King David s Psalms and our Prayers Psalms are rich and vivid lines of praise to God.

David wrote psalms as a young man and prayed them often. When he became King, he promoted the writing of the Book of Psalms and the other books of the Old Testament. The Psalms became a central part of Jewish prayer life, especially as part of temple worship. We all pray, to express our heartfelt praise to God our Creator, Savior, and Destiny. We pray to ask for His forgiveness, thank Him for His blessings, tell Him of our joys and frustrations, and present to Him our petitions and supplications. The Psalms are inspired prayers in the Bible that can help us experience God and talk to Him. As prayers, the Psalms Psalms - rich and vivid lines of praise to God - written by David as a young man, and was prayed by him often - became a central part of Jewish prayer life, especially as part of temple worship - inspired prayers in the Bible that can help us experience God and talk to Him. These prayers often address God as a friend and as an intimate confidant with whom we can be perfectly honest - teach us that God deserves an honest prayer one that comes from the heart - express not only our anguish, sorrow, and frustration over the many things we experience in life, but also our great joy and thanksgiving for God s blessings and favors Psalms: Rich and Varied Ways of Praying Psalms are classified in different ways. Three common types: praise, lament, and thanksgiving. 1. A psalm of praise expresses praise and thanksgiving for the saving acts of God and a plea for His continual care - examples: Psalm 19, Psalm 103 - God s Glory in the Heavens and in the Law (Ps 19) - Praise of Divine Goodness (Ps 103) 2. A psalm of lament communicates bitter and sorrowful feelings. It describes a problem and asks for God s help. To express the person s or community s gratitude for God s deliverance, the author of the psalm promises to praise and serve God. - examples: Psalm 13 and Psalm 77 - Prayer in Time of Distress (Ps 13) - Confidence in God during National Distress (Ps 77) 3. A psalm of thanksgiving expresses our gratitude to God for His goodness and Generosity. - examples: Psalm 92 and Psalm 118 - A Hymn of Thanksgiving for God s Fidelity (Ps 92) - Hymn of Thanksgiving (Ps 118) The Psalms remind us to turn our hearts to God at all times to prepare ourselves for the major turning points of our lives. The Psalms can truly help us become closer to God.

Introduction In the Bible, wisdom means knowing God, living according to His will, and "living truthfully". Thus the opposite of wisdom is foolishness, which refers to a life lived untruthfully. Essentially, to be wise and virtuous is to have a loving relationship with God and with one's neighbor. Virtue and wisdom led the Israelites to observe their faith truthfully. Solomon: The Wise but Extravagant King Solomon was considered a wise king because he could clearly distinguish right from wrong. His life teaches us that true wisdom is grounded on a proper relationship with God. Solomon Proclaimed King (1 Kgs 1:1-48) Solomon was the second son of David and Bathsheba. He was an educated man who had been prepared by his father to be the next king. Solomon rode David's mule to symbolize the rite of passage. Solomon proceeded to Gihon where he was anointed by the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan. This symbolized that Solomon was not just David's choice, but also God's. The Splendor and Glory of Solomon's Reign David's parting words to Solomon were "Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses" (1 Kgs 2:2-3) David reminded Solomon that he would only be successful by abiding by these instructions, and by keeping God's law. 1. Solomon requests for the gift of wisdom. (1 Kgs 3:4-15) When God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him anything, Solomon asked for wisdom. (1 Kgs 3:9) God was pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth or power. It was a sign that he knew the makings of a good leader, so, God rewarded him with wisdom along with riches and power. Solomon's request for wisdom marked the start of his reign. 2. Solomon uses his gift of wisdom. Solomon became famous for his ability to pass wise judgement. Even rulers from distant lands came to him for wisdom. One time, Solomon settled a dispute between two mothers who were each claiming a baby to be hers. (1 Kgs 3:16-28) Solomon ordered the baby to be cut in half and to be shared, when one of the women offered to give up the baby. Then, Solomon knew she was the true mother. Like David, Solomon wrote wise sayings and composed songs; parts 2 and 5 of the book of Proverbs are ascribed to him. He encouraged the writing of the Wisdom books, which deal with philosophy and the proper wat of relating to God and living an upright life. 3. Solomon builds the Great Temple of Jerusalem (1 Kgs 6) The Temple of Jerusalem became the centerpiece of Solomon's reign. It was known as one of the wonders of the ancient world. Solomon had the temple built because he wanted to give God only the best house possible. But God reminded him that it was not the splended temple but Solomon's obedience to His will that pleased him. 4. Solomon brings Israel to its golden age.

