The Psalms are not just songs. They are the prayerbook of the Bible. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David took his pains and turned them into prayers. These songs carry us and bear us up. They are perfect prayers for us to speak back to God.
Martin Franzmann said, "Theology is doxology. Theology must sing." Our study of Scripture, church history, apologetics, philosophy and theology must never be an end to themselves. God is not a thing we study. He is our Father, object of praise and source of life (Acts 17:28). Therefore, we must sing, praise and confess Him. When we sing, praise and confess God with the Psalms, our worship is orthodox (ortho = right, dox = belief). This right doxology should transform our lives (Galatians 2:20). Ouur unity with Christ ensures the expression of His divine nature in our lives (2 Peter 1:4).
JESUS AS THE PRAY-ER OF THE PSALMS
One of Jesus' names is amen (Revelation 3:14). Amen means to believe, trust, have faith in. Jesus is the content of our faith, the one in whom we trust. Our prayers only reach the Father because of Jesus. We pray only through Jesus, in Jesus, by Jesus and because of Jesus.
One of Jesus' names is amen (Revelation 3:14). Amen means to believe, trust, have faith in. Jesus is the content of our faith, the one in whom we trust. Our prayers only reach the Father because of Jesus. We pray only through Jesus, in Jesus, by Jesus and because of Jesus.
Therefore, all our prayers, including the Psalms only reach the Father because of Jesus. That means that if our prayers must pass through Jesus, by His saving work and that our prayers are carried by Jesus to the Father, then the voice that the Father hears is the voice of Jesus.
Jesus was true God and true man in one person. He lived a Jewish life, sung like a Jewish man and prayed like Jewish person. He used the hymnbook of Israel. As a child, Mary would've sung psalms to and with Jesus. Likely, the Israelites knew all 150 songs by heart. This is why 3 of the 7 words of Jesus on the cross come from the Psalms (Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22:1, John 19:28, Psalm 69:21, Luke 23:46, Psalm 31:5).
Jesus is the one through whom we pray and the one who prays. If we have been crucified with Christ and it is Christ who now lives and acts in me, then it is Christ who now prays in me, even though I am praying. The psalms are the prayers of Jesus in this regard. Jesus is the blessed man in Psalm 1. He is the anointed Son of Psalm 2. He is the persecuted victim in Psalm 3. He is the godly man in Psalm 4. He is the worshiper in Psalm 5. He is the one confessing sin in Psalm 6.
Augustine helps us to understand this with the categories of head and body as the whole of Christ. Our mouths cry out when we hurt other parts of our body. So, too, as head of the church, Christ cries out for us, as the body, when we are in pain, suffering, or need. These prayers of our Great Intercessor reach the Father. Our unity with Christ makes this so. Act 9:4 shows us that our unity with Christ means that persecution of the true church means persecution of Christ.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer asks, "How is it possible for a man and Jesus Christ to pray the Psalter together?" If we participate in Christ, have communion with Christ, are in fellowship with Christ, then our prayers are voiced by Him. And if we're going to pray the Psalms, we must first ask, "What do they have to do with Jesus?" before we ever ask, "What do they have to do with me?"
Our unity in Christ ensures that God sees us as part of the Son and vice versa. When Jesus is praying as the head of the church, then mystically, the church is praying. When the church prays, the head of the church, gives voice to our prayers so that God hears them. Our voices are united.
PSALMS AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Psalms should be the foundation of our prayers and songs. Why are they so vital? Jesus quoted them at His crucifixion. On the night He was betrayed they sung a hymn. This was likely Psalm 113-118, which was traditionally sung at Passover. When Peter and John were released from prison (Acts 4:23-26), they sung Psalm 2 and Psalm 146. The Corinthians sang Psalms (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul instructed the church to address one another in psalms (Ephesians 5:18-19, Colossians 3:16).
The Psalms should be the foundation of our prayers and songs. Why are they so vital? Jesus quoted them at His crucifixion. On the night He was betrayed they sung a hymn. This was likely Psalm 113-118, which was traditionally sung at Passover. When Peter and John were released from prison (Acts 4:23-26), they sung Psalm 2 and Psalm 146. The Corinthians sang Psalms (1 Corinthians 14:26). Paul instructed the church to address one another in psalms (Ephesians 5:18-19, Colossians 3:16).
Of the 39 books of the OT, the Psalms are quoted in the NT more than any other OT book. Psalm is quoted up to 196 times in the NT. If you count quotations and allusions to the Psalms, then 128 out of 150 Psalms are quoted in the NT. Psalm 110 is the most quoted chapter in the OT. Psalms are used to speak of Jesus conception, the coming of the magi, his baptism, his entrance into Jerusalem and his death. Jesus even said that the Psalms were about Him (Luke 24:44). Jesus invites us to understand the OT, including the Psalms, in light of His person and saving work. Why? So that we may believe in Him and adore Him.
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