Psalm Lectio Divina 1
 |
Description
Book Introduction
The Psalms are one of the most beloved books in the Bible.
But how do readers of the Psalms, especially those of faith, approach them? How can they deeply and vividly experience the meaning contained within the text as God's Word? This book begins with these very questions and introduces a method of reading the Psalms using "lectio divina," a long-standing tradition in the Church.
Part 1 provides a theoretical explanation of the structure, genre, and literary characteristics of the Psalms, as well as the lectio divina reading method. Part 2 presents meditations on each passage of the entire 150 Psalms, accompanied by illustrations from medieval manuscripts.
Lectio divina was traditionally practiced in four stages: reading (lectio), meditation (meditatio), prayer (oratio), and contemplation (contemplatio).
In this book, the author basically applies this methodology.
First, in the reading (lectio), the author directly translates the text of the Psalms and begins by explaining text-critical issues.
The author, an Old Testament scholar, divided this stage into text examination (cogitatio) and text commentary (studium) to read and understand the text more systematically and specifically.
This section, which contains actual textual commentary, will be included in the upcoming Volume 2, and will be of great help to those seeking a more specialized psalm commentary.
Then, in the next step, meditation (meditatio), the spiritual meaning contained in each text and manuscript illustration is explained.
What is particularly striking about this book is that after reading and meditating on the text, the author attempted to meditate on the pictures (visio), a practice neglected in Protestant churches.
The author is referring to the Stuttgart Illuminated Manuscript of the Latin Psalter (Cod.
Bibl.
Fol.
23) By explaining the 308 illustrations in the book based on their connection to the text, it helps readers to vividly contemplate the text through colorful pictures.
As a final step, prayer and contemplation (oratio et contemplatio) are suggested, and these two steps are often done simultaneously.
Therefore, this book presents prayers to help readers pray and reach contemplation based on what they have realized from each psalm or passage of the psalm.
There are many ways to read the Psalms, but 『Psalms Lectio Divina 1』 provides a beneficial opportunity to experience God's presence and deeply reflect on oneself while meditating on the Psalm text through the sacred reading method called 'Lectio Divina.'
Protestants, especially those who feel somewhat distant from Christian art, will have a refreshing experience of reading the Psalms, the Word of God, in a different way through the visually embodied pictures in the manuscript illustrations introduced with the author's commentary.
Furthermore, preachers and Bible teachers engaged in field ministry can use the illustrations introduced in this book to promote not only sermons on the psalms but also various Bible meditations and devotional training for their congregations.
I sincerely hope that through this book, many readers will be able to read the Psalms more systematically, meditate on them vividly, and pray.
But how do readers of the Psalms, especially those of faith, approach them? How can they deeply and vividly experience the meaning contained within the text as God's Word? This book begins with these very questions and introduces a method of reading the Psalms using "lectio divina," a long-standing tradition in the Church.
Part 1 provides a theoretical explanation of the structure, genre, and literary characteristics of the Psalms, as well as the lectio divina reading method. Part 2 presents meditations on each passage of the entire 150 Psalms, accompanied by illustrations from medieval manuscripts.
Lectio divina was traditionally practiced in four stages: reading (lectio), meditation (meditatio), prayer (oratio), and contemplation (contemplatio).
In this book, the author basically applies this methodology.
First, in the reading (lectio), the author directly translates the text of the Psalms and begins by explaining text-critical issues.
The author, an Old Testament scholar, divided this stage into text examination (cogitatio) and text commentary (studium) to read and understand the text more systematically and specifically.
This section, which contains actual textual commentary, will be included in the upcoming Volume 2, and will be of great help to those seeking a more specialized psalm commentary.
Then, in the next step, meditation (meditatio), the spiritual meaning contained in each text and manuscript illustration is explained.
What is particularly striking about this book is that after reading and meditating on the text, the author attempted to meditate on the pictures (visio), a practice neglected in Protestant churches.
The author is referring to the Stuttgart Illuminated Manuscript of the Latin Psalter (Cod.
Bibl.
Fol.
23) By explaining the 308 illustrations in the book based on their connection to the text, it helps readers to vividly contemplate the text through colorful pictures.
