Read the Bible with Me!

Today, with the coming of the Holy Spirit on all of us in a new Feast of Pentecost, we can hope for so much in our reading of Sacred Scripture! But first, let us pray: 

God of my fathers, Lord of mercy,
who have made all things by your word
and in your wisdom have created people 
to rule this world that you have made,
and to render judgment in integrity of heart:
Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, 
and reject me not from among your children;
for I am your servant, the child of your handmaid, 
a weak human being,  
and lacking in comprehension of your Word and your will.

Send your Wisdom from the holy heavens,
from your glorious throne,
to be with me, to guide me,
to enlighten me, to lead me to you.
(Based on Wis 9)

Today's chapters are Job 34-36 and (because it is Sunday) Psalms 91 and 92.

The recent arrival, Elihu, continues to defend God against Job. His arguments fail to impress,  since they amount to, "God is God, what else can you say?" (Not much, apparently.)

Psalm 91 is another psalm that has really entered the spiritual tradition. Have you ever heard of the "noonday devil"? Here it is. Do you remember Jesus crying over Jerusalem, saying that he longed to gather the people in like a mother bird gathers her chicks under her wings, but they would not (Lk 13:34)? The psalm refers to God in just those terms, saying that God "will shelter you with his pinions [outer part of the wing] and under his wings you may take refuge." The psalm includes the reassurance of safety even from the threat of lion, viper and scorpion; we find much the same at the return of the 72 disciples after their mission (see Luke 10:19). The main theme of the psalm, repeated verbally and in its poetic form is "God is with" (Emmanuel). That makes Psalm 91 a marvelous prayer of trust. It is used for night prayer every Sunday.

Psalm 92 (one of my favorites, since it starts with the theme of "making music to the Lord"!) is a Sabbath song, and even in the current Liturgy of the Hours is prayed on Saturday mornings every other week. It is a lively psalm of praise that encourages us to give our mind and energy to the prayer of thanksgiving, singing "with all the skill at your command." Life is short, the psalm reminds us, but the just will be like vibrant trees "planted in the courts of the Lord" to continue that song.

Start reading Job here and the Psalms here.

If you are looking for a solid but approachable companion to the Bible, I can wholeheartedly recommend A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament by John Bergsma and Brant Pitre. Although the authors are top-level Scripture scholars, they write for "real" readers. Notes include recent findings from archaeology and ancient manuscripts, and how each book of the Bible has been understood by the Church Fathers and used in Liturgy.