neuroBIBLISTICS

Rome, Italy

International SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) Conference, July 1 – 5, 2019, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. Read the paper: May the Psalter Never Cease: An Interpretation of the Psalms in the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Abstract:

In 2019, the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the 800^th anniversary of its autocephaly. Since 1219, when archbishop Sava Nemanjic acquired it, he directed the faithful in a unique way by proposing that the book of Psalms should be read in its entirety every day. By doing so, he urged the importance of the Scriptures and mainly this special book. Secondly, he recognized the anthropological dignity of humankind in the Bible. Not to mention, the man created in the Image of God, who is “made a little lower than God” (Ps 8:6) which impacted Sava to express prayerful wish that his people remain on this high way of deification. Finally, he created the perfect context for the interpretation of the book of Psalms, through the hymns, music, architecture, and most importantly, through the lives of his people. 

In this paper, I argue that the community which is aware that her ideal is to read the Psalter in a day constantly resembles Jacob wrestling with an angel. Even more, not letting the angel go away before he blesses him. The metaphor of wrestling becomes surreal when a nation faces times of turmoil. That is the time when the upbringing with the Psalter in the hands is the most valuable, and everyone collectively can confess: “you have taken me up and thrown me down” (Ps 102:10). Despite the troubles, the community endures for it is able to say: “I belong to you, save me!” (119:94) On the other hand, in the time of the peace, the words of Psalter yield the cultural fruits, and this marvelous book got reprinted many times. 

To summarize, God’s upbringing of the nations is tied to spiritual self-awareness and to the understanding of the loving discipline of God by constant reading and meditation of the psalms.

Thus, by the power of God’s words written in the Psalter, the community is able to grow in deification like a walnut in the shell – having and carrying an imprint of God.