerful in
transforming life. Prayer can produce
miracles, turn dreams into reality, and give us hope for
change,
harmony, and
peace with ourselves and the world.
Each Psalm has an
intention that helps us
meditate and
walk with our God. For many theologians, the Book of Psalms has a prophetic or messianic tone as its verses refer to the coming of Christ into the world of men to guide them through the uncertainty and doubts of Human existence.
The
prayer has the power to call the
Spiritual Universe full mode, honest, sincere, conscious, for spiritual self-protection, family protection, and those who are dear to us, to have peace of mind, spiritual and physical, for prosperity and success, to protect health and relationships, to ward off negative energies and, above all, to connect us to something bigger than ourselves.
From this,
peace, well-being, hope, and goodness in front of everyone and everything result.
Faith can change our lives. It gives us
tranquility and
spiritual strength to face challenges. It helps us to
meditate on our mission in life and to create a
balanced and healthy environment for ourselves and those we love. When you pray, fill your heart with
love and
determination. The Psalms will guide you toward
peace and
communion with higher energy.
