P'sukai D'zimra are the "verses of praise" that come during the morning service directly following Birkot HaShachar, the morning blessings. They begin with one line, Psalm 84:5 which states, "Happy are those who dwell in your house." The next included verse is Psalm 144:15 and states, "Happy the people whose God is Adonai." Next comes all of Psalm 145, an acrostic that extols God's greatness.
Question:
Why do you think our prayer book begins with so many prayers of gratefulness and praise before we get to the rest of the service, like the Barchu, Shema, and Amida?
Our Rabbis find the answer in the example of Moses. See below!
Why do you think our prayer book begins with so many prayers of gratefulness and praise before we get to the rest of the service, like the Barchu, Shema, and Amida?
Our Rabbis find the answer in the example of Moses. See below!
Based on Moses’ prayers, Rabbi Simlai taught: One should always set forth praise of the Holy One, Blessed be He, and then pray for his or her own needs. From where do we derive that one should conduct himself in this manner? From Moses, as it is written in his prayer: “And I beseeched the Lord at that time” (Deuteronomy 3:23). And immediately afterward in his prayer, it is written: “Lord, God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand, for what God is there in the heavens or on earth who can perform deeds such as Yours and Your might” (Deuteronomy 3:24)? Here, Moses began with praise of God, and it is only thereafter that it is written: “Please, let me pass over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon” (Deuteronomy 3:25). Only after his praise did Moses make his personal request.
Question: Why do you think this Psalm was written in acrostic form?