Why is Liturgy of Hours full of complaining?

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JurisPrudens

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I started participating in the Liturgy of Hours recently, so I read almost a dozen of psalms every day.
I was struck by how pessimistic many of them are, complaining to the Lord about the enemies besieging us, about the injustice and even complaining about the Lord Himself: “Why are You doing this to us?”, etc.
Don’t get me wrong, I feel like many of them fall into my personal situation. However, I used to think that the main purpose of the Liturgy of Hours is to glorify the God, to praise Him. It seems, many of the prayers contain anything but praise.
What is it for? Is that because of the expectation that there are always bad situations in the Church, so that we can use the opportunity to entrust their solution to the Lord? :confused:
 
The Holy See advises that the soul at prayer understand the proper interpretation of the psalms.
 
The Psalms represent the full gamut of human emotions. The older I get the more I appreciate them. I do think some of the prayers after the Psalms ought to be updated.
 
What is it for? Is that because of the expectation that there are always bad situations in the Church, so that we can use the opportunity to entrust their solution to the Lord?
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Many of the psalms were written by King David, who was besieged by enemies on all sides, including within his own family. Much of the turmoil you mention is related to incidents directly tied to King David’s life.
 
Perhaps those Psalms are included to show us what well-ordered complaining actually looks like. 😛

But to really answer the question, we’d have to look at specific examples.

Do you have a specific example in mind?
 
Though it asks much about why the Psalmist is suffering and to punish his foes, the Psalms of King David serve primarily to praise God, which is why the Liturgy of the Hours frequently contain the “Glory be to the Father”
 
I think the Psalms are a great example of how we are supposed to take everything to the Lord- our troubles, our joys, our sorrows, our gratitude and our adoration.
 
JurisPrudens said:
“Updated”? :confused:
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I think he is referring to the psalm prayers. For some reason, it is in the American breviaries. I don’t know about the status of psalm-prayers in countries like Scotland. You would have to ask a priest in your area.
 
I always omitted the violent psalms of vengeance eg bashing the heads of your enemies’ babies against walls. Jesus brought us past the idea of punishing enemies.

There is else much uplifting beauty and praise in the psalms
 
You’re the first person that I’ve ever heard complain about the psalms. You may find it helpful to get a commentary so you’ll have a better understanding of them.

I’ve always understood the references to war and enemies to include spiritual enemies and spiritual warfare.

I agree with a previous poster about the psalms speaking of every human experience and emotion.

God bless you.
 
I’ve noticed the same thing with some of the Psalms in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. They probably won’t seem so violent if they were understood properly with some sort of Bible commentary or something.
 
Jennifoo said:
You’re the first person that I’ve ever heard complain about the psalms. You may find it helpful to get a commentary so you’ll have a better understanding of them.

** I’ve always understood the references to war and enemies to include spiritual enemies and spiritual warfar**e.

I agree with a previous poster about the psalms speaking of every human experience and emotion.

God bless you.
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Yes I have heard that and that th ebloodthirsty ones are a form of catharsis but i do NOT agree. Knowing the history as well as I do and that the OT values are for revenge? I have complained often and as i say, I omit the violent ones … I often wonder even why they are included. NB some of the Benedictines i know also omit these. Killing babies so violently and wishing evil on your enemies? NO WAY.
 
Inquiringperson said:
I think he is referring to the psalm prayers. For some reason, it is in the American breviaries. I don’t know about the status of psalm-prayers in countries like Scotland. You would have to ask a priest in your area.
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I use the hours from the Laudate iPad app. They are probably American.
 
Jennifoo said:
You’re the first person that I’ve ever heard complain about the psalms. You may find it helpful to get a commentary so you’ll have a better understanding of them.

I’ve always understood the references to war and enemies to include spiritual enemies and spiritual warfare.

I agree with a previous poster about the psalms speaking of every human experience and emotion.

God bless you.
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I do not complain about the violence in the psalms (I’m OK with it). I wonder why there is so much complaining and depression in them.
 
As mentioned before, the Psalms were written by King David from the context that he was surrounded by enemies and he points this out expressing his anxiety, but then he praises God for the deliverance that he received.

Of course these enemies were often spiritual enemies of King David.

Jim
 
Rosebud77 said:
Yes I have heard that and that th ebloodthirsty ones are a form of catharsis but i do NOT agree. Knowing the history as well as I do and that the OT values are for revenge? I have complained often and as i say, I omit the violent ones … I often wonder even why they are included. NB some of the Benedictines i know also omit these. Killing babies so violently and wishing evil on your enemies? NO WAY.
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The fact remains that they are inspired Scripture, word of God.
 
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