As a final step, prayer and contemplation (oratio et contemplatio) are suggested, and these two steps are often done simultaneously.
Therefore, this book presents prayers to help readers pray and reach contemplation based on what they have realized from each psalm or passage of the psalm.
There are many ways to read the Psalms, but 『Psalms Lectio Divina 1』 provides a beneficial opportunity to experience God's presence and deeply reflect on oneself while meditating on the Psalm text through the sacred reading method called 'Lectio Divina.'
Protestants, especially those who feel somewhat distant from Christian art, will have a refreshing experience of reading the Psalms, the Word of God, in a different way through the visually embodied pictures in the manuscript illustrations introduced with the author's commentary.
Furthermore, preachers and Bible teachers engaged in field ministry can use the illustrations introduced in this book to promote not only sermons on the psalms but also various Bible meditations and devotional training for their congregations.
I sincerely hope that through this book, many readers will be able to read the Psalms more systematically, meditate on them vividly, and pray.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
preface
Part 1 - What kind of book is the Psalms, and how should we read them?
01 What kind of book is the Psalms?
1.
The structure and formation of the Psalms
2.
Ancient Texts of the Psalms
3.
Genres of Psalms
4.
Literary Features of the Psalms
5.
The title of the Psalm
6.
God of the Psalms, Man of the Psalms
02 How to read the Psalms?
1.
Lectio Divina
2.
Lectio Divina Method
3.
Visual Meditation (visio) and Lectio Divina
Part 2 _ Psalm Lectio Divina
01 Reading Psalm 1 (Psalms 1-41)
Blessed is that man! (Psalm 1)
You are my son (Psalm 2)
Salvation is in the Lord (Psalm 3)
Only Yahweh (Psalm 4)
In the Morning (Psalm 5)
Every night I lie down in bed (Psalm 6)
My shield is in God (Psalm 7)
What is man? (Psalm 8)
To Yahweh, the Judge (Psalms 9/10)
Yahweh is in his holy temple (Psalm 11)
Helpful Words for a Wicked Generation (Psalm 12)
Open my eyes! (Psalm 13)
Is there no God? (Psalm 14)
Qualification (Psalm 15)
Only the Lord (Psalm 16)
Lord, Hear Me (Psalm 17)
God, the Rock (Psalm 18)
Creation and the Word (Psalm 19)
The King Who Saves in Yahweh's Name (Psalm 20)
A King Who Trusts in Yahweh (Psalm 21)
My God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22)
The Goodness and Loving Kindness of Yahweh (Psalm 23)
The King of Glory Enters (Psalm 24)
I Look Up to the Lord (Psalm 25)
The Heavenly Court Case (Psalm 26)
Wait on Yahweh (Psalm 27)
In the Temple (Psalm 28)
The Voice of Yahweh (Psalm 29)
Dancing instead of weeping, joy instead of sackcloth (Psalm 30)
Because of your lovingkindness (Psalm 31)
The Wisdom of Gratitude (Psalm 32)
Praise to God (Psalm 33)
Yahweh Cares for the Righteous (Psalm 34)
Arise, O Lord, to help me (Psalm 35)
Looking at the Wicked (Psalm 36)
The salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh (Psalm 37)
There is no soundness in my body (Psalm 38)
People are vain (Psalm 39)
God, my salvation, do not hesitate (Psalm 40)
A Prayer on the Sickbed (Psalm 41)
02 Reading Psalm 2 (Psalms 42-72)
My soul, wait for God (Psalm 42/43)
Redeem us (Psalm 44)
The King's Wedding (Psalm 45)
God is with us (Psalm 46)
Praise the Lord God (Psalm 47)
God in Zion (Psalm 48)
To avoid being like animals (Psalm 49)
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving (Psalm 50)
Wash away my sins (Psalm 51)
I am like a green olive tree (Psalm 52)
Is There No God? (Psalm 53)
From the cruelty of strangers (Psalm 54)
In the face of adversaries (Psalm 55)
I trust in God (Psalm 56)
The Lord is above the heavens (Psalm 57)
The Disobedient Viper (Psalm 58)
