In the School of the Psalms

The book of Psalms is the first Christian hymnal, and the daily singing of them has always run through the Church’s worship like a golden thread. Many, however, find themselves utterly baffled by these often strange and disturbing poems. Their meaning is often obtuse; they can swing from lament to praise, from cursing to thanksgiving, in the space of a few lines. More than the historical prayers of King David and others, Christians consider the psalms to be the very prayers of the Messiah. It is no coincidence that we find Jesus repeatedly quoting the psalms, especially from the cross. How is the book of Psalms not merely historical, but prophetic? In what ways do the Psalms speak about the life, teaching, crucifixion, and glorification of Jesus Christ? Can the psalms help us to understand better who Jesus Christ is and what we are to become in him?