The chief characteristics of the Psalms, in addition to their intense national expression, are their deep spiritual feeling, keen sense of individual sinfulness in the sight of God, a recognition of his greatness, and a conviction of his pardoning mercies.
There is also a distinct apprehension of the promise and coming of the Messiah, and many prophetic declarations of his mission, sufferings, and death. And whilst these features are visible in nearly all of them, they are most clear in those which are ascribed to and acknowledged to be by David. Hence the Book Psalms has been adopted by the Church as a most precious possession, and its language has been taken up as the vehicle of its prayer and praise. In the various experiences of a Christian’s life he can at all times turn to this Book and draw from its sacred outpouring materials of hope and comfort and consolation, coupled with touching lessons in submission to the Divine will.
No portion of Sacred Scripture is so frequently referred to, and quoted from, in the New Testament. No other portion is so readily used with direct reference to the Messiah. Nearly one half of all the quotations referring to Christ in the Old Testament are taken from the Psalter. Our Lord himself, in his dying agony upon the cross, adopted and repeated as his own, the first verse of the 22nd psalm – “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
It is a comely thing,
And to thy name, O thou most High,
Due praise aloud to sing.”