Categorizing the 150 Psalms
What are the Psalms?
The Psalms are the prayers of the Hebrew tribes, whose writers gathered all the important elements of their prayer traditions, and recorded in written form the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.
Author Bernhard W. Anderson's book Understanding the Old Testament, says that the present form of the Psalms is a product of the post-exilic community of Israel. It reflects the liturgical practice of the Hebrews after they had settled down again after their exile.
When you look at the bible and scan over the whole book of Psalms, you can see that they number exactly 150, with each of the individual psalms comprising one chapter.
In modern Bible translations, some "chapters" of the Psalms are shown with two numbers. This discrepancy in "numbering" acknowledges that there are two sources from which the Psalms were translated into English. The first number belongs to one source tradition of numbering (from the Hebrew) and the other to a second tradition of numbering (from the Greek). The Greek translation, the Septuagint, has its system of numbering the psalms.
An example of the difference in this numbering: in the Hebrew tradition, one psalm is a combination of two psalms in the Greek - for instance, Psalm 116 combines Psalm 114 and 115 in the Greek translation (see table below). The same is seen when numbering is made from the Greek tradition; one psalm combines two psalms in the Hebrew tradition. An example is Psalm 113. Psalm 113 combines Psalm 114 and 115, which are separated into two psalms in the Hebrew tradition.
Here is the numbering of both the Hebrew and Greek traditions in tabular form:
| Hebrew | Greek (LXX) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | 1 to 8 |
| 9 and 10 | 9 |
| 11 to 113 | 10 to 112 |
| 114 and 115 | 113 |
| 116 | 114 and 115 |
| 117 to 146 | 116 to 145 |
| 147 | 146 and 147 |
| 148 to 150 | 148 to 150 |
Categorization of the Psalms according to themes
There are many ways by which these Old Testament psalms are categorized. However, post-Vatican II research has led many bible scholars to categorize them according to their themes. This categorization is according to the book Journey, Volume III- Writings by Msgr. Marcel Gervais:
- Psalms on the Law
- Liturgical psalms
- Prophetic psalms
- Historical psalms
- Wisdom psalms
- Royal psalms (on the king)
- Laments
- Confidence psalms
- Thanksgiving psalms
- Hymns
- hymns (general)
- hymns on the reign of the Lord
- hymns on Zion
Psalms on the Law
Psalms on the Law usually exalt the love of the law of God as loving God. Many psalms fall under this category. Psalm 1 is a good example. Psalm 119 is another psalm of the Law. It is a song praising the Law and is the longest of all the psalms (176 verses).
Liturgical psalms
Liturgical psalms present an "entrance ritual", where pilgrims coming to worship in the Temple are reminded of the way of life the Lord demands of them when they gather to worship in His presence. Examples which represent this category of liturgical psalms are Psalm 15, Psalm 24, and Psalm 134.
Prophetic psalms
Prophetic psalms usually reflect the concerns and prayers of the prophets of Israel. These psalms are represented by Psalm 95, Psalm 14, Psalm 50, Psalm 52, Psalm 53, Psalm 75, and Psalm 81.
Historical psalms
Historical psalms usually tell the story of the prayers and experiences of the people of Israel as they wandered for many years in the wilderness and the desert. These psalms also contain references to events and persons in history, like the Exodus and covenant in Psalm 114; Abraham in Psalm 47; and Moses in Psalm 103. Other examples of historical psalms are seen in Psalm 68, Psalm 78, and Psalm 106.
Wisdom psalms
The tradition of wisdom of the people of Israel was also expressed in the Psalms. Psalms to note that belong to this category are Psalm 8, Psalm 104, Psalm 1, Psalm 37, Psalm 49, Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 119, Psalm 127, Psalm 128, Psalm 133, Psalm 91, Psalm 139, and Psalm 73.
Royal psalms
Some psalms describe the role of the kings in the history of the People of Israel. These are grouped in a category of psalms called the royal psalms. Examples of these psalms are Psalm 72, Psalm 2, Psalm 89, Psalm 110, and Psalm 132.
Laments
At least 50 of the 150 psalms are laments. These psalms beseech God for help and mercy. In a way, laments are the prayers of the poor and the oppressed. Examples of psalms in this category are Psalm 22, Psalm 42, and Psalm 43.
Confidence psalms
This group of psalms is characterized by an extraordinary spirit of trust in God. Six psalms can be said to belong to this category: Psalm 4, Psalm 11, Psalm 16, Psalm 23, Psalm 62, and Psalm 131. Other authors also include Psalm 127 and Psalm 121 in this category.
Thanksgiving psalms
Thanksgiving psalms are expressions of gratitude, often concerning celebration with friends or the assembly. An example is Psalm 30. Other Thanksgiving psalms are: Psalm 32, Psalm 9, Psalm 10, Psalm 34, Psalm 40, Psalm 41, Psalm 92, Psalm 107, Psalm 116, and Psalm 138. These are Thanksgiving psalms sung by an individual. The communal thanksgiving psalms are found in Psalm 65, Psalm 66, Psalm 67, Psalm 118, and Psalm 124.
Hymns
Hymns are psalms in which the center of attention is the Lord himself; little or no reference is made to the ones singing the psalms. The hymns are of three kinds: Songs of Zion, Songs of the Reign of the Lord, and hymns in general.
Songs of Zion
Examples of Songs of Zion are: Psalm 46, Psalm 122, Psalm 132, Psalm 84, Psalm 87, Psalm 48, Psalm 76
Songs of the Reign of the Lord
Examples of Songs of the Reign of the Lord are: Psalm 93,
Psalm 96, Psalm 47, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, and Psalm 99
General Hymns
This last category of psalms covers at least 19 psalms. Classic examples which belong to this category are: Psalm 146 and Psalm 148
Where are the psalms mostly used?
The psalms are mostly used in the Eucharistic service during the liturgy of the word. After the first reading is proclaimed, there is a part of the liturgy of the word called the responsorial psalm. In these prayers, parts of a psalm are taken, and the responses to the prayers of the psalm are often from the psalm itself.
Another tradition where the psalms are used is in the praying of the breviary or the liturgy of the hours. The psalms in the breviary are sung [as in the monastic tradition] or recited in two choirs by religious communities. Many parishes have taken the initiative to pray the liturgy of the hours amongst the lay faithful, with the parish priest leading the prayers.
No comments:
Post a Comment