OTHCC Chapter 84: items 1661 - 1680

The Old Testament in the Heart of the Catholic Church < > All Chapters

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According to the Holy Father and bishops in communion with him [CCC 129], the full meaning of the Old Testament

a.   has already been determined.
b.   is inexhaustible.
c.   will never be known.

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai >> Zechariah << Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

The prophet Zephaniah prophesied several years before the Exile began. The prophet Zechariah prophesied

a.   in the middle of the Exile.
b.   several years after the Exile ended.
c.   several years before the Exile began.

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Most scholars think that the first eight chapters of the book of Zechariah, Zech 1-8

a.   has similar but not the identical style and content of Zech 9-15.
b.   has the same style and content as Zech 9-15.
c.   is quite different in style and content from Zech 9-15.

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Like Haggai, Zechariah prophesied after the Exile ended, about 520 BC according to the book of Zechariah. (The prophet Zephaniah is a totally different person who prophesied a wrathful ''day of the LORD'' several years before the Exile). You can remember this by noting that Zechariah (with a c) was Closer to the time of Christ.

Most scholars think that the book of Zechariah has two distinct sources. They say that Zech 1-8 is quite different in style and content from Zech 9-15.

Scholars call Zech 1-8 ''First Zechariah.'' It contains visions and oracles. Most scholars agree that they concern how returnees are to rebuild the community and worship the LORD.

''Second Zechariah'' contains prophecies, primarily about the future. The LORD will judge the Jews and the nations, amid struggle, suffering, and in the end, salvation and consolation.

Read Zech 9:9. The gospel writers remembered this passage when Jesus rode an ass into Jerusalem, as is celebrated on Palm Sunday.

Also, read Zech 12:10, and then read John 19:33-37. <<

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Read Ex 25:10-22. The Ark of the Covenant was

a.   a gathering place to worship God.
b.   a wooden box lined with gold.
c.   a wooden ship lined with gold.

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Read Ex 25:16. Now read in the book of Deuteronomy, Deut 10:1-3. The ''testimony'' that was placed in the Ark of the Covenant was

a.   eyewitness accounts of the theophany on Mount Sinai and elsewhere.
b.   the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed.
c.   the writings of the Bible that the people of Israel had up to that time.

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Read Ex 25:8-9. Now read in the New Testament, the letter to the Hebrews, Heb 9:1-7. The Jewish Tabernacle was

a.   a large stone structure.
b.   a large tent.
c.   a large wooden ark.

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What is the ''Holy of Holies''?

a.   The entire Tabernacle of the Lord, where the Ark of the Covenant was.
b.   The place from which Moses stood to tell people what God wished them to do.
c.   The small room within the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant was.

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Read Leviticus, Lev 16:3-34. Once a year Aaron (and the High Priests that follow him) are to

a.   make atonement for the sins of the nation.
b.   offer unceasing praise to the LORD.
c.   show the LORD a sign of the people's purity.

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''Holy of Holies'' is a Hebrew way of saying ''the holiest place of all.'' The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, the place of God's presence on earth, once a year on the Day of Atonement, to offer blood sacrifices for sin. The Catholic Church sees in this a type of Christ, the great High Priest, who pours out his blood for the forgiveness of sins. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* Job

>> Psalms <<

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

The word ''psalm'' comes from the Greek word meaning

a.   giving glory, honor, and praise to God.
b.   plucking a musical instrument with the fingers.
c.   praying intimately by oneself or together.

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Note: Do NOT restate the incorrect answers to this question. Only the correct answer has meaningful content.

How many psalms ended up being collected together in the Old Testament?

a.   100
b.   150
c.   200

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''Psalter'' means ''the Praises'' and is what exactly?

a.   A separate collection of psalms from other biblical sources.
b.   The books of psalms as they are collected in the Old Testament.
c.   The golden vessel in which precious salt was carried in ceremonies.

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Note: Do NOT restate the incorrect answers to this question. Only the correct answer has meaningful content.

The Psalter is divided into ''books'' (sections). How many?

a.   5
b.   8
c.   11

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Why are the Psalms so important to the Catholic Church? In part, because they are [CCC 2585]:

a.   ''an unmatchable example of God's activity of creation.''
b.   ''the consummate record of the covenant and the law.''
c.   ''the masterwork of prayer in the Old Testament.''

