Psalms

🏛️ Historical context

They were composed over centuries and sung in the Jerusalem temple. Many are attributed to David, the musician king, and others to Asaph, the sons of Korah and anonymous authors.

🔙 Background

They gather all of Israel's history turned into prayer: creation, the exodus, the king, the exile and the hope of the Messiah.

🧭 Structure of the book

⭐ Key events and teachings

1. 1Psalm 1: the two ways
2. 2Psalm 22: "My God, why have you forsaken me?", prayed by Jesus on the cross
3. 3Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd"
4. 4Psalm 51: the great psalm of repentance
5. 5Psalm 110: the priest-king, applied to Christ
6. 6Psalms 146-150: final praise

🏷️ Main themes

📖 Verses to memorize

• Psalms 23:1 (Douay-Rheims: Psalm 22)A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
• Psalms 27:1 (Douay-Rheims: Psalm 26)The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
• Psalms 34:9 (Douay-Rheims: Psalm 33)O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.
• Psalms 119:105 (Douay-Rheims: Psalm 118)Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.
• Psalms 139:14 (Douay-Rheims: Psalm 138)I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.

💭 For reflection

• Which psalm best expresses what I am living today?
• Why did Jesus pray the psalms on the cross?

A book of 150 prayers and songs of God's people: praise, petitions, thanksgiving and laments. It is the prayer of Israel and of the Church, which prays them every day in the Liturgy of the Hours.