The name of
Psalms, given to the one hundred and fifty church songs, is derived from the Greek
Psalmoi and was coined for the Greek translation in the century. III A.C. Before that, it may have had other names in Hebrew such as
Mizmor, a term meaning "Poetic songs". De
Tefillot's title, "Prayers" could equally have been in use.
Tehillim, which means "Praises", was the name that eventually prevailed in the Hebrew Bible.
The Personal Religious Experience and the Community Dimension
The victims' reaction can trigger the violence of revenge and aggression, perpetuating the chain of evil. The suffering brought about by the brutal experience of evil (the enemy's persecution, the deadly threat of disease, the frailty of life approaching death, the interior and relational disorder of sinჴ€¦) is the context for the believer/Psalmist to cry out for God, asking for help, compassion, help, forgiveness.
From the personal and peoples' vulnerability, which experience the danger of existence, interior transformation and the belief that it is possible to be reborn in the trust and hope of God's mercy is born. The pleas that relate to violence and anguish are already a cry for liberation, a call for help, and a promise of a better future in the goodness of God.
The Second Book of Psalms
The themes of the titles of the Second Book of Psalms reflect well what concerns and martyrs the Psalmist. Most of them are prayers of supplication that appeal to God's kind protection, affirm the confidence of his presence, and glorify his morals and action on men. Most of them reflect a hopeful posture of the believer in his God - however bad the threat and the affront, he believes in the divine mercy and goodness that come to his aid.
- Psalm 42 - Nostalgia for God and Proximity to the Divine
- Psalm 43 - Nostalgia for the House of God
- Psalm 44 - People's Plea for the Grace of God
- Psalm 45 - Poem for the King in Honor of His Glory
- Psalm 46 - God, Refuge, and Strength of Peoples
- Psalm 47 - Hymn of Praise to the Universal King Yahweh
- Psalm 48 - Praise to Zion, City of God
- Psalm 49 - Vanity of Riches and the Fate of Death
- Psalm 50 - The True Sacrifice and the Spirit of Faith
- Psalm 51 - Prayer with a contrite and humbled heart
- Psalm 52 - Prayer Against the Wicked Mighty
- Psalm 53 - The Wicked and the Chosen People
- Psalm 54 - Request for Help and Supplication to God
- Psalm 55 - Prayer to God by a Persecuted
- Psalm 56 - Trust in the Middle of Persecution
- Psalm 57 - Supplication in Persecution
- Psalm 58 - Against Bad Judges
- Psalm 59 - Prayer of the Persecuted
- Psalm 60 - Prayer after a Defeat
- Psalm 61 - An Exile's Prayer to God
- Psalm 62 - God, Only Refuge and Salvation
- Psalm 63 - Thirsty Soul for God and His Mercy
- Psalm 64 - Punishment of the Slanderers and the Wicked
- Psalm 65 - God's Providence and World Order
- Psalm 66 - Hymn of Thanksgiving to God
- Psalm 67 - Invitation to the Praise of God
- Psalm 68 - Triumphal Song of God's Benefits
- Psalm 69 - Prayer of the Just Afflicted to God
- Psalm 70 - Request for God's Help
- Psalm 71 - An Elder's Supplication to God
- Psalm 72 - Prayer to God for the Ideal King
Who Wrote the Psalms?
The earliest collection of Psalms, the oldest, is attributed to King David (Psalms 3ჴ€“41), the ancestor of Jesus Christ and the most charismatic ruler of the nation of Israel. Another collection attributed to this author is constituted by Psalms 51 to 72, the date on which the exile began.
Psalms 42 to 49 are attributed to the sons of Korah, Levites who served in the temple and report the pilgrimage, and the defeats. Most of them predate the destruction of Jerusalem. King Solomon is the author of at least two Psalms.
Psalms 73 to 83 are attributed to the sons of Asaph, the father of Joah, and a character mentioned in the Old Testament Bible, before the exile. Psalm 50, attributed to Asaf, joins the Davidic collection 3 to 41. Even so, the authorship of many Psalms remains unknown.
The Joy of Living in Communion with God's Law
The Psalms are poetic prayers addressed to God, known to be the privileged way to address and speak with Him. Depicting the common man, 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.
The Psalms, despite being written in Antiquity, 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, the rest are compositions for specific holy events such as rituals and pilgrimages.
The Power of Prayer
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. It is through it that we come into contact with our God within and, therefore, it is so 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 and the First Book of Psalms well reflects these principles and has an intention that helps us to meditate and walk beside our God. For many theologians, the Book of Psalms has a prophetic or rosy 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 results.
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 on a path of peace and communion with higher energy.
