My Journey with Shir Shel Yom: Learning and Living the Daily Psalms
A few weeks ago, I began focusing on the daily psalms and discovered how meaningful they could be in grounding my day. Like most things I do on my journey of learning, I tend to embody the concept of na'aseh ve-nishma, “We will do and we will learn.” As I incorporated this into my practice, I wanted to explore its origins and deeper significance. Here is what I have learned, along with this source sheet to enrich your understanding of why these specific psalms were chosen.
The Shir Shel Yom, or Psalm of the Day, is a cornerstone of Jewish daily prayer, originating in the Temple in Jerusalem, where the Levites sang specific psalms during the daily sacrificial service. These psalms, outlined in the Mishnah (Tamid 7:4), were carefully chosen to reflect the spiritual themes of each day of the week, aligning with the creation story and the unfolding rhythm of sacred time.
In the Temple period, the Levites sang a designated psalm each day as part of the communal offerings. This practice was deeply rooted in the idea of sanctifying time. Each day’s psalm served as a reminder of the divine acts of creation and God’s continued presence in the world. The Mishnah records the specific psalm recited on each day, emphasizing their connection to the days of creation:
Sunday (Psalm 24): Celebrates God as the Creator of the earth and its fullness.
Monday (Psalm 48): Reflects the division of waters during creation and God’s greatness in sacred spaces.
Tuesday (Psalm 82): Focuses on divine justice and the appearance of dry land.
Wednesday (Psalm 94): Relates to the creation of celestial bodies and eventual divine justice.
Thursday (Psalm 81): Celebrates the creation of living beings who praise their Creator.
Friday (Psalm 93): Acknowledges the completion of creation and the establishment of divine sovereignty.
Shabbat (Psalm 92): Looks forward to the ultimate rest and eternal connection with God.
After the Second Temple's destruction in 70 CE, reciting the Shir Shel Yom became part of morning prayers, preserving the memory of Temple worship. This adaptation ensured that even in the absence of the Temple, the sanctification of time through the psalms remained a vital part of Jewish life.
Each psalm reflects themes of creation and the spiritual energy of its day. For example, Sunday’s psalm focuses on the grandeur of creation, setting a tone of renewal and awe for the week ahead. Wednesday’s psalm, reflecting the creation of the sun, moon, and stars, invites us to consider the divine order that governs the universe. Shabbat’s psalm, Psalm 92, celebrates rest and joy, aligning with the sanctity and peace of the day of rest.
Rabbinic interpretations, including those by 15th-century Rabbi Ovadiah Bartenura, delve into the deeper meanings of the Shir Shel Yom. They emphasize that these psalms are not just historical artifacts but living texts that connect us to the divine, to creation, and to each other. The daily recitation of these psalms reminds us of the ongoing relevance of the Temple’s spiritual practices and their ability to bring meaning to our everyday lives.
Today, many communities recite the these daily psalms during morning or mincha services, maintaining its central role in Jewish prayer. These psalms link us to our history, the cycles of creation, and the rhythm of sacred time. The psalms serve as daily anchors, offering us themes of gratitude, justice, renewal, and harmony to carry into our lives.