God is our fortress (Psalm 59)
Man's salvation is in vain (Psalm 60)
A Prayer with the King (Psalm 61)
My soul is silent (Psalm 62)
In the sanctuary, on the bed (Psalm 63)
But God (Psalm 64)
God's Grace (Psalm 65)
Come and see! (Psalm 66)
Turn Your Face to Us (Psalm 67)
The Rule of God the King (Psalm 68)
In the Deep Mire (Psalm 69)
Please hurry and save us! (Psalm 70)
I will praise you all my life (Psalm 71)
Peace from Justice and Righteousness (Psalm 72)
03 Reading Psalm 3 (73-89)
But I! (Psalm 73)
Remember Me (Psalm 74)
Your Name is Near (Psalm 75)
The Lord of Judgment for Salvation (Psalm 76)
Remembering the Exodus (Psalm 77)
Learn from history! (Psalm 78)
We have become a laughingstock to our enemies (Psalm 79)
Turn us back! (Psalm 80)
The Word I Didn't Know (Psalm 81)
God's Judgment Against Injustice (Psalm 82)
Come, Lord, as in the days of the judges! (Psalm 83)
Happiness in the Temple (Psalm 84)
Your salvation to us! (Psalm 85)
There is no one like you (Psalm 86)
Zion, Beloved by Yahweh (Psalm 87)
I lift up my hands to you (Psalm 88)
Remembering the Davidic Covenant (Psalm 89)
04 Reading Psalm 4 (Psalms 90-106)
A Fleeting Confession of Life to God (Psalm 90)
Salvation Experienced Through Love (Psalm 91)
Praise for Yahweh's Exaltation of the Righteous (Psalm 92)
Yahweh is King! (Psalm 93)
Overcoming Community Suffering (Psalm 94)
Let us kneel before the Creator! (Psalm 95)
Sing to the Lord a new song! (Psalm 96)
Joy of Zion (Psalm 97)
Yahweh's Right Hand and Holy Arm (Psalm 98)
Yahweh, the King, is holy (Psalm 99)
With thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100)
When will you come to me? (Psalm 101)
A Day of Trouble, a Day of Crying (Psalm 102)
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 103)
Yahweh, the Transcendent Creator (Psalm 104)
Yahweh, who has been with us throughout history (Psalm 105)
Faith Reflection Through History (Psalm 106)
05 Reading Psalm 5 (107-150)
Thanksgiving and Praise (Psalm 107)
God, my heart is steadfast (Psalm 108)
God, Do Not Be Silent (Psalm 109)
Trust and Prayer to the King (Psalm 110)
Thanksgiving to Yahweh (Psalm 111)
The Blessings of the Fear of Yahweh (Psalm 112)
Yahweh, who looks down from on high (Psalm 113)
Dance before the God of Jacob (Psalm 114)
A Petition to Almighty Yahweh (Psalm 115)
Taking the Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116)
Praise the Lord (Psalm 117)
Give thanks to the Lord! (Psalm 118)
A Happy Life Through the Word (Psalm 119)
Looking into the Heart (Psalm 120)
An Unexpected and Precious Encounter (Psalm 121)
Where I Go, Memories and Expectations (Psalm 122)
Until You Bestow Grace on Us (Psalm 123)
Almost (Psalm 124)
In the Mountains (Psalm 125)
Dreaming of Recovery (Psalm 126)
Longing for Home (Psalm 127)
Happiness, Blessing, and Peace (Psalm 128)
Grass on the Roof (Psalm 129)
For with you is forgiveness (Psalm 130)
The Weaned Child (Psalm 131)
Finally in Zion (Psalm 132)
Living Together (Psalm 133)
Now Back to Life (Psalm 134)
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 135)
Give thanks to the Lord! (Psalm 136)
Unforgettable Jerusalem (Psalm 137)
Though you are on high, you look down on the lowly (Psalm 138)
Man's Thoughts, God's Thoughts (Psalm 139)
I will live before you (Psalm 140)
A Humbly Accepting Prayer for Wisdom (Psalm 141)
Four Visits Without a Family (Psalm 142)
Stretch out your hands to the Lord (Psalm 143)
Yahweh, the Victorious Warrior (Psalm 144)
Yahweh, who upholds and protects us (Psalm 145)
Yahweh God as Help and Hope (Psalm 146)
God Who Heals and Binds (Psalm 147)
Yahweh, the Creator who alone is exalted, who exalts the people (Psalm 148)
Yahweh, the Victorious King (Psalm 149)
Hallelujah! (Psalm 150)
References
Part 1 - What kind of book is the Psalms, and how should we read them?