During the reign of David and Solomon, Israel experienced an era of great peace, prosperity, and religiosity. Solomon made Israel a world power. With peace and international respect finally attained during David's rule, Solomon's kingdom was able to amass wealth far beyond David's dreams. Solomon was hailed as one of the greatest kings the world had ever seen. (1 Kgs 10:23-24) Solomon's Sins and Eventual Downfall Solomon's greatness, however, did not last. Like David, he too succumbed to sin and temptation, and made critical mistakes during his reign. He slowly forgot David's instructions to keep God's laws. From being wise and simple, he became extravagant, idolatrous, and proud. Solomon's Foreign Wives and Idolatry. Solomon kept many foreign wives to further his international power. In time, he joined his wives in worshipping other their false gods. This led to even his own people practicing idolatry, which marked the onset of disunity and division in Solomon's kingdom. Solomon's Extravagance In the latter part of his reign, Solomon used exploitative methods such as forced labor and heavy taxation to accomplish his goals. He was only interested in the northern countryside for the materials it provided for his temple, and because of this, the resources of the once over-flowing national treasury were slowly depleted. "He shall not have a great number of horses; nor shall he makes his people go back again to Egypt to acquire them.. Neither shall he have a great number of wives.. nor shall he accumulate a vast amount of silver and gold" (Dt 17:16-17) Horses and chariots were paraded by kings to show their military strength, but for the Israelites, they were reminders of the Egyptian army that had oppressed their ancestors, so it was offensive to them that Solomon had so many horses and chariots. Solomon's Neglect of the People Solomon desired gold so much that he gave up 20 cities of Galilee to foreign kings to acquire more gold. While he grew richer, the Israelites, particularly the northern tribes, grew poorer. He also forced his people to build monuments, thus creating forms of social injustice. Solomon's Punishment From God Solomon had almost everything at his disposal: wisdom, talent, wealth, and power. But slowly, he became materialistic and militaristic. He drifted away from God's covenant, thus, becoming less and less responsive to God and his people in the latter part of his reign. "I will deprive you of the kingdom and give it to your servant. I will not do this during your lifetime.. I will leave your son one tribe for the sake of my servant David and of Jerusalem, which I've chosen" (1 Kgs 11:11-13)

God raised many adversaries against Solomon. One was Jeroboam, who rebelled against Solomon, and united ten tribes under his leadership. The Bible describes this development as God taking away 10 tribes from Solomon and leaving only the tribe of Judah for him and his son to rule (1 Kgs 11:21-32) When Solomondied, he left Israel on the brink of division and civil war. "I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind." -Eccl 1:14 Solomon and the Wisdom Books Despite his tragic ending, Solomon left a great legacy-- the Wisdom Books. We learn from Solomon's wisdom through these books, which contains his proverbs and teachings on the meaning of life, the value of material things, and the need to follow God's commandments.

Psalms Job Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth Proverbs Song of Songs Wisdom

Inspired prayer/songs about personal and community concerns A dramatic poem on the meaning of suffering A set of reflections on the apparent meaninglessness of existence A collection of wise sayings about everyday living A poem about love/relationships Praises wisdom and its effects; uses Solomon as spokesperson Contains numerous maxims on topics such as the individual, the family, and community relationships with one another and with God

Sirach/Ecclesiasticus The Book of Proverbs

A proverb is a short saying about some aspects of life. Solomon is believed to be the author of the Book of Proverbs not because he wrote the entire book but because he was considered the epitome of Israel's wisdom. Guidance for raising children is one of the major themes of the Book of Proverbs. Examples: "A wise son loves correction, but the senseless one heeds no rebuke" (Prv 13:1) "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him takes care to chastise him" (Prv 13:24) The Book of Sirach/Ecclesiasticus Jesus Ben Sirach is the author of the Book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, which means "church book." Ben Sirach was a wise man who lived in Jerusalem. He had a great love for the law and the temple, who wrote this book to help the Israelites maintain their religious faith through a study of their traditions and their holy books. The Book of Sirach/Ecclesiasticus is deeply religious and devotes 7 chapters to Israel's history and heroes. Example: "A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant" (Sir 6:5-6) * Both the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Sirach contain short practical advices for everyday living. SOURCE: Called to Discover our Christian Faith

The Prophets: Calling Us to Conversion

After Solomon, came the Prophets, who were sent by God to bring the Israelites back to him. Faithfulness to the covenant, the sign of friendship between God and Israel, was the focus of the message of the prophets Among the prophets were Elijah, Amos, and Hosea.

