The Psalms in Orthodoxy

I would like to write about the Psalms, which are very important in the Orthodox Church. The Psalms are prayers and hymns found in the Old Testament, written mostly by King David. They express every human emotion—joy, sorrow, fear, hope—and they teach us how to pray from the heart.

The Psalms are inspired by God. The Bible says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Psalms are part of this inspired Scripture, and they guide us in prayer and worship.

Jesus prayed the Psalms. On the Cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), which is the beginning of Psalm 22. This shows that the Psalms were the prayers on His own lips. If Jesus prayed them, then they are also prayers for us.

The Psalms are used in the Church’s worship. In the Orthodox Church, the Psalms are read and sung at every service. For example, Psalm 103 (“Bless the Lord, O my soul”) begins the morning prayers, and Psalm 50 (“Have mercy on me, O God”) is prayed daily in repentance. The book of Psalms is sometimes called the “prayer book of the Church.”

The Psalms express every part of life. Some Psalms are filled with praise: “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6). Others are cries for help: “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord” (Psalm 130:1). This shows us that no matter what we are feeling, we can bring it honestly before God.

The Psalms point us to Christ. Many Psalms are prophecies of the coming Messiah. For example, Psalm 22 describes Christ’s suffering on the Cross, and Psalm 16 speaks of His Resurrection: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31).

The Psalms strengthen our daily prayer. Saint Paul encourages us: “Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). When we pray the Psalms, we are joining our voices with generations of believers who have prayed them before us.

For Orthodox Christians, the Psalms are not only ancient prayers but living words of the Spirit. They teach us to worship, to repent, to trust, and to hope in God.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

Next Letter: The Lord's Prayer