01 What kind of book is the Psalms?
1.
The structure and formation of the Psalms
2.
Ancient Texts of the Psalms
3.
Genres of Psalms
4.
Literary Features of the Psalms
5.
The title of the Psalm
6.
God of the Psalms, Man of the Psalms
02 How to read the Psalms?
1.
Lectio Divina
2.
Lectio Divina Method
3.
Visual Meditation (visio) and Lectio Divina
Part 2 _ Psalm Lectio Divina
01 Reading Psalm 1 (Psalms 1-41)
Blessed is that man! (Psalm 1)
You are my son (Psalm 2)
Salvation is in the Lord (Psalm 3)
Only Yahweh (Psalm 4)
In the Morning (Psalm 5)
Every night I lie down in bed (Psalm 6)
My shield is in God (Psalm 7)
What is man? (Psalm 8)
To Yahweh, the Judge (Psalms 9/10)
Yahweh is in his holy temple (Psalm 11)
Helpful Words for a Wicked Generation (Psalm 12)
Open my eyes! (Psalm 13)
Is there no God? (Psalm 14)
Qualification (Psalm 15)
Only the Lord (Psalm 16)
Lord, Hear Me (Psalm 17)
God, the Rock (Psalm 18)
Creation and the Word (Psalm 19)
The King Who Saves in Yahweh's Name (Psalm 20)
A King Who Trusts in Yahweh (Psalm 21)
My God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22)
The Goodness and Loving Kindness of Yahweh (Psalm 23)
The King of Glory Enters (Psalm 24)
I Look Up to the Lord (Psalm 25)
The Heavenly Court Case (Psalm 26)
Wait on Yahweh (Psalm 27)
In the Temple (Psalm 28)
The Voice of Yahweh (Psalm 29)
Dancing instead of weeping, joy instead of sackcloth (Psalm 30)
Because of your lovingkindness (Psalm 31)
The Wisdom of Gratitude (Psalm 32)
Praise to God (Psalm 33)
Yahweh Cares for the Righteous (Psalm 34)
Arise, O Lord, to help me (Psalm 35)
Looking at the Wicked (Psalm 36)
The salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh (Psalm 37)
There is no soundness in my body (Psalm 38)
People are vain (Psalm 39)
God, my salvation, do not hesitate (Psalm 40)
A Prayer on the Sickbed (Psalm 41)
02 Reading Psalm 2 (Psalms 42-72)
My soul, wait for God (Psalm 42/43)
Redeem us (Psalm 44)
The King's Wedding (Psalm 45)
God is with us (Psalm 46)
Praise the Lord God (Psalm 47)
God in Zion (Psalm 48)
To avoid being like animals (Psalm 49)
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving (Psalm 50)
Wash away my sins (Psalm 51)
I am like a green olive tree (Psalm 52)
Is There No God? (Psalm 53)
From the cruelty of strangers (Psalm 54)
In the face of adversaries (Psalm 55)
I trust in God (Psalm 56)
The Lord is above the heavens (Psalm 57)
The Disobedient Viper (Psalm 58)
God is our fortress (Psalm 59)
Man's salvation is in vain (Psalm 60)
A Prayer with the King (Psalm 61)
My soul is silent (Psalm 62)
In the sanctuary, on the bed (Psalm 63)
But God (Psalm 64)
God's Grace (Psalm 65)
Come and see! (Psalm 66)
Turn Your Face to Us (Psalm 67)
The Rule of God the King (Psalm 68)
In the Deep Mire (Psalm 69)
Please hurry and save us! (Psalm 70)
I will praise you all my life (Psalm 71)
Peace from Justice and Righteousness (Psalm 72)
03 Reading Psalm 3 (73-89)
But I! (Psalm 73)
Remember Me (Psalm 74)
Your Name is Near (Psalm 75)
The Lord of Judgment for Salvation (Psalm 76)
Remembering the Exodus (Psalm 77)
Learn from history! (Psalm 78)
We have become a laughingstock to our enemies (Psalm 79)
Turn us back! (Psalm 80)
The Word I Didn't Know (Psalm 81)
God's Judgment Against Injustice (Psalm 82)
Come, Lord, as in the days of the judges! (Psalm 83)
