Psalms and the Song of Solomon
Overview
Psalms is essentially a book of prayers and praises; most of the psalms are addressed to God, but here we also find proclamations of the works of the Lord, descriptions of man’s plight, curses invoked on enemies, songs in praise of the King or of the city of Jerusalem, and exhortations to the good life. The Psalms date back as early as the time of the great King David, but they are so evocative of the human condition that they articulate the feelings and desires of people in every age. Also included here is the Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs; a blending of love songs, it also celebrates the mutual love between God and the human individual, and between God and His people.
Top Highlights
“St Anselm, for his part, makes this appeal: ‘Enter into the innermost chamber of your soul; exclude everything but God and whatever may help you to search for him, and, when all the doors have been closed, seek out his path. Then may my soul say to God: I seek your face, Lord, I long to see your face. And then, Lord, my God, teach my heart where and how to look for you, where and how to find you. […] Show me how to look for you and reveal yourself to the one who seeks you, for I cannot go in search of you if you do not show the way, and I cannot find you if you do not reveal yourself to me. I will search for you with great desire, and the search will increase my desire; through love I will find you, and in finding you I will love you’ (Proslogion, 1, 97–100).” (Pages 109–110)
“St Teresa of Avila expressed this psalm’s idea very beautifully when she wrote: ‘He who has God wants for nothing. God alone is enough’ (Poems, 30).” (Page 75)
“The text itself seems to refer to the leaders of Israel (kings or judges) who abuse their power” (Page 284)
“‘The soul that truly loves God cannot desire to be satisfied and content until it has full possession of him. All the things which are not God not only fail to satisfy the soul, they increase its desire to see him as he is’ (St John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, 6, 3).” (Page 218)
“Like the Jews of his time, Jesus could call the leaders of the people, those to whom the word of God was given, ‘gods’ because God had given them the special talent and wisdom to guide the people.” (Page 284)