A Divided Kingdom
After Solomon died, Israel fell apart. The northern tribes, majority of the people, resented the inhumane economic and political policies of Solomon, especially the higher taxes and forced labor. Rehoboam, Solomon s son and successor, refused to lighten the burden of the northerners, so Jeroboam led them to a revolt against the house of David. The revolt split the nation in 2 kingdoms: The northern kingdom was called Israel/Ephraim, and the southern kingdom was called Judah, and it s capital was Jerusalem. They sometimes fought but were at peace most of the time due to their faith in God. The northern kingdom, Israel however, was more unfaithful. The kingdom s beginnings were marked by setting up images of Baals (gods of fertility) at places of worship. The kingdom of Judah was also prone to idolatry, despite having the Temple of Jerusalem. Idolatry was the worst sin of the Israelites, and it was this that forced judgment of them. Since kings no longer represented Yahweh to the people, God sent the prophets as His messengers to both kingdoms.

Early Old Testament Prophets

Along with kings, prophets were also considered leaders of Israel. During the division after Solomon s reign, the people turned more to the prophets rather than the kings for God s message. Prophets were not always well-liked, but the people knew that they spoke the Lord s message for them. The prophets proclaimed their message using imagery and symbolism. Some delivered their prophecies in the form of beautiful poetry. (Am 8:1-2) Some delivered their prophecies by acting out their message. (Ez 12:3, 5-6)s The prophets called the people to personal conversion and national reform, but their message usually fell on deaf ears. They were even beaten, insulted, stoned, or imprisoned for confronting the Israelites with God s sharp criticism and unpopular message. Despite countless hardships, the prophets continued to preach God s word, and ended up prophesying to a remnant of the people who continued to sincerely believe in God. In the end, the prophets advanced God s plan of salvation by preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. THE PROPHETS WERE NOT FORTUNE TELLERS. They spoke only the truth about the conditions existing in Israel at that time. They were guided by God to show the Israelites the error of their ways. Also, the prophets were accepted by the people only when their predictions came true, only then were they considered authentic and qualified to interpret the problems of their time from God s point of view.

Elijah: Call to Faith in the True God (ELIJAH = YAHWEH IS MY GOD)

Elijah was called by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel during a period of idolatry. The kings of the northern kingdom didn t want their people to go to the South, for fear that the northern tribes might develop a desire to reunite with their southern brothers. Elijah made enemies of the king

and his wife. He was called, TROUBLER OF ISRAEL . Aside from his outright attack on Baal, Elijah also denounced the king s injustice to the poor.

The True God of Israel

Elijah was first asked by God to prophesy a long drought to the northern kingdom for their people already forgot their covenant with Yahweh. Then in the 3rd year of the drought, God again summoned Elijah to present himself to the king and announce God s promise of rain. 1. The contest at Mount Carmel (1 Kgs 18) Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to prove who the real provider of Israel was. He went up against 450 prophets of Baal. They built altars of sacrifice and agreed that only the one who was truly God could produce fire from heaven to burn up the offering. Many saw the fire of Yahweh consume the holocaust. Rain followed, bringing the drought to an end. The Israelites realized that everything they had been receiving came from Yahweh. The contest at Mount Carmel did much to restore the faith of many in the one true God, Yahweh. This enraged Jezebel, the king s wife, thus Elijah fled to Horeb to escape her wrath. 2. A quiet God (1 Kgs 19) Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Horeb. He waited for God in the strong wind, but the Lord wasn t there. An earthquake followed, but the Lord still wasn t there. Then came a great fire, but still, the Lord wasn t there. After the fire, there was a tiny whispering fire. Only then did Elijah hear God s voice. Elijah encountered God in silence. This teaches us that God s presence can be felt not necessarily in great events of history but in the small and seemingly insignificant affairs of life. Be still and confess that I am God (Ps 46:11) 3. Seizure of Naboth s vineyard ( 1 Kgs 21) This story concerns a case of social injustice (land grabbing) by King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, to Naboth, a simple farmer. The vineyard of Naboth was situated near the king s property, and so, he strongly desired the land, but Naboth refused to sell what was an inheritance from his ancestors. Jezebel made up a false accusation against Naboth, who was charged guilty, and stoned to death. Thus, the King got the vineyard. Elijah came to the scene and pronounced judgement. This and the contest at Mount Carmel show that idolatry and social injustices were two of the things that the prophets fought against. Elijah restored worship to the one true God in an era of idolatry and condemned acts of social injustice to the poor. The prophet experienced God as a quiet God, a God who is present in ordinary events.