Happiness in the Temple (Psalm 84)
Your salvation to us! (Psalm 85)
There is no one like you (Psalm 86)
Zion, Beloved by Yahweh (Psalm 87)
I lift up my hands to you (Psalm 88)
Remembering the Davidic Covenant (Psalm 89)
04 Reading Psalm 4 (Psalms 90-106)
A Fleeting Confession of Life to God (Psalm 90)
Salvation Experienced Through Love (Psalm 91)
Praise for Yahweh's Exaltation of the Righteous (Psalm 92)
Yahweh is King! (Psalm 93)
Overcoming Community Suffering (Psalm 94)
Let us kneel before the Creator! (Psalm 95)
Sing to the Lord a new song! (Psalm 96)
Joy of Zion (Psalm 97)
Yahweh's Right Hand and Holy Arm (Psalm 98)
Yahweh, the King, is holy (Psalm 99)
With thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100)
When will you come to me? (Psalm 101)
A Day of Trouble, a Day of Crying (Psalm 102)
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 103)
Yahweh, the Transcendent Creator (Psalm 104)
Yahweh, who has been with us throughout history (Psalm 105)
Faith Reflection Through History (Psalm 106)
05 Reading Psalm 5 (107-150)
Thanksgiving and Praise (Psalm 107)
God, my heart is steadfast (Psalm 108)
God, Do Not Be Silent (Psalm 109)
Trust and Prayer to the King (Psalm 110)
Thanksgiving to Yahweh (Psalm 111)
The Blessings of the Fear of Yahweh (Psalm 112)
Yahweh, who looks down from on high (Psalm 113)
Dance before the God of Jacob (Psalm 114)
A Petition to Almighty Yahweh (Psalm 115)
Taking the Cup of Salvation (Psalm 116)
Praise the Lord (Psalm 117)
Give thanks to the Lord! (Psalm 118)
A Happy Life Through the Word (Psalm 119)
Looking into the Heart (Psalm 120)
An Unexpected and Precious Encounter (Psalm 121)
Where I Go, Memories and Expectations (Psalm 122)
Until You Bestow Grace on Us (Psalm 123)
Almost (Psalm 124)
In the Mountains (Psalm 125)
Dreaming of Recovery (Psalm 126)
Longing for Home (Psalm 127)
Happiness, Blessing, and Peace (Psalm 128)
Grass on the Roof (Psalm 129)
For with you is forgiveness (Psalm 130)
The Weaned Child (Psalm 131)
Finally in Zion (Psalm 132)
Living Together (Psalm 133)
Now Back to Life (Psalm 134)
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 135)
Give thanks to the Lord! (Psalm 136)
Unforgettable Jerusalem (Psalm 137)
Though you are on high, you look down on the lowly (Psalm 138)
Man's Thoughts, God's Thoughts (Psalm 139)
I will live before you (Psalm 140)
A Humbly Accepting Prayer for Wisdom (Psalm 141)
Four Visits Without a Family (Psalm 142)
Stretch out your hands to the Lord (Psalm 143)
Yahweh, the Victorious Warrior (Psalm 144)
Yahweh, who upholds and protects us (Psalm 145)
Yahweh God as Help and Hope (Psalm 146)
God Who Heals and Binds (Psalm 147)
Yahweh, the Creator who alone is exalted, who exalts the people (Psalm 148)
Yahweh, the Victorious King (Psalm 149)
Hallelujah! (Psalm 150)
References
Into the book
If you cannot see your true self before God, you will never be able to experience God's infinity.
It's like a bucket full of dirty water can no longer hold fresh water.
To fill a bucket with fresh water, you must empty the dirty water and wash the bucket clean.
The prayers of the Psalms are brought out and confronted one by one, “before God” (Coram Deo), aspects of themselves that they could not reveal to anyone and that they did not even realize existed within themselves.
