Orientierung – Desorientierung – Neuorientierung : Gebetsprozesse im Alten Testament anhand der Psalmen 103; 13 und 30

The Psalms are vivid experiences with God – crystallized to literature. They are a treasure of moods and voices of life; however, they lie before us as letters in printer’s ink. In order to raise the treasure, one needs a close reading following the process of prayer. The article bases on a suggestion by Walter Brueggemann who sorted the psalms in psalms of orientation, disorientation and re-orientation. Hence, the Psalms 103, 13 and 30 are analyzed as examples for these three stages. As a tribute to Mario Cimosa, the interpretation especially draws on the commentaries of the honoree and adds some more suggestions for a deeper understanding of prayer in the Old Testament