Most important psalms?

[japhy]

I am trying to put together a Bible Study for Lent that focuses on the Psalms. My goal is to introduce the attendants to the Psalter in general (especially the categories of psalms, as well as where the psalms “fit” into the Bible) and then to take them through a selection of 12-24 psalms (this is only a six-week 90-minute study, so we’d do 2-4 per week). I would hope they would learn how the psalms are a model for prayer and how to pray the psalms in their own circumstances. I’d also introduce them to the Liturgy of the Hours, the Divine Office.

What I’m looking for is a selection of 12 to 24 psalms that are the richest, in references (to other parts of Scripture), Christological/Messianic character, and usefulness in personal experience. Obviously, psalms 1, 2, 22, 51, and 110 are high on my list, as are the Hallel psalms… there’s so many! Perhaps I will end up extending this past Lent…

Here’s part of my outline already (full of information from cresourcei.org/):

• Introduction (crivoice.org/psalmsintro.html)
• Types of Psalms (crivoice.org/psalmgenre.html)
• Lament
• Invocation (addressing God)
• Complaint
• Affirmation of trust
• Petition
• Acknowledgement of response
• Doxology (“words of glory”, short closing hymn of praise; eg. “Through him, with him…” and “Glory be…”)
• Thanksgiving (Todah)
• Summary of testimony
• Narration of experience
• Acknowledgement of God’s aid
• (The sequence of lament-todah is not “Please… Thank you” but rather petition-praise)
• Hymnic
• Call to praise
• Reason for praise
• Renewed call to praise (balances beginning)
• Psalm Classifications (cresourcei.org/psalmtypes.html)
• Lament
• Community: 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129
• Individual: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 & 10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 36, 39, 40:12-17, 41, 42 & 43, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 70, 71, 77, 86, 89, 120, 139, 141, 142
• Penitential: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143
• Imprecatory: 35, 69, 83, 88, 109, 137, 140
• Thanksgiving
• Community: 65, 67, 75, 107, 124, 136
• Individual: 18, 21, 30, 32, 34, 40:1-11, 66:13-20, 92, 108, 116, 118, 138
• Salvation History: 8, 105 & 106, 135, 136
• Songs of Trust: 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131
• Hymnic
• Hymns and Doxologies: 8, 19:1-6, 33, 66:1-12, 67, 95, 100, 103, 104, 111, 113, 114, 117, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150
• Liturgical
• Covenant: 50, 78, 81, 89, 132
• Royal: 2, 18, 20, 21, 29, 45, 47, 72, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 110, 144
• Songs of Zion: 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122
• Temple: 15, 24, 68, 82, 115, 134
• Wisdom: 1, 36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133
• Torah: 1, 19:7-14, 119

 

[Bible_Believer]

Psalm 51 is also one of my favorites! Also Psalm 139 means alot to me.
I think what you are doing for the Bible study is awesome, and the Psalms are truly ones that should be read and learned from in seeing how David prayed to God. I have been reading alot of them lately, and it has been a blessing! I know your class will be a blessing to those who attend!
God bless!

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

That all looks most impressive ​

19 surely deserves mention

72 is used in Matthew 2 & in the Temptation-scene. As a kingship psalm which was later regarded as Messianic, ISTM to be very significant

Psalm 104 might be added to your list

119 is very important - not just because of its length. It’s a beautiful expression of “Torah piety”.

Then there are all those Psalms which recall the Exodus, such as the Great Hallel (113-118) - which is apparently the “hymn” sung after the Last Supper

One might go on - hope that helps

 

[tobinatorstark]

Psalm 23 is a Psalm that gets a lot of use. Psalm 23 is Psalm 22 in the Douay-Rheims. The numbering of the Psalms is different between the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims than the modern versions like the NAB and Jerusalem