In doing so, you gradually empty and cleanse your inner self.
This can be called nothing other than reflection, and in that sense, the human being in the Psalms is a finite human being who reflects and must reflect.
--- From “Part 1, Chapter 1, What Kind of Book Are the Psalms?”
First, icons and Christian art can broaden our understanding of the biblical text.
When an artist expresses the text of the Bible in a painting, he must “concretize” the text, which has changes in time and movement in space, in some form on a two-dimensional plane.
Those who read the Bible can understand the world of the text more broadly through the artist's "embodiment."
Second, icons and Christian art can help us read between the lines of the Bible.
There are instances where the artist's "embodiment" of the biblical text through his paintings actually allows for reading between the lines of the text.
Such pictures can help Bible readers engrave the text and its meaning in the gaps between the lines.
--- From “Part 1, Chapter 2, How to Read the Psalms”
Modern society is often defined as a fatigue society.
This refers to the phenomenon in which members of society become immersed in performance-based systems and voluntarily exploit themselves, ultimately leading to exhaustion and a sense of helplessness.
Amidst this voluntary exploitation, there is constant anxiety.
It is the anxiety that if you stop, you will fall behind someone, or that someone will step on you and rise to a higher position.
Looking at the text, I am reminded of a powerful enemy's arrows aimed from the dark.
In such a situation, the person praying asks what can a righteous person do?
And he declares that he takes refuge in God.
Such an attitude can be ridiculed as a helpless escape from the visible and finite world of values.
But this attitude ultimately shows the amazing trust of the prayerful person who has realized his finiteness.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 1, Yahweh is in His Temple (Psalm 11)”
'Mishpat' and 'Tsdaka' are always communal, not individual.
Having more power or wealth does not mean you should enjoy more rights than others.
And just because you are poor and weak, you should not be deprived of the rights you deserve.
The reality that everyone is treated fairly before God, that is 'Mishpat'.
And whatever we do, it must go through legal procedures and content that all communities can accept.
Moreover, we must not withdraw empathy for the plight of marginalized people in the name of pursuing legitimacy.
That is the real 'Tsudaka'.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 2, Peace from Fairness and Justice (Psalm 72)”
Looking back at the spiritual history of Israel, we see that after the exile, God's people came to new insights into God's rule and the Davidic covenant through this question.
This insight was a departure from the superficial and limited perception that the visible kingdom was all there was to the Davidic covenant, and a shift to the essential identity of the covenant, that is, the relationship with God, and the messianic expectation.
So, it was a realization that God's covenant with Israel as a religious community would continue through the Messiah, even though he was not a visible monarchy.
Did this post-exilic realization of the Davidic Covenant alter God's covenant? Or was it only then that they realized God's infinite plan? The answer is clear.
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
However, as history progresses, God allows His people to realize this in various ways.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 3, Remembering the Davidic Covenant (Psalm 89)”
Are such superstitions truly absent today? While in ancient societies, uncontrollable natural phenomena were deified and idolized, today, overconfidence in science, technology, and knowledge is being deified and idolized, overtaking God's place.
Humans are building another Tower of Babel, but with a different target.
Seeing the belief that science can be used to interpret and control God's providence, the author of this text might be tempted to write another Psalm 104.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 4, Yahweh, the Transcendent Creator (Psalm 104)”
Passover is a holiday that commemorates the decisive event in which Yahweh God saved the Israelites from slavery.
This is a crucial moment for both Jews and Christians to reflect on God's goodness and mercy.
Although the reality is that we are like the stone that the builders rejected, God's goodness and mercy give us renewed faith that He will turn such a situation into the cornerstone of the house.
Moreover, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ expanded God's goodness and mercy to all mankind.
Beginning as a thanksgiving offering, continuing through the Jewish Passover tradition and expanding upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this psalm still shines a light of hope for us today.
It's like a bucket full of dirty water can no longer hold fresh water.
To fill a bucket with fresh water, you must empty the dirty water and wash the bucket clean.
The prayers of the Psalms are brought out and confronted one by one, “before God” (Coram Deo), aspects of themselves that they could not reveal to anyone and that they did not even realize existed within themselves.