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The Psalms have been prayed for at least 2500 years, perhaps much longer for certain psalms. The composers of the Psalms were holy, and artists, too. David has traditionally been known as the originator of the psalms and the master psalmist. Whatever their original origins, many if not all psalms eventually came to belong to the public prayer of Israel, and were probably set to music (thus the name ''psalm'').

The Responsorial Psalm sung or said between the readings at every Mass is from one of the 150 psalms. Catholics who pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the Church (priests and religious do this as a matter of obligation) will sing or recite all 150 psalms over a period of weeks, either in community or by themselves. Modern scholars generally agree that many (but not all) psalms can be seen as belonging to one of three different genres, each with its own particular structure.

Lament

A lament usually includes a) a direct cry to the LORD, b) a statement of the difficulty, c) an expression of trust, and d) prayer for help. Read Psalm 22, prayed by Jesus on the Cross. Community laments usually begin with a retelling of God's Creation or the creation of his people in the Exodus. Read Psalm 90.

Thanksgiving

These psalms usually describe a terrible difficulty, just like laments, but state that God has won the victory and rescued the psalmist or the people. Read Psalm 30.

Hymn

Read Psalm 150.

By subject matter

Modern scholars classify other psalms according to their subject matter. Read Psalm 23. This most beloved psalm is a ''psalm of trust.'' Psalm 1 is classified as a ''wisdom psalm.'' Read it. Psalm 2 is a ''royal psalm,'' which affirms the LORD in its affirming of the Israelite king. Read it. There are also psalms that are clearly part of particular ceremonies. Psalm 15 was probably sung as the people were admitted to the Temple (the Temple replaced the Tent of Meeting or ''Tabernacle'' of desert times). Entry to God's ''tent'' demanded a man's holiness. Read Psalm 15.

There is no particular need to remember these details or to figure out which psalm fits into which type. Scholars, not the Bible, made up these types. However, the Psalms pretty plainly do have definite shapes to them. These well-known forms provide solid, stable foundations for the very intense and intimate prayer of the Psalms. Read CCC 2585-2589 now.

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Read Lev 17:10-14. The blood of a living creature not metaphorically but literally is its

a.   death.
b.   life.
c.   sin.

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Leviticus commands the Jewish people not to eat blood. They are not to become one with the life of another creature. In the ancient Hebrew way of thinking, life is not a process or some other abstraction. Life literally is physical blood, the substance that pours out of an animal after it is sacrificed. The physical blood is literally the creature's life. Eating its blood would make you one with its life - a life that belongs to God, not you.

Read Mathew, Mt 26:27-28. Only God himself, the source of life, could give the command to eat blood. Moreover, it is his own blood that is to be eaten. The invitation of Jesus to drink his blood is not metaphorical. It is the extraordinary invitation by God to literally become one with his own life.

What is drunk is the blood of the (new) covenant. Thus it is not only God's blood but also the blood of a covenantal sacrifice, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. The invitation of Jesus to drink his blood is therefore also the invitation by the Lamb of God to literally become one with his sacrificial death on the Cross. <<

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Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy || Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings || 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah || Tobit* Judith* Esther >> 1 Maccabees* 2 Maccabees* << Job

Psalms

Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom* Sirach* || Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Baruch* Ezekiel Daniel || Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Old Testament books with a star * are not any more or less important than the others. The star indicates that the Catholic Church definitively professes and knows these books to be part of the sacred writings, the inspired Word of God [cf. CCC 120], but that they are specifically rejected by the Jewish people, and called ''apocryphal'' (of doubtful inspiration) by Protestants.

Most modern scholars think that First Maccabees, unlike Second Maccabees,

a.   admits that Judas Maccabeus suffered occasional defeats and was killed.
b.   denies that Judas Maccabeus suffered occasional defeats and was killed.
c.   never mentions any of the defeats of Judas Maccabeus or his death.

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1 and 2 Maccabees is the story of events that occurred while the Jews were living under the rule of

a.   Greek-speakers, about 200-100 BC.
b.   the Romans, after about 60 BC.
c.   the Persians, about 500-400 BC.

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