Finding Jesus in the Psalter

A Christological reading of the Psalter in which individual psalms are viewed as primarily the prayers of Jesus is evaluated. This recent evangelical tradition of interpretation goes as far as to assert that the Psalms are only secondarily our prayers. However, while the portrait of David the chief psalmist anticipates Jesus Christ as the ideal Davidic king, this does not require that everything in every psalm be applied to Jesus. When David confesses his sins and failings, these words cannot be placed on the lips of Jesus. It remains nonetheless legitimate for believers to make use of the Psalms and apply much of their content to themselves, for, especially in Books IV and V of the Psalter, David sets an example of devotion to God which others are meant to emulate. As well, a Christian rereading of the Psalter sees the God of the psalmist as the Trinity, so that what is said about God can be applied to Jesus Christ.