Praying the Psalms: How Biblical Prayers Can Enrich Our Personal and Liturgical Prayer Lives

Abstract

In recent psalm study, new approaches seek to explore how the Psalms enter contemporary life, pastoral care, and worship. This study focuses on the rich use of the Psalms in prayer. From the earliest ages, the Psalms shaped the prayer life of God’s people, including Jesus (Neh 12:8; Matt 27:46; Eph 5:19). Yet in much of Christian practice today, these prayers have become largely neglected. The purpose of this study is to look at the role the praying of the Psalms played in helping God’s people traverse their life journey and grow in their relationship with God, and to explore how our praying the Psalms today can transform our communal and personal prayers, and shape us in the faith of the psalmists.