Description

Book Synopsis
As the longest Psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119 comprises 176 verses. Its message sings the praise of Israel’s Law and describes how the faithful should respond to the gift of God’s self-revelation. In The Longest Psalm, Michael Casey offers a meditative reading of each verse of the psalm, intended to be read one at a time, to facilitate a personal prayer and reflection. Psalm 119 brings together elements found throughout the Psalter and the reflections focus on universal themes as well as specific questions of daily life, such as our experience of yearning, service, affliction, and stumbling. Each verse stands alone, intended to be read slowly, like the litanies familiar to Catholic devotion.

Perfect for a brief meditation before beginning the day, Casey invites us to spend time wandering with the psalmist to allow God’s Word to play a significant role in our lives. Through this careful reflection on the longest psalm, readers will discover the text is not merely a psalm to be sung but also a path to be followed.


Trade Review
"Michael Casey’s insightful meditations on Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Psalter, are to be read slowly and savored. By reflecting on the meaning of each of the Psalm’s 176 verses, he shows us how God’s Torah can form and renew our lives today. Here is a volume to which you can turn for spiritual nourishment and guidance."
Frank J. Matera, Professor Emeritus, The Catholic University of America
"God’s self-revelation in Scripture can be known by us through lectio. Fr. Michael Casey has done the homework. All we have to do is turn the page. This book on “the Longest Psalm” is an example of how we can hold and grasp the whole of Hebrew Scripture."
Sr. Meg Funk, OSB, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, Beech Grove, Indiana

"The long, repetitive Psalm 119, like an apparently barren landscape, yields surprising variety and abundance to the practiced, patient gaze. Thanks to Michael Casey’s well-trained eye and long experience, this neglected psalm now receives the attention it deserves. To read this commentary is both to appreciate the psalm and to assimilate rewarding habits of close reading."
Elias Dietz, OCSO, Abbey of Gethsemani
"Psalm 119 occurs more frequently in the Liturgy of the Hours than any other psalm, but it has long been neglected in commentary because it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Michael Casey executes here a successful rescue mission, showing that the very point of the Psalm is that it is staying where it is, celebrating the word of God by turning it over and over like a diamond so that we can appreciate all its facets."
Jerome Kodell, OSB, Subiaco Abbey

"From the author who gave us Sacred Reading, the finest introduction to Lectio Divina that I know, comes this volume in which Michael Casey leads us through a Lectio Divina for Psalm 119. With each biblical verse, Casey plumbs concrete questions of daily life, such as our experience of longing, evil, vanity, and stumbling. Each of the 176 verses of this psalm is given a two-page reflection, perfect for a brief meditation before beginning the day."
Craig E. Morrison, OCarm, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome

"If you find Psalm 119 tedious and suppose that its main virtue must lie in its acrostic cleverness, appreciated only in the original Hebrew, this book will make you think again. In a meditative, practical, and sometimes even playful reading of each of the psalm’s 176 verses, Michael Casey shows how the law celebrated in this psalm, far from being something harsh and coercive, is a source of joy and delight, nothing less than the divine self-revelation offering us a pathway to fullness of life. The law, understood in this way, encompasses not only the written word, but the assimilated word, active in our hearts, shaping our outlook and values. The fruit of a Cistercian monk’s long exposure to the psalms, singing them, as verse 146 says, ‘seven times in the day,’ this book is a gift to all who treasure them, both Jewish and Christian."
Margaret Daly-Denton, PhD, Trinity College Dublin

"How to joyfully fulfil the Law of the Lord in all the varied circumstances emerging from one’s life? Who else but Michael Casey, could weave together 176 answers to this question using the 176 verses of Psalm 118 (119). With his usual laser-sharp gaze on the text, his comprehensive exploration and penetrating acumen we have all come to expect from his work, Casey draws us into the profound riches and purpose of this otherwise repetitive and predictable text."
Carmel Posa, SGS, University of Divinity, Australia
"The Longest Psalm is tailor-made for daily devotions with its rich, terse, chapters. But it is also, like Psalm 119 itself, a jewel which revels itself with repetition, contemplation, and prayer. It is a jewel deserving of wide and heedful readership."
Catholic Books Review
"The Longest Psalm offers a new and refreshing encounter with Psalm 119. Casey opens up this psalm, allowing reflections on the law to be a source of joy and life as the reader ponders its meaning daily. The book is the fruit of careful reflection on our relationship with God and a meticulous attention to detail. It offers the reader the opportunity to read as Casey reads."
The Downside Review

Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction 1
Psalm 119 13
1. Integrity 25
2. Seeking 26
3. Evil 28
4. You 29
5. Journey 31
6. Assurance 33
7. Learning 34
8. Covenant 36
9. Unadulterated 37
10. Wandering 39
11. Treasure 40
12. Gratitude 42
13. Echo 44
14. Enrichment 45
15. Depthing 47
16. Delight 48
17. Recompense 50
18. Perception 51
19. Tentativeness 53
20. Desire 55
21. Rebuke 56
22. Rejection 58
23. Prophets 59
24. Counsel 61
25. Re-Creation 63
26. Narration 64
27. Understanding 66
28. Revival 67
29. Favor 69
30. Faith 70
31. Unashamed 72
32. Running 74
33. Arrival 75
34. Holding Fast 77
35. Unique 78
36. Accumulation 80
37. Vanity 81
38. Reverence 83
39. Reproach 85
40. Liveliness 86
41. Kindness 88
42. Response 89
43. Truth 91
44. Always 93
45. Freedom 94
46. Kings 96
47. Imperatives 98
48. Entreaty 99
49. Delay 101
50. Comfort 102
51. Self-Assurance 104
52. Judgment 106
53. Apostates 107
54. Exile 109
55. Night 110
56. Outcomes 112
57. Portion 114
58. Grace 115
59. Dissatisfaction 117
60. Dawdle 118
61. Ensnared 120
62. Midnight 122
63. Solidarity 123
64. Providence 125
65. Goodness 126
66. Discretion 128
67. Experience 130
68. Dispersion 131
69. Unreactiveness 133
70. Gross 135
71. Affliction 136
72. Baubles 138
73. Formation 140
74. Hope 141
75. Reliability 143
76. Promises 144
77. Sanctuary 146
78. Retribution 148
79. Kinship 149
80. Blameless 151
81. Well-Being 152
82. Anticipation 154
83. Wineskin 156
84. Transcendence 157
85. Rebellion 159
86. Assistance 160
87. Almost 162
88. Life-Giving 164
89. Forever 165
90. Generations 167
91. Service 168
92. Pain 170
93. Forgetfulness 172
94. Searching 173
95. Rejection 175
96. Boundless 176
97. Symbolic 178
98. Practicality 180
99. Alternatives 181
100. More 183
101. And 185
102. Interiority 187
103. Strength 188
104. Falsehood 190
105. Illumination 192
106. Vow 193
107. Honesty 195
108. Offering 197
109. Soul 198
110. Traps 200
111. Inheritance 202
112. Turning 203
113. Doubleminded 205
114. Shield 207
115. Solidarity 208
116. Support 210
117. Gazing 211
118. Lightweights 213
119. Dross 215
120. Terror 216
121. Acceptance 218
122. Pledge 219
123. Longing 221
124. Undeserving 223
125. Service 224
126. Forbearance 226
127. Gold 227
128. Deviance 229
129. Praxis 231
130. Expanding 232
131. Yearning 234
132. Favor 236
133. Servility 237
134. Ransom 239
135. Radiance 241
136. Grief 242
137. Righteousness 244
138. Testimonies 246
139. Self-Doubt 247
140. Tested 249
141. Small 250
142. Ever-Changing 252
143. Anguish 254
144. Glimmering 255
145. Wholeheartedness 257
146. Desperation 259
147. Twilight 260
148. Anticipation 262
149. Concordance 264
150. Schemers 265
151. Closeness 267
152. Antiquity 268
153. Affliction 270
154. Advocacy 272
155. Wicked 273
156. Tenderness 275
157. Mediocrity 276
158. Breaking Faith 278
159. Fulfilment 280
160. Truth-Telling 281
161. Immunity 283
162. Gratuity 284
163. Partiality 286
164. Regularity 288
165. Stumbling 289
166. Expectation 291
167. Compliance 292
168. Future 294
169. Outcry 296
170. Deliverance 297
171. Praise 299
172. Contagious 300
173. Help 302
174. Longing 303
175. Life 305
176. Lost 306
Notes 309

The Longest Psalm: Day-by-Day Responses to Divine

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    A Paperback / softback by Michael Casey, OCSO

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      View other formats and editions of The Longest Psalm: Day-by-Day Responses to Divine by Michael Casey, OCSO

      Publisher: Liturgical Press
      Publication Date: 29/09/2023
      ISBN13: 9798400800009, 979-8400800009
      ISBN10: 9798400800009
      Also in:
      Bible readings, selections and meditations

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      As the longest Psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119 comprises 176 verses. Its message sings the praise of Israel’s Law and describes how the faithful should respond to the gift of God’s self-revelation. In The Longest Psalm, Michael Casey offers a meditative reading of each verse of the psalm, intended to be read one at a time, to facilitate a personal prayer and reflection. Psalm 119 brings together elements found throughout the Psalter and the reflections focus on universal themes as well as specific questions of daily life, such as our experience of yearning, service, affliction, and stumbling. Each verse stands alone, intended to be read slowly, like the litanies familiar to Catholic devotion.

