The Lord Is My Shepherd: Psalms to Accompany Us on Our Journey Through Aging

Rating:
Summary: Prayers and meditations...
Review: Rabbi Albert Lewis has put together a beautiful little volume of meditation and prayer in 'The Lord is My Shepherd'. Most will immediately recognise the passage as being from that most famous of Psalms, the 23rd. In this small but wonderful book, Rabbi Lewis looks at three psalms in particular -- Psalm 23 ('The Lord is My Shepherd'), Psalm 121 ('I will lift up my eyes to the hills'), and Psalm 98 ('Sing a new song unto the Lord').

Rabbi Lewis looks at each of these psalms line by line to plumb the depths of meaning. This is a study volume, a volume for group reflection, and a volume for personal devotion. The psalms are presented first in the familiar King James Version (a version familiar both to Christian and Jewish readers), as well as in new forms. After each line is presented in a new translation by Rabbi Lewis, there is a brief meditation or reflection, drawing on Lewis' personal experiences in ministry, as well as experiences of other ministers from Jewish and Christian traditions past and present. Among those who inform Rabbi Lewis include Moses Maimonides, Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis and Abraham Heschel.

After each reflection, Lewis provides questions for discussion or further meditation. These are not academic questions, but rather open-ended, thought-provoking questions designed to get at the heart of the matter, to make one think and grow in the spiritual depth of the psalm. Following each set of engaging questions, Lewis has crafted a prayer, based upon the psalms. Psalm 121 is presented first, in seven sections; Psalm 23 is next, with thirteen sections; Psalm 98 is last, with eleven sections. As each section is only a few pages long, this would make for an excellent month-long study guide (31 sections in all).

Each psalm is introduced by a brief essay of a few pages talking about the history and purpose of the psalm -- for example, Rabbi Lewis sees Psalm 121 as a psalm of movement, whereas Psalm 23 is a psalm of rest. The stated purpose of this book is to look at the psalms through the lens of a journey through aging, but this does not make the book one just for seniors; there is something for those of us of all ages here.

The appendix has the three psalms written in Hebrew with a transliterated pronunciation guide in the standard English alphabet. There is also a useful guide for further reading.

This is a gem.

Rating:
Summary: Prayers and meditations...
Review: Rabbi Albert Lewis has put together a beautiful little volume of meditation and prayer in 'The Lord is My Shepherd'. Most will immediately recognise the passage as being from that most famous of Psalms, the 23rd. In this small but wonderful book, Rabbi Lewis looks at three psalms in particular -- Psalm 23 ('The Lord is My Shepherd'), Psalm 121 ('I will lift up my eyes to the hills'), and Psalm 98 ('Sing a new song unto the Lord').

Rabbi Lewis looks at each of these psalms line by line to plumb the depths of meaning. This is a study volume, a volume for group reflection, and a volume for personal devotion. The psalms are presented first in the familiar King James Version (a version familiar both to Christian and Jewish readers), as well as in new forms. After each line is presented in a new translation by Rabbi Lewis, there is a brief meditation or reflection, drawing on Lewis' personal experiences in ministry, as well as experiences of other ministers from Jewish and Christian traditions past and present. Among those who inform Rabbi Lewis include Moses Maimonides, Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis and Abraham Heschel.

After each reflection, Lewis provides questions for discussion or further meditation. These are not academic questions, but rather open-ended, thought-provoking questions designed to get at the heart of the matter, to make one think and grow in the spiritual depth of the psalm. Following each set of engaging questions, Lewis has crafted a prayer, based upon the psalms. Psalm 121 is presented first, in seven sections; Psalm 23 is next, with thirteen sections; Psalm 98 is last, with eleven sections. As each section is only a few pages long, this would make for an excellent month-long study guide (31 sections in all).

Each psalm is introduced by a brief essay of a few pages talking about the history and purpose of the psalm -- for example, Rabbi Lewis sees Psalm 121 as a psalm of movement, whereas Psalm 23 is a psalm of rest. The stated purpose of this book is to look at the psalms through the lens of a journey through aging, but this does not make the book one just for seniors; there is something for those of us of all ages here.

The appendix has the three psalms written in Hebrew with a transliterated pronunciation guide in the standard English alphabet. There is also a useful guide for further reading.

This is a gem.