Amos: Teaching Us to Act Justly

Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah who lived during the reign of Jeroboam II. Israel was beginning to prosper again at this time, but economic wealth brought great injustices to many people.

During Amos time, most of the Israelties seemed to be more concerned with accumulating wealth rather than doing what was right. Corruption was common everywhere.

1. Amos exposes Israel s sins (Am 3-6) The bible describes Amos a fiery prophet who pointed out the sins of the Israelites in the roaring voice of God (Am 1:1-2). His speeches in the first chapters of his book (Am 1-2) criticized the evildoings of Israel s enemies. These captured the attention of many Israelites who finally found a prophet who made sense to them, but just as they were beginning to believe his sermons, Amos turned on them and spoke even more harshly about their sins. 2. Amos condemns Israel s sins of injustice Amos angrily scolded dishonest businessmen and traders for using wrong weights and measures (Am 8:5-6). He also accused moneylenders for charging very high interest on loans. In the town of Bashan, Amos called the rich women cows as the fattened themselves at the expense of the weak and he hungry people around them (Am 4:1-3). Amos also accused the Jews of doing false worship and of using their ill-forgotten riches to offer empty sacrifices to God. (Am 2:8, 4:4-5) AMOS REMINDED THEM THAT BEING JUST IS PART OF HAVING AN AUTHENTIC FAITH IN GOD. Amos spoke of God s concern for His people, especially the poor and the oppressed. 3. Amos warns of God s judgment Amos predicted that unless the Israelites stop their acts of social injustice and their practice of idolatry, their nation would fall and be destroyed. Amos described to them how, in a vision, he saw the Assyrians invade and destroy the Israelites beautiful land (Am 7-9) because the Israelites were not united under God. But in spite of Amos repeated warnings, the Israelites still continued to sin. Amos reminds us that our faith must be shown through acts of justice. If our prayer and worship do not make us just, then our prayer and worship are simply rituals.

Hosea
Hosea was a native of Israel who preached after the time of Amos. Hosea spoke to the Israelites the way Amos did and passionately criticized Israel's sinful ways, however, his tone was softer and his message was full of love and sympathy. The unique thing about Hosea was that he lived out his message before he preached it. His strange and painful marriage taught him much about God's love for the Israelites. God called Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer. (Hos 1:2) Although Hosea loved Gomer, she was repeatedly unfaithful; she would always be with other men despite Hosea's love and respect for her. Hosea tried everything to win his wife back, but Gomer was too set in her old ways and refused to go back to him. Gomer's infidelity was so bad that God told Hosea to name his children Lo-Rouhama and

Lo-Ammi, which meant "not loved" and "not my people", respectively. The names not only expressed Hosea's frustration with Gomer, but also God's disappointment with Israel. 1. Hosea presents insights into God's love God told Hosea to love a woman "as the Lord loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods" (Hos 3:1) Gomer symbolized Israel whom God faithfully loved and called to repentance again and again. Hosea's message applies even to us today: God will always love His Chosen People-- Israel then and we today-- and will never leave them. Hosea paints a picture of God not only as a loving husband, but also as a loving father of a rebllious child. Hosea 11 is considered one of the most moving literary pieces in the OT. Example: Hos 11:1-4. 2. Hosea challenges us today Hosea challenges us to look at our own ungratefulness. His broken marriage is an image of our relationship with God. His story forces us to reflect if we are like Gomer. Hosea's life shows us that God keeps on loving us no matter how stubborn or sinful we are. Hosea also shows us what it means to be faithful. His devotion to Gomer brought him closer to God because it helped him realize that faith is an everyday decision to love the people around us.

The Prophets: Calling Us to Renewal

Despite the efforts of Elijah, Amos, and Hosea, many Israelites refused to convert and return to their covenant with Yahweh. God then sent the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel to once again call the people to true repentance. Jeremiah and Ezekiel were given the task to prepare the Israelites for the Fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile. God restored His people by ending their exile and bringing them back to Jerusalem. God sent Jonah, to guide them. Through Jonah, God reminded Israel that its mission was to serve as a "light to the nations" and not to "outcast" those outside the Jewish community.

Jeremiah: Be Confident In The Lord

The kings after Solomon were weak and evil except for King Josiah, who instituted reforms to purify Israel's worship (2 Kgs 22-23), though widespread idolatry continued. It was during Josiah's time that Jeremiah was called to be a prophet. Jeremiah was a young man from the priestly family of Anathoth. He prophesied until the reign of King Zedekiah, Israel's last king. God's Call to Jeremiah

Jeremiah was shy and timid; he was not very confident that he could carry God's tasks. Because of this, he needed strong support and reassurance from God. (Jer 1:5-7) This was why God called Jeremiah in an intimate way. God Himself touched Jeremiah on the mouth while saying, "See, I place my words in your mouth" (Jer 1:9) He knew that Jeremiah needed constant assurance so he could prepare the Israelites for the difficult times ahead. Jeremiah's Message from God for Us The Israelites, complacent with their faith, believed that God would help them even though they made no serious efforts to follow the covenant laws, due to God's promise that David's Kingdom would never end. 1. Jeremiah speaks of true faith in God The Israelites were confident that no foreign people, not even the mighty Babylonians, could ever capture their city. But Jeremiah knew better, so he spoke to the kings and asked them to concede to the Babylonians to avoid bloodshed. He predicted that God would allow the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple, and the city of Jerusalem to be destroyed (Jer 7:1-7; 3:16; 19:10-15) because these had become false sources of security for the Israelites. Jeremiah taught the Israelites that faith was a matter of personally accepting God and following His will rather than of performing grand rituals. Sadly, the kings didn't listen to Jeremiah and even accused him of being a traitor. 2. Jeremiah speaks about God's judgment God called the Israelites to become His faithful people but they refused to cooperate with Him. In a vision, Jeremiah saw a boiling pot being poured over Judah (Jer 1:13-19) Jeremiah believed this symbolized how God would judge the people, of how He would allow the Babylonians to invade Israel, and of how He would cleanse the land of false worship. It was a vision of the fall of Jerusalem. 3. Jeremiah speaks about the New Covenant The climax of Jeremiah's preaching was his prophecy of the New Covenant. He predicted that although most of Israel would be destroyed, a remnant would survive. He also spoke of God's promise that whoever remained faithful to Him would be part of the New Covenant. (Jer 31:31-34) Jeremiah preached that in the New Covenant, God would no longer simply give laws like the Ten Commandments. Instead, He would "write" His law in the very hearts of His people. (Presence of the Holy Spirit) According to Jeremiah, the time of the New Covenant God would be a time when God, through the Messiah, would pardon sins and make things new. This was a message that sustained the Israelites' hopes during their long and difficult exile. Jeremiah's Inner Struggles Jeremiah predicted the fall of Jerusalem. Sadly, the Israelites found it hard to believe that Jerusalem would be destroyed for it was David's city, and God promised that David's kingdom would last forever. (2 Sm 7:16)

Thus the Israelites treated Jeremiah poorly. He was disliked, questioned of his authority, despised by his own family, and was turned on in anger. He was later arrested, beaten, imprisoned, sentenced to death (Jer 16), put in jail (Jer 37), and thrown down a dry well (Jer 38). Jeremiah often complained to God about the difficulties of his mission (Jer 20 / Jer 20:7-9) Jeremiah's Newfound Strength and Confidence God sustained Jeremiah through all his hardships. God guided and encouraged him through the ups and downs of his life. He grew stronger and braver as he carried out God's mission. He also grew wiser and became more trusting in God. Over time, Jeremiah began to understand God's plan for him. (Jer 20:11) Jeremiah understood and felt his people's suffering. He even became closer to the people who once hated him. His own agony brought him closer to them. (Jer 8:18-19, 21, 23) Jeremiah suffered with his people while remaining incredibly hopeful in God. His own life became a symbol of hope for the Israelites. His faith helped him overcome all obstacles and transformed him from a timid young man into a brave and resolute leader. 4. Jeremiah depicts God as a Divine Potter God is like a potter who molds His people like clay according to His will (Jer 18). God remains for us who He is-- the ultimate source of renewal. As Jeremiah and the other prophets predicted, the Babylonians invaded Israel in 597 B.C. Ten years later the Great Temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed. The remaining Israelites were taken prisoners and brought to Babylon. Babylon was God's instrument for purifying the people of Israel. God allowed Israel to break so He could reshape it and make it into the vessel it was meant to be. The Israelites lost everything that constituted their identity as God's people. (No king, no temple, no city, and no land) However, it was in the midst of their deepest suffering that they came to understand more God's call and to be His people. During their exile in Babylon, the Israelites once again turned back to God because all they had left was their faith.

SOURCE: CALLED TO DISCOVER OUR CHRISTIAN ROOTS