      Perfect for a brief meditation before beginning the day, Casey invites us to spend time wandering with the psalmist to allow God’s Word to play a significant role in our lives. Through this careful reflection on the longest psalm, readers will discover the text is not merely a psalm to be sung but also a path to be followed.


      Trade Review
      "Michael Casey’s insightful meditations on Psalm 119, the longest psalm of the Psalter, are to be read slowly and savored. By reflecting on the meaning of each of the Psalm’s 176 verses, he shows us how God’s Torah can form and renew our lives today. Here is a volume to which you can turn for spiritual nourishment and guidance."
      Frank J. Matera, Professor Emeritus, The Catholic University of America
      "God’s self-revelation in Scripture can be known by us through lectio. Fr. Michael Casey has done the homework. All we have to do is turn the page. This book on “the Longest Psalm” is an example of how we can hold and grasp the whole of Hebrew Scripture."
      Sr. Meg Funk, OSB, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, Beech Grove, Indiana

      "The long, repetitive Psalm 119, like an apparently barren landscape, yields surprising variety and abundance to the practiced, patient gaze. Thanks to Michael Casey’s well-trained eye and long experience, this neglected psalm now receives the attention it deserves. To read this commentary is both to appreciate the psalm and to assimilate rewarding habits of close reading."
      Elias Dietz, OCSO, Abbey of Gethsemani
      "Psalm 119 occurs more frequently in the Liturgy of the Hours than any other psalm, but it has long been neglected in commentary because it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Michael Casey executes here a successful rescue mission, showing that the very point of the Psalm is that it is staying where it is, celebrating the word of God by turning it over and over like a diamond so that we can appreciate all its facets."
      Jerome Kodell, OSB, Subiaco Abbey

      "From the author who gave us Sacred Reading, the finest introduction to Lectio Divina that I know, comes this volume in which Michael Casey leads us through a Lectio Divina for Psalm 119. With each biblical verse, Casey plumbs concrete questions of daily life, such as our experience of longing, evil, vanity, and stumbling. Each of the 176 verses of this psalm is given a two-page reflection, perfect for a brief meditation before beginning the day."
      Craig E. Morrison, OCarm, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome

      "If you find Psalm 119 tedious and suppose that its main virtue must lie in its acrostic cleverness, appreciated only in the original Hebrew, this book will make you think again. In a meditative, practical, and sometimes even playful reading of each of the psalm’s 176 verses, Michael Casey shows how the law celebrated in this psalm, far from being something harsh and coercive, is a source of joy and delight, nothing less than the divine self-revelation offering us a pathway to fullness of life. The law, understood in this way, encompasses not only the written word, but the assimilated word, active in our hearts, shaping our outlook and values. The fruit of a Cistercian monk’s long exposure to the psalms, singing them, as verse 146 says, ‘seven times in the day,’ this book is a gift to all who treasure them, both Jewish and Christian."
      Margaret Daly-Denton, PhD, Trinity College Dublin

      "How to joyfully fulfil the Law of the Lord in all the varied circumstances emerging from one’s life? Who else but Michael Casey, could weave together 176 answers to this question using the 176 verses of Psalm 118 (119). With his usual laser-sharp gaze on the text, his comprehensive exploration and penetrating acumen we have all come to expect from his work, Casey draws us into the profound riches and purpose of this otherwise repetitive and predictable text."
      Carmel Posa, SGS, University of Divinity, Australia
      "The Longest Psalm is tailor-made for daily devotions with its rich, terse, chapters. But it is also, like Psalm 119 itself, a jewel which revels itself with repetition, contemplation, and prayer. It is a jewel deserving of wide and heedful readership."
      Catholic Books Review
      "The Longest Psalm offers a new and refreshing encounter with Psalm 119. Casey opens up this psalm, allowing reflections on the law to be a source of joy and life as the reader ponders its meaning daily. The book is the fruit of careful reflection on our relationship with God and a meticulous attention to detail. It offers the reader the opportunity to read as Casey reads."
      The Downside Review

