- Basic Information
Recall some basic information regarding psalms, Hebrew Poetry not prose
Wisdom literature consists of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Canticles, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. There is some discrepancy between a Catholic & Protestant Bible. Whenever this discrepancy occurs, Catholic refer to these books as deuterocanonical. For a good discussion of why this occurred, refer to this article. https://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_bibles.htm accessed March 6, 2021
- Psalms takes pride of place within the Wisdom literature. Largest book, in the middle of the Bible. The psalms are the prayers that the Holy Family would have prayed. In every Holy Mass, and in the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalms are read. The Liturgy of the Hours is a systematic process of prayerfully reading Sacred Scripture in light of the overall liturgical year.
- For faithful interpretation of all Scripture, a cursory glance of the literal sense must precede the 3 spiritual senses allegorical (Christ), moral (practical living), anagogical (eschaton, heaven) CCC115
Structure of Psalter into five books: I Ps 1-41, II 42-72, III Ps 73-89, IV Ps 90-106, Ps V Ps 107-150. Thus Psalm 146 is in Book V.
Different ways to see the themes, I propose 2 out of the many. One from the Torah and the other from the narratio of the Holy Spirit in the life of David.
Torah- Narratio of David
I Genesis- the blessed man; introduction & laments of David[1]
II Exodus- Deliverance; Rise of Davidic Kingdom
III Leviticus- Sanctuary; Fall of Davidic Kingdom
IV Numbers- Wandering in the wilderness; Reflections on the Fall of the Kingdom & Exile
V Deuteronomy- Coming home, entering promised land; Rejoicing & Restoration of the Temple
Period without David, wandering life without Christ Holy Spirit can fell like wilderness, reference today and find connections
[1] John Bergsman & Brant Pitre, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament (Ignatius: San Francisco 2018) 566-567
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