In doing so, you gradually empty and cleanse your inner self.
This can be called nothing other than reflection, and in that sense, the human being in the Psalms is a finite human being who reflects and must reflect.
--- From “Part 1, Chapter 1, What Kind of Book Are the Psalms?”
First, icons and Christian art can broaden our understanding of the biblical text.
When an artist expresses the text of the Bible in a painting, he must “concretize” the text, which has changes in time and movement in space, in some form on a two-dimensional plane.
Those who read the Bible can understand the world of the text more broadly through the artist's "embodiment."
Second, icons and Christian art can help us read between the lines of the Bible.
There are instances where the artist's "embodiment" of the biblical text through his paintings actually allows for reading between the lines of the text.
Such pictures can help Bible readers engrave the text and its meaning in the gaps between the lines.
--- From “Part 1, Chapter 2, How to Read the Psalms”
Modern society is often defined as a fatigue society.
This refers to the phenomenon in which members of society become immersed in performance-based systems and voluntarily exploit themselves, ultimately leading to exhaustion and a sense of helplessness.
Amidst this voluntary exploitation, there is constant anxiety.
It is the anxiety that if you stop, you will fall behind someone, or that someone will step on you and rise to a higher position.
Looking at the text, I am reminded of a powerful enemy's arrows aimed from the dark.
In such a situation, the person praying asks what can a righteous person do?
And he declares that he takes refuge in God.
Such an attitude can be ridiculed as a helpless escape from the visible and finite world of values.
But this attitude ultimately shows the amazing trust of the prayerful person who has realized his finiteness.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 1, Yahweh is in His Temple (Psalm 11)”
'Mishpat' and 'Tsdaka' are always communal, not individual.
Having more power or wealth does not mean you should enjoy more rights than others.
And just because you are poor and weak, you should not be deprived of the rights you deserve.
The reality that everyone is treated fairly before God, that is 'Mishpat'.
And whatever we do, it must go through legal procedures and content that all communities can accept.
Moreover, we must not withdraw empathy for the plight of marginalized people in the name of pursuing legitimacy.
That is the real 'Tsudaka'.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 2, Peace from Fairness and Justice (Psalm 72)”
Looking back at the spiritual history of Israel, we see that after the exile, God's people came to new insights into God's rule and the Davidic covenant through this question.
This insight was a departure from the superficial and limited perception that the visible kingdom was all there was to the Davidic covenant, and a shift to the essential identity of the covenant, that is, the relationship with God, and the messianic expectation.
So, it was a realization that God's covenant with Israel as a religious community would continue through the Messiah, even though he was not a visible monarchy.
Did this post-exilic realization of the Davidic Covenant alter God's covenant? Or was it only then that they realized God's infinite plan? The answer is clear.
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
However, as history progresses, God allows His people to realize this in various ways.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 3, Remembering the Davidic Covenant (Psalm 89)”
Are such superstitions truly absent today? While in ancient societies, uncontrollable natural phenomena were deified and idolized, today, overconfidence in science, technology, and knowledge is being deified and idolized, overtaking God's place.
Humans are building another Tower of Babel, but with a different target.
Seeing the belief that science can be used to interpret and control God's providence, the author of this text might be tempted to write another Psalm 104.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 4, Yahweh, the Transcendent Creator (Psalm 104)”
Passover is a holiday that commemorates the decisive event in which Yahweh God saved the Israelites from slavery.
This is a crucial moment for both Jews and Christians to reflect on God's goodness and mercy.
Although the reality is that we are like the stone that the builders rejected, God's goodness and mercy give us renewed faith that He will turn such a situation into the cornerstone of the house.
Moreover, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ expanded God's goodness and mercy to all mankind.
Beginning as a thanksgiving offering, continuing through the Jewish Passover tradition and expanding upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this psalm still shines a light of hope for us today.
--- From “Part 2, Chapter 5, Give Thanks to Yahweh! (Psalm 118)”
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Publication date: February 24, 2021
- Format: Hardcover book binding method guide
- Page count, weight, size: 982 pages | 1,864g | 152*225*40mm
- ISBN13: 9791161291925
- ISBN10: 116129192X
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