/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Remember that the Psalms are very important. They are not simply prayers - they are the experience of God that Israel made (and still makes today, the Church being Israel), not through history or through prophecy but through praise of God.

IMO it's good to read 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening. It's a fine pace, beside Psalm 119 being a nightmare. You could even say it replaces your morning and evening prayers.

There's a lot to meditate on (regarding how these prayers and songs express a truth that is both lived in our Christian life, and fulfilled in the gospels), and also, notice that the Psalms are divided into 5 parts:

- Book 1 is Psalms 1 to 41

- Book 2 is Psalms 42 to 72

- Book 3 is Psalms 73 to 89

- Book 4 is Psalms 90 to 106

- Book 5 is Psalms 107 to 150

I have noticed that the Psalms are divided in such a way because they tell a story. But this story is not told explicitly, but rather through independant "patches" of prayers, so to speak. Sort of like drawing a picture by cutting and pasting parts of other pictures together.

I find that the theme of Book 1 is "The righteous man oppressed by his enemies". The theme of Book 2 is "God's universal judgement". Book 3 is "God and Israel". Book 4 is "Awe for the glory of God, and repentance". Book 5 is "Explosion of praise for God".

One could very well meditate on how these 5 books, with their themes, relate to the 5 books of the Law, and to the 5 distinct parts of the gospel of Matthew (designed to reflect the Law) as well.

This is just an example for the sake of Bible study. It's up to you to meditate on those texts and find the bread of God underlying within. But don't skip the Psalter - it's one of the most important books of the Bible.

Don't skip Proverbs either.

>>805545

The psalms are like a mini bible within the Bible. Read one , meditate on it, and come back again and again and again. The psalms are amazing. You are right though, reading them cover to cover like that is a slog. I think though I did that at first too.

Maybe what you are feeling is what is almost the intended effect, perhaps — to get you to not do that. And instead skip over and return and return and return. The New Testament will backward cite to the psalms, and the Old Testament also. The psalms connect many things together. IMO they sort of unfold, and they continue to unfold and unfold and unfold as you go back again and again.

Even so, reading them straight through was for me a powerful experience on its own. There is this overall feeling of humanness that comes across , and also redemption and love and mercy and forgiveness , and you see how holy men of the past orient (and , reorient) themselves toward the Lord… and also for me it is learning how to pray. The psalmists were talking to God. We can do that too! It’s worth paying attention to them. Prayer is real!

Why don't you just listen to reading of it if you don't feel like doing it yourself.

You can listen to it in multiple sessions like sitting through your favorite podcast or tv series.

>>805660

>listening to it

I completely second this. In addition to just hearing the words, every single one of the psalms has a chant or other musical type thing you can find to go along with it. Many are very powerful. For instance, Psalm 51 (KJV). Embed link is that Psalm, sung in Latin.

>>805686

Based

>>805686

Yeah there are numerous chanting traditions.

>>805686

Psalms is supposedly where the KJV shines also.

Hey OP you should read psalm 69.

Also psalm 27.

Read them out loud. They help me get out of the "slog" mindset and reopen my heart to the Lord.

>>805555

Read a Psalm or two a day alongside the other books. Then when you’re done with Psalms do a Proverb a day in a month that has 31 days. That’s how I got through those books, it’s also a way more pleasant read

>>805545

Read the passions then read the psalms. It will blow your mind how they describe exactly the passion, crucifixion, harrowing of hell and resurrection. They all point to christ