Day 18

I was only a few Psalms in when I realized: This is a book that is meant to be read/sung devotionally. For the purposes of my experiment, I’ll keep reading it. Perhaps later on I can turn it into a nightly read…a psalm a day! I say this because there is a lot to digest here. I’ve left behind the Torah and now the Historical books. Job was a first foray into the Poetical books and Psalms continues that. These books are there for philosophical, ethical, and spiritual guidance. It’s one thing to read a Psalm and wrestle with the anguish — it’s another entirely to revisit it when I am experiencing anguish. Again, writings that are so very human.

The book of Psalms is divided into five sub-books. Today I read the first three books. I’m left with a striking memory of the not-yet-King David playing the harp for King Saul. It was one of the few things that soothed the mad king, though he sometimes still threw his spear at David. But beyond Saul’s madness, there’s a realization that these songs are telling an important story. There are Psalms that recall the entire history of Israel up to that point (Psalm 78) and others that speak to the wonders of the natural world (Psalm 8). And others, still, that wrestle with mortality and the human condition Psalm 88).

I imagine the remaining Psalms will be just a beautiful, heart-wrenching, and difficult to toil with. I also have this sense that I am dusting off an old hymnal or “listening” to an ancient playlist. Except there’s no music, just words. Anyway, looking forward to tomorrow.

This post is part of a lager series where I read the entirety of Hebrew & Christian scriptures in 45 days. Take a look a the original post for more info, as well as links to other reflections on this journey.