Welcome to the Pauline Family's "Year of the Bible"! I'm reading the Bible clear through this year, and I invite you to read along with me. But first, let us pray:
My God, I adore and thank your loving and wise Providence, manifested on every page of Sacred Scripture. You have always been close to sinful and erring humanity, and have indicated the way and given hope. Amid the shadows of error and corruption, you kindled the light of your truth; amid universal corruption, you are the Just One; amid so much idolatry, humanity in every corner of the earth has cultivated a sincere worship of you.
Let my reading today increase my trust in your goodness, your mercy, and your unfailing faithfulness.
Today's chapters are 2 Samuel 22-24 and (for Lent) Psalm 43.
Chapter 22 repeats for us much of Psalm 22, David's hymn of thanksgiving for his rescue from Saul's clutches. This is an interesting context for that, since David had just handed over seven of Saul's descendants to the Gibeonites, but such was the ancient understanding of justice. Before dying, David reaffirms in prophetic language his faith in God's covenantal oath. The book closes by recalling David's sin (and repentance) at the census, and the purchase of a site for an altar of sacrifice: the site of the future Temple.
With its mention of "coming to the altar of God," Psalm 43 began to be prayed aloud in the liturgy fairly early in European Christian history as the priest approached the altar for Mass. As the liturgy (and liturgical architecture) developed, it became the prayers "at the foot of the altar," sometimes prayed in a dialogue form between the priest and an altar server, sometimes reduced just to a single significant verse: I will go to the altar of God: to God who gives joy to my youth. For more about the history of the Psalm in the liturgy, and a verse by verse reflection on it, go to http://www.chantcafe.com/2013/11/the-prayers-at-the-foot-of-the-altar/
Start reading 2 Samuel here and Psalm 43 here.
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