Sing a New Psalm:
Communicating with God Through
the Prayers of the Church

Volume I: Lauds & Vespers

Lesson 20 The LORD God Is a Sun & a Shield
Psalm 84, Psalm 85, and Psalm 97
Tuesday Lauds (Week II)

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
next lesson: May the LORD Bless You

This material coordinates with Lesson 20, “The LORD God Is a Sun & a Shield,” on pages 84–87 in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. Our Catholic Bible study is based on The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, a psalms translation prepared by the monks at Conception Abbey in 2010 and first published as The Revised Grail Psalms. The Abbey Psalms and Canticles is a revision of that work, finished in 2020 and now owned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Wording and numbering of some psalms in other translations may differ. This translation is being added to all English-language Liturgy of the Hours books used in the United States.

“Unlike other prayers in sacred Scripture, the prayers contained in the psalms are not inserted into a narrative story that specifies their meaning and function. Instead, the psalms are given to the believer precisely as a text of prayer. Since they are the Word of God, the believer who prays the psalms speaks to God using the very words that God himself has given to us. Thus, in praying the psalms we learn to pray. The psalms are a school of prayer.”—Pope Benedict XVI

welcome to our in-depth study of the psalms
We invite groups and individuals to check out the sample Introduction and Lesson 1 from this 28-lesson Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. Our online study pages include additional questions, commentary, and prayers based on the psalm texts. Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers has been granted an imprimatur. A digital version of can be purchased from our website shop. Volume II covers psalms prayed at Vigils, Day Prayer, and Compline. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons on any online study page.

open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words, pray one of the psalms in this lesson, or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

about the psalms in this lesson**
During Ordinary Time, the monks at Conception Abbey pray the following psalms for Tuesday Lauds Week II: Psalm 84, a hymn to Zion; Psalm 85, a communal lament; and Psalm 97, a hymn praising YHWH by an anonymous composer. Both Psalm 84 and Psalm 85 are attributed to one or more descendants of Korah. The sixteenth chapter in the book of Numbers records that the Levite Korah was killed by God for leading an unsuccessful revolt against Moses and Aaron; his sons, who did not participate in the revolt, were spared.

who are the sons of Korah?
The superscripts to Psalm 84 and Psalm 85 associate the sons of Korah with the authorship of these two psalms. The book of Exodus 6:24 lists the names of Korah’s sons as Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph, indicating that they followed Moses‘ command to depart from their father’s tent to avoid being destroyed because of Korah’s sin, which was challenging the authority of Moses and Aaron—and ultimately of God. This event is described in the book of Numbers 16:20–26. Various psalms mention the “sons of Korah” as their composers; the term refers to descendants of Korah and not to his literal children. In addition to Psalm 84 and Psalm 85 in this lesson, other psalms in Volume I attributed to descendants of Korah include Psalm 42 (in Lesson 6 A Soul Athirst for the Living God), Psalm 45 (in Lesson 9 An Overflowing Heart), Psalm 47 and Psalm 48 (both in Lesson 8 Seeing in God’s Light), Psalm 49 (in Lesson 11 God Will Ransom My Soul), and Psalm 87 (in Lesson 18 What God Is As Great As Our God?). In addition, Psalm 44, Psalm 46 and Psalm 88 are covered in Volume II and also are attributed to descendants of Korah.

an image of God’s loving protection
“The LORD God Is a Sun & a Shield” is the title of this lesson. This illustration by Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino looks at these two images of God’s love for his people—the sun to enlighten our days and the shield to protect us from all that would harm us. Many religions emphasize the beginning of a new day, which is greeted by the rising of the sun, as one of the very best times to pray. What three things would you most like to thank God for today? What’s the single thing for which you’ve been the most thankful throughout your life? In what area of your life do you feel that you’re in the most need of God’s protection? What’s one particular challenge that you would like God’s help with today? What’s a goal you have that you’d like God’s help with over the next six months? What do you consider the ultimate goal of your life? Consider how God might be able to help you to achieve it. Click on Tami’s illustration to enlarge it. The illustration also is printed on page 85 in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers.