      Table of Contents
      Contents
      Introduction 1
      Psalm 119 13
      1. Integrity 25
      2. Seeking 26
      3. Evil 28
      4. You 29
      5. Journey 31
      6. Assurance 33
      7. Learning 34
      8. Covenant 36
      9. Unadulterated 37
      10. Wandering 39
      11. Treasure 40
      12. Gratitude 42
      13. Echo 44
      14. Enrichment 45
      15. Depthing 47
      16. Delight 48
      17. Recompense 50
      18. Perception 51
      19. Tentativeness 53
      20. Desire 55
      21. Rebuke 56
      22. Rejection 58
      23. Prophets 59
      24. Counsel 61
      25. Re-Creation 63
      26. Narration 64
      27. Understanding 66
      28. Revival 67
      29. Favor 69
      30. Faith 70
      31. Unashamed 72
      32. Running 74
      33. Arrival 75
      34. Holding Fast 77
      35. Unique 78
      36. Accumulation 80
      37. Vanity 81
      38. Reverence 83
      39. Reproach 85
      40. Liveliness 86
      41. Kindness 88
      42. Response 89
      43. Truth 91
      44. Always 93
      45. Freedom 94
      46. Kings 96
      47. Imperatives 98
      48. Entreaty 99
      49. Delay 101
      50. Comfort 102
      51. Self-Assurance 104
      52. Judgment 106
      53. Apostates 107
      54. Exile 109
      55. Night 110
      56. Outcomes 112
      57. Portion 114
      58. Grace 115
      59. Dissatisfaction 117
      60. Dawdle 118
      61. Ensnared 120
      62. Midnight 122
      63. Solidarity 123
      64. Providence 125
      65. Goodness 126
      66. Discretion 128
      67. Experience 130
      68. Dispersion 131
      69. Unreactiveness 133
      70. Gross 135
      71. Affliction 136
      72. Baubles 138
      73. Formation 140
      74. Hope 141
      75. Reliability 143
      76. Promises 144
      77. Sanctuary 146
      78. Retribution 148
      79. Kinship 149
      80. Blameless 151
      81. Well-Being 152
      82. Anticipation 154
      83. Wineskin 156
      84. Transcendence 157
      85. Rebellion 159
      86. Assistance 160
      87. Almost 162
      88. Life-Giving 164
      89. Forever 165
      90. Generations 167
      91. Service 168
      92. Pain 170
      93. Forgetfulness 172
      94. Searching 173
      95. Rejection 175
      96. Boundless 176
      97. Symbolic 178
      98. Practicality 180
      99. Alternatives 181
      100. More 183
      101. And 185
      102. Interiority 187
      103. Strength 188
      104. Falsehood 190
      105. Illumination 192
      106. Vow 193
      107. Honesty 195
      108. Offering 197
      109. Soul 198
      110. Traps 200
      111. Inheritance 202
      112. Turning 203
      113. Doubleminded 205
      114. Shield 207
      115. Solidarity 208
      116. Support 210
      117. Gazing 211
      118. Lightweights 213
      119. Dross 215
      120. Terror 216
      121. Acceptance 218
      122. Pledge 219
      123. Longing 221
      124. Undeserving 223
      125. Service 224
      126. Forbearance 226
      127. Gold 227
      128. Deviance 229
      129. Praxis 231
      130. Expanding 232
      131. Yearning 234
      132. Favor 236
      133. Servility 237
      134. Ransom 239
      135. Radiance 241
      136. Grief 242
      137. Righteousness 244
      138. Testimonies 246
      139. Self-Doubt 247
      140. Tested 249
      141. Small 250
      142. Ever-Changing 252
      143. Anguish 254
      144. Glimmering 255
      145. Wholeheartedness 257
      146. Desperation 259
      147. Twilight 260
      148. Anticipation 262
      149. Concordance 264
      150. Schemers 265
      151. Closeness 267
      152. Antiquity 268
      153. Affliction 270
      154. Advocacy 272
      155. Wicked 273
      156. Tenderness 275
      157. Mediocrity 276
      158. Breaking Faith 278
      159. Fulfilment 280
      160. Truth-Telling 281
      161. Immunity 283
      162. Gratuity 284
      163. Partiality 286
      164. Regularity 288
      165. Stumbling 289
      166. Expectation 291
      167. Compliance 292
      168. Future 294
      169. Outcry 296
      170. Deliverance 297
      171. Praise 299
      172. Contagious 300
      173. Help 302
      174. Longing 303
      175. Life 305
      176. Lost 306
      Notes 309

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