LITURGICAL PSALMS

Many of the psalms are obviously private expressions of the Psalmist addressed to God. But even these can be appropriated by us to use in our praises and prayers. However, other psalms appear to be better suited for a group setting. There are several hints that point in this direction:

1. words addressed to someone other than God

2. questions asked and then apparently answered immediately by the Psalmist himself

3. sentences that alternate between use of the first, second and third person

We will look briefly at two such psalms below, attempting to reconstruct the original setting as part of a ceremony to be conducted on special occasions. These can be easily acted out in a classroom by assigning parts to different individual or groups to recite.

Psalm 24

Verses 1-2: Everyone

The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.

Verse 3: The People (ask a question at entrance of the temple)

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD; and who shall stand in his holy place?

Verse 4: The Priests (answer the question)

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lit up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully

Verses 5-6: The Priests (pronounce a blessing)

He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Verse 7: The People (ask that the doors be opened to admit the Ark of the Covenant)

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in.

Verse 8a: The Priests (challenge the people from within the temple)

Who is the King of glory?

Verse 8b: The People (answer enthusiastically)

The LORD, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle!

Verse 9: Everyone (The plea is renewed and echoed by the priests)

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in.

Verse 10a: The Priests (repeat the question)

Who is this King of glory?

Verse 10b: The People (answer loudly, at which point the gates swing open)

The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Psalm 135: For use at one of the great feasts. It starts out (vv. 1-7) praising God's control over nature and then moves on (vv. 8-12) to describe His control over the events of history.

Verse 1: The High Priest (exhorts everyone to praise God)

Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord.

Verse 2a: All the People (exhorting the Levites and priests)

Give praise, O servants of the Lord, you that stand in the house of the Lord.

Verse 2b: The Priests (echo these words back to the worshipers)

In the courts of the house of our God!

Verses 3-4: All the People (give their reasons for praising the LORD)

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for he is gracious! For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.

Verse 5: The High Priest:  For I know that the LORD is great, and that our LORD is above all gods.

Verse 6: Group 1 (concluding the first theme: God's mastery over nature)

Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

Verse 7: Group 2:  He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Verse 8: Group 1 (introduces the second major theme, God as the Lord over history)

He it was who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast.

Verse 9: Group 2:  Who in thy midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants.

Verses 10-11: Group 1 (moves on to talk about invasions and conquests of the people of Israel)

Who smote many nations and slew mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Gog, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

Verse 12: Group 2:  and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.

Verses 13-14: High Priest (extols the name of the LORD, perhaps including the meaning of Yahweh)

Thy name, O LORD, endures forever, thy renown, O LORD, throughout all ages. For the LORD will vindicate his people, and have compassion on his servants.

Verses 15-18: All the People (introducing the third theme, God's superiority over all idols)

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not, they have eyes, but they seen not, they have ears, but they hear not, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Like them be those who make them – yea, everyone who trusts in them!

Verse 19a: High Priest (begins an antiphonal chant):  O house of Israel, bless the LORD!

Verse 19b: Group 1:  O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!

Verse 20a: High Priest:  O house of Levi, bless the LORD!

Verse 20b: Group 2:  You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD

Verse 21: Everyone:  Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!