Lesson 8 Wisdom of Israel and Psalms

1. Every people have their own wisdom codified as their code of conduct. Classical Hinduism respected the code of Manu as the law for Indians and the independent India the Constitution. There are no people, no nation that does not respect some laws that are expressed in written form or engraved in their very nature. A lawless people or a nation would be only an anomaly. 2. The authorship of the Wisdom Books of Israel is attributed to Solomon the wisest of all people of the east (1 Kings 3:10-13). They provide the solutions to the human problems, the ways in which religious duties as the Jews understood them had to be practiced, or insights into the ways things are or should be. True wisdom for Israel was a gift of God. For them fear of God, understood as devotion to God, is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7). 3. Wisdom Books provide instructions regarding the practical meaning of life. No wisdom can stand against the dictates of God (Prov 21:20). Wisdom, beginning, found and rooted in God safeguard the religious quality of it, thus making wisdom a religious experience. In wisdom Israel found God (Karl Rahner). Israels wisdom tries to handle the problem of evil in the book of Job. It is not a direct answer to the problem of evil but an invitation to think deeply about the problem of evil. 4. Psalms is a treasury of divine praises, worship and adoration used in Israel they are Israels song book. They are distillations of OT prayer and worship. There are various categories of Psalms: i. Hymns of praise for the wonderful works of God in favour of his people or Gods power manifested in creation. ii. Invocations presenting a need or a plea for a divine assistance.

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Jnana Drishti / Lesson 08 / Page 20

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Thanksgiving that is grateful response to specific favours received like deliverance from enemies.

iv. v.

Psalms composed for events in the life of the King like marriage. Celebration of the choice of the Mount of Zion as the earthly centre of Gods presence used in pilgrimage towards Jerusalem as the city of God and at the entrance to the temple like Psalm 15. 5. Psalms in the life of a Christian: Psalms is the book most widely

used by the Christians in the liturgical celebrations and in private meditation. Considering the importance of Psalms in a Christians life, many editions of NT print Psalms along with it. Prayer is communion with God; it needs no books no words while it is an inner attitude of belonging to God. Still adoring, contemplating, listening needs orientation for translating ones thoughts to prayer, which the themes of praise thanksgiving etc. provides. As they were originally used in the public worship of Israel and for individual prayer they can be fittingly used in Christian worship.

Vishal Malankara Voice / MCC ETRI

Jnana Drishti / Lesson 08 / Page 21