the popes inspire us—sanctuary for the faithful
“A Spiritual Destination” on page 85 in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers is an excerpt from an audience with Pope St. John Paul II. In it, the Holy Father explains the special blessing envisioned in Psalm 84 for those who choose to dwell in the presence of God or who undertake a pilgrim journey of faith.

light—you could look it up in our archives
Psalm 84 describes God as a sun. In the Gospel According to John, Jesus describes himself as light. To consider what makes this image fitting and what’s symbolized by the light of Christ, read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week. You can learn more about how Jesus self-identifies with light in Lesson 11 I Am the Light of the World in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth.

read the Catechism—how well do you know your faith?
Can you name all of the fruits of the Holy Spirit without looking at the Catechism of the Catholic Church? To learn what the Church teaches, refer to paragraph 1832 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. To learn why there’s a discrepancy between the number of fruits listed in the Catechism and the number listed in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 5:22–23, refer to “Rejoice” on page 87 in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers.

?  What connection do you have to the fruits of the Spirit?
?  Of what good are these fruits in your life?
?  Which fruit would you like to see increase in your life, and why?

additions & deletions 
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation of Psalm 84:11 (Psalm 84:10 in Revised Standard Version Catholic editions) refers to “the threshold of the house of my God”; Psalm 84:11 in The Revised Grail Psalms doesn’t include the word “my.” The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation of Psalm 97:12 refers to “all you just”; Psalm 97:12 in The Revised Grail Psalms doesn’t include the word “all.” What do these changes mean to you? (Note that it is not possible to link to either The Abbey Psalms and Canticles or The Revised Grail Psalms; all links on the online pages are to the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE]).

a translation difference: show us vs. let us see
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 85:8 (Psalm 85:7 in Revised Standard Version Catholic editions): “Show us, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation”; The Revised Grail Psalms translates the same verse: “Let us see, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.” This change doesn’t appear to suggest any difference in meaning.

another translation difference: mercy vs. merciful love
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 85:11 (Psalm 85:10 in Revised Standard Version Catholic editions): “Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have kissed.” The Revised Grail Psalms translation of the same verse substitutes “merciful love” for “mercy.” The monks may have used “merciful love” for purposes related to meter and chanting, or they may have wished to stress the connection between mercy and  love.

one more translation difference: uprightness vs. justice
The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translates Psalm 85:14 (Psalm 85:13 in Revised Standard Version Catholic editions): “Righteousness will march before him and guide his steps on the way.” The Revised Grail Psalms substitutes “justice” for “righteousness.” Which translation do you prefer, and why?

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by passages in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however, including Psalm 97 in this lesson.

Psalm 84:3—paragraph 1770
Psalm 85:11—paragraph 214
Psalm 85:12—paragraph 2795

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following links are to readings from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open one of the links and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV readings provide an audio guide to pronunciation of many words in this lesson’s primary biblical texts. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Psalm 84 (NIV)
Psalm 85 (NIV)
Psalm 97 (NIV)

round black doveclose with a psalms-based prayer for Tuesday Lauds Week II
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers, you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can pray any of the psalms in this lesson, or you can use the following short prayer.

O God, you guide and protect your faithful people.
Direct us in the choices we make
and enable us to do your will in all things.
Protect us as we journey toward
our ultimate goal of eternal life,
and show us how we can help others
to seek the same destination.
We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who came to show us the way of love. Amen.

Lesson 21 May the LORD Bless You, Tuesday Vespers (Week II)—Psalm 128, Psalm 131, Psalm 132, and Psalm 133
Lesson 19 For the Peace of Jerusalem Pray, Monday Vespers (Week II)—Psalm 122, Psalm 125, Psalm 126, and Psalm 127

you also may like our free Lenten study of Jesus’ Passion (digital only)
Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on our website during Lent. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.

start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. More information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found on this website at start a Bible study, and Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions or discuss concerns. Contact us to start this or one of our other studies or to have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—Baruch, Judith, Sirach, Tobit, Wisdom, and First and Second Maccabees—and there are some deuterocanonical passages in the Books of Daniel and Esther. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. Deuterocanonical means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

**You can learn more about the psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church. The first volume covers psalms prayed at Lauds and Vespers; the second covers psalms prayed at Vigils, Day Prayer, and Compline. Numbering of psalms and verses may vary in different translations.

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages for Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” and “didst” in the psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book.