Psalms II—Answer Guide

This study has 7 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 6 lessons. The study set includes the Study Guide by Clifford M. Yeary and a commentary, “Psalms for All Seasons” (revised in 2013), by John F. Craghan (Liturgical Press). Note that the Psalms I study and the Psalm II study use the same commentary. Those planning to do both studies should only order study sets for one of the studies, and only order the study guide for the subsequent study. It is recommended that Psalms I be studied prior to Psalms II.

John F. Craghan is professor emeritus of religious studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. He is North American editor for 'Scripture in Church' (Dominican Publications: Dublin, Ireland) and is the author of numerous books, including And the Life of the World to Come and The Gospels of the Weekday Lectionary, both from Liturgical Press. Craghan has lectured widely in the United States and Latin America. His chief interest is to make the best of biblical scholarship accessible to a wider audience.

The Book of the Psalms is a unique collection of the song-prayers of Israel. To study Psalms is to study prayer, ultimately to enter into prayer. The study will challenge participants to reflect on their own prayer and life experiences. Psalms II focuses on a selection of twenty-eight psalms divided into three categories:

• Royal Psalms
• Psalms of Lament
• Psalms of Declarative Praise

The royal psalms reflect the belief in ancient Israel that the king was “anointed” by God (i.e. a messiah) to be “the instrument of God's concern for the people” (from the commentary, p. 79). Psalms of lament express the sorrow of the soul in distress and of the individual's and the community's need to turn to God in order to be healed or rescued. Psalms of declarative praise are prayers of thanksgiving that praise God for rescue or healing from dire situations.

Weekly Lessons
Introductory Session
Lesson 1—Pss 132, 2, 110, 101
Lesson 2—Pss 72, 45, 20
Lesson 3—Pss 3, 22, 39, 42-43, 51
Lesson 4—Pss 69, 44, 58, 85, 90
Lesson 5—Pss 30, 40, 73, 92, 118
Lesson 6—Pss 103, 116, 138, 124, 107