Psalms

Psalms is the hymnbook and prayer book of the Bible: 150 poems gathered over centuries for worship in Israel. Nearly half carry the name of David, the shepherd-king and 'sweet psalmist of Israel,' while others are attributed to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses (Psalm 90), and Ethan; many are anonymous. Sitting at the heart of the Old Testament's poetry books, Psalms is arranged in five smaller 'books,' each closing with a doxology, echoing the five books of Moses.

The collection sweeps across the whole range of human experience before God: shepherd-quiet trust in Psalm 23, anguished lament in Psalm 22, royal coronation songs like Psalm 2 and 110, the towering meditation on God's word in Psalm 119 (the Bible's longest chapter), songs of ascent sung by pilgrims climbing to Jerusalem, David's broken confession in Psalm 51, and the final burst of hallelujahs in Psalms 146-150, where everything that hath breath is called to praise the LORD.

Psalms matters because it teaches God's people how to pray - honestly, in joy and grief alike. It is the Old Testament book most quoted in the New, and Jesus himself prayed its words, from Psalm 22 on the cross to Psalm 31's 'into thine hand I commit my spirit.' For three thousand years believers have found